# I pit the President of the New York Police Benevolent Association **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 8, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971 "2015-11-08T00:10:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/61 "2015-11-16T06:15:08Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Oh, please, I beg you, grace me with your generous answer, O wise one. Thats more like to respect I expect around here, so I will grace you with Wisdom. > [@](#): > > My point is that they _don’t_ need to be reminded, and no one in this thread does either, and, depending on what your answer is to that question, that you think they do need to be reminded based on some kind of misunderstanding or intentional mischaracterization on your part. I knew this was some sort of low level high school debate trick, but thanks to my mental acumen Im too clever for this. Let’s face it, and this is no mischaracterization: a lot of police protesters aren’t protesting police brutality; I submit most of them just hate cops because they are anarchists, ne-er do-wells, criminals themselves, or have been brought up to hate cops. They are troublemakers who need to be reminded that one day they may need the help of the police, and like I feel now will be ever so grateful for their assistance and feel badly about protesting them. Consider yourself enlightened, you can move along now. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/62 "2015-11-16T06:48:55Z")
Oh, so, “a lot of police protesters aren’t protesting police brutality”? And you know this how, exactly? Do you know them? They trust you, so share they their deepest truths and convictions with you and that’s what they told you? Or have you some other credible basis for your stern judgement? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/63 "2015-11-16T06:52:08Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Let’s face it, and this is no mischaracterization: a lot of police protesters aren’t protesting police brutality. So you’re admitting that your argument is just about as idiotic as everyone said it was all along? Thanks for the confirmation. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/64 "2015-11-16T07:42:51Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Oh, so, “a lot of police protesters aren’t protesting police brutality”? And you know this how, exactly? Because they protest the death of Michael Brown. Anyone who thinks Brown’s death was anyone’s fault but his own clearly does not give a shit about the facts. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/65 "2015-11-16T07:53:52Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Oh, so, “a lot of police protesters aren’t protesting police brutality”? And you know this how, exactly? Do you know them? They trust you, so share they their deepest truths and convictions with you and that’s what they told you? Yes, they do. They confide in me with their innermost thoughts on a daily basis. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/66 "2015-11-16T07:55:59Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > So you’re admitting that your argument is just about as idiotic as everyone said it was all along? > > Thanks for the confirmation. Im sorry, did I admit to something? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/67 "2015-11-16T08:25:17Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Don’t hold the union, and all its members, responsible for what one guy said. He is the president. Unless they remove him, they are saying they support what he’s saying. And the support of this shit means they need to be disbanded. This is also the same union that decided to reduce crime stopping activities in retaliation for people protesting police brutality. That should a jailable offense. Hell, they are trying to use their power to force the mayor–a democratically elected official–to do what they want. And now they are threatening citizens who disagree with them with causing an “accident.” This union, rather than negotiating better wages or such, wants to act like a criminal organization. It needs to be disbanded, and we need to start firing any police officers who react this way. That’s the choice. Fire this leader/PR guy, or the union should be destroyed and the cunts fired who refuse to do their job. The police work for us, not the other way around. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/68 "2015-11-16T08:26:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Im sorry, did I admit to something? Less an admission than a demonstration. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/69 "2015-11-16T09:11:11Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Your putting words in my mouth. I never said I supported the protesters, and yes, I assert in a dangerous situation they would kiss the feet of any cop who bailed them out. What I SAID was I don’t think cops should try to hassle or intimidate protesters or Quentin Tarantino because of their views. If you don’t support the protesters, then what you say in the first paragraph is irrelevant to what people are blasting you for. You don’t support police intimidation. Good. But you do think the protesters don’t really care about their cause, and would give it up the second they ever needed the police to help them. That’s shitty, and you deserve to be called on it. You seem to think that the protesters are incapable of holding two opinions at once–that of thanking the police for doing their job while still protesting them for doing bad things. Just because they would appreciate the police when they do good doesn’t mean they’re going to fall down and worship them–aka “kiss their feet.” And you think we can’t hold two opinions of you–one that’s happy you don’t support police intimidation, but one that is angry that you think so poorly of the protesters. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/70 "2015-11-16T14:05:48Z")
BTW – “Benevolent Association”? What kind of name is that for a labor union anyway? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/71 "2015-11-16T14:22:54Z")
Lots of public-sector unions are named similarly. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/72 "2015-11-16T14:28:53Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > BTW – “Benevolent Association”? What kind of name is that for a labor union anyway? In the past, public servants could not properly unionize as we know a normal labor union, but they could form mutual aid societies and professional associations. In many jurisdictions today this still applies to police and public safety agencies. In these cases, the “benevolent” organizations with time have evolved to become de jure or de facto unions. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/73 "2015-11-16T19:45:59Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > If you don’t support the protesters, then what you say in the first paragraph is irrelevant to what people are blasting you for. You don’t support police intimidation. Good. But you do think the protesters don’t really care about their cause, and would give it up the second they ever needed the police to help them. That’s shitty, and you deserve to be called on it. > > You seem to think that the protesters are incapable of holding two opinions at once–that of thanking the police for doing their job while still protesting them for doing bad things. Just because they would appreciate the police when they do good doesn’t mean they’re going to fall down and worship them–aka “kiss their feet.” > > And you think we can’t hold two opinions of you–one that’s happy you don’t support police intimidation, but one that is angry that you think so poorly of the protesters. I really don’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/74 "2015-11-17T04:18:25Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > I really don’t care. Ah, so this is not a genuine or serious conversation. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/75 "2015-11-17T04:29:40Z")
No at this point you and the others against me are just butt-hurt because you don’t agree with my opinion, and are throwing every pretzel logic argument at it and its just not interesting anymore. I respect cops, most people do, so just get over it. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/76 "2015-11-17T07:39:26Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > BTW – “Benevolent Association”? What kind of name is that for a labor union anyway? As **JRDelerious** points out, public workers once weren’t allowed to unionize. But police and fire departments formed associations to support injured members and widows and orphans of fallen members. That’s where the “Benevolent Association” theme comes from. Example cites: [NYC PBA Widows’ and Children’s Fund](http://www.nycpba.org/fund/). [Sacramento Area Firefighters Widows and Orphans Fund](http://www.sac911run.com/ben), a fundraising activity of Sacramento firefighters union and other regional police and firefighting agencies. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/77 "2015-11-17T07:54:46Z")
> [@lance\_strongarm](#): > > Don’t hold the union, and all its members, responsible for what one guy said. > [@VarlosZ](#): > > Pay Lynch, since he was mentioned, is preposterous: a neanderthal with the touchiness of a particularly self-obsessed 12-year old girl. Remember, this was the same union that used the occasion of mourning for two fallen officers to stage a mass public insubordination to Mayor de Blasio about a year ago, which spawned a [12-page Pit thread in this very forum](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744639). Even staunch police supporter **Smapti** agreed, saying: “Whether they agree with his politics or not, openly demonstrating against him is every bit as unprofessional, inappropriate, and meriting of official discipline as it would be for a soldier in uniform to disparage the president.” (See post #3 there.) Pat Lynch was a very public face of that mass disgrace at the time, and made a very unmistakeable ass of himself. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2015, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971/78 "2015-11-17T11:42:13Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > **Smapti** agreed, saying: “Whether they agree with his politics or not, openly demonstrating against him is every bit as unprofessional, inappropriate, and meriting of official discipline as it would be for a soldier in uniform to disparage the president.” Whether or not the funeral protest was a good decision based on good premises and good reasoning, every word of this sentence is wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-the-president-of-the-new-york-police-benevolent-association/736971.md?page=3)