# Omnibus Stupid MFers in the news thread (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945 "2021-01-31T21:25:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 443
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8851 "2023-09-27T18:48:47Z")
Serious question: can they charge Cook with assault and Colie with attempted murder at the same time? And how would the trials look? Could they use the fact that Colie shot Cook as evidence in the assault case? I think Colie overreacted but I feel like Cook should be charged, too. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8852 "2023-09-27T19:14:08Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > “You mean there was no reaction funny enough to be in your video?” > “Yes.” Well, you finally got your reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8853 "2023-09-27T19:14:50Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > This requires that he was aware this was a “prank” and not a raving lunatic. You are literally advocating for the murder of harmless people suffering from mental illness. Fuck you, genocidal asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8854 "2023-09-27T19:21:24Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > You are literally advocating for the murder of harmless people suffering from mental illness. No, I am literally advocating for the right to defend yourself against what may be the prelude to a violent assault. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8855 "2023-09-27T19:23:35Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > No, I am literally advocating for the right to defend yourself against what may be a violent assault. Prolly want to check your local laws before you use lethal force to defend yourself against “_what may be_” a violent assault. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8856 "2023-09-27T19:24:22Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I am literally advocating for the right to defend yourself against what may be a violent assault. With an iPhone. You justify it by suggesting a person might be mentally ill. Which means that person needs help. But your suggestion is that it’s okay for them to be shot. Which police do constantly, and others who hate and fear people who are different. You are the stupid motherfucker in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8857 "2023-09-27T19:25:14Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Prolly want to check your local laws before you use lethal force to defend yourself against “_what may be_” a violent assault. I live in South Carolina. I’m pretty sure it would be concidered legitimate “stand your ground” and never see any charge. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8858 "2023-09-27T19:25:43Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > You justify it by suggesting a person might be mentally ill. Which means that person needs help. But your suggestion is that it’s okay for them to be shot. Crazy people are known to violently assault people for crazy reasons. > **[Dan Rather](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Rather#%22Kenneth,_what_is_the_frequency?%22)** > > Daniel Irvin Rather Jr. (/ˈræðər/; born October 31, 1931) is an American journalist, commentator, and former national evening news anchor. He began his career in Texas, becoming a national name after his reporting saved thousands of lives during Hurricane Carla in September 1961. Rather spontaneously created the first radar weather report by overlaying a transparent map over a radar image of Hurricane Carla. In his first national broadcast, he helped initiate the successful evacuation of 350,00... ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8859 "2023-09-27T19:27:10Z")
You missed the part where Dan was **beaten** , you pathetic moron. But keep digging dumbass. ETA, since you edited your post, people with mental illnesses are **overwhelmingly** victims of violent crime. Not perpetrators. Do you think a mental illness gives someone superpowers? Only in a comic book. Having a mental illness makes things harder for people. It’s more likely that a person who is mentally ill are unable to defend themselves from an assault than to instigate them into assault. But ignorant assholes assume they’re dangerous and attack them. You are doubling down on that bullshit and it’s about time someone set you straight. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8860 "2023-09-27T19:28:43Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > You missed the part where Dan was **beaten** , you pathetic moron. And this guy didn’t want a beating to happen in the first place, so he acted to prevent the possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8861 "2023-09-27T19:28:55Z")
Nope, no reason to pull out a gun and start shooting in a (probably) crowded mall. I don’t support randomly annoying strangers, i.e. “pranks,” but as far as I know pranking in and of itself isn’t illegal (though I’m sure aspects of pranking are/can be.) Wouldn’t assault have to be an actual threat? Stupidity shouldn’t require deadly force, and people need to quit slinging guns around 'cause they’re scared of black people, annoyed, hate your music, think someone else is too loud, someone pulls into their driveway, etc. etc. etc. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8862 "2023-09-27T19:29:19Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I live in South Carolina. I’m pretty sure it would be concidered legitimate “stand your ground” and never see any charge. Might want to actually read that law and see if you’re right! [https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123\_2019-2020/bills/4686.htm](https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess123_2019-2020/bills/4686.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8863 "2023-09-27T19:34:12Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > And this guy didn’t want a beating to happen in the first place, so he acted to prevent the possibility. Yes, murdering people really does reduce the chance that they’ll be a threat. Fortunately we have laws against unjustifiable attacks like that, so that, say, you can’t murder a person of color for daring to be where they aren’t wanted. That a person will advocate for that kind of thing on the boards is really sad. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8864 "2023-09-27T19:38:02Z")
Since this is the Dope, and cites are welcome: > **[Psychiatric Illness and Criminality](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537064/)** > > The relationship between psychiatric illness and criminality has been the topic of intense debate and scrutiny in the recent past in light of multiple mass shootings in the United States.  While the renewed focus and media attention on the... > A large body of data suggests otherwise. People with mental illness are more likely to be a victim of violent crime than the perpetrator. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8865 "2023-09-27T19:45:02Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Fortunately we have laws against unjustifiable attacks > On cross-examination, he acknowledged that he stuck his phone about six inches (15 centimeters) from Colie’s face while the translate app repeated the phrase “Hey dips—, stop thinking about my sparkle” in English and Spanish. > > Colie backed away from the 6-foot-5 Cook (196 cm), who kept advancing toward Colie even as Colie said “no” and “stop” and pushed Cook’s arm away. > > Then, Cook said, when the two were separated by a small distance, Colie pulled out an handgun and shot him in the abdomen. > **[YouTube prankster testifies about video that got him shot](https://apnews.com/article/youtuber-shot-tanner-cook-mall-a215712ddbf06b96be62b0e3a6be2047)** > > LEESBURG, Va., (AP) — Tanner Cook's prank videos were known to security guards at Dulles Town Center, a mall in northern Virginia where Cook sometimes found his unsuspecting targets. The guy absolutely, positively, 100% was reasonable in his concern that that might lead to violence. Would you feel the same way if he had been doing that to, say, a 5 foot 2, 100 pound woman? Would you still think there was no legitimate reason for fear, and she should be on trial for attempted murder? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8866 "2023-09-27T20:04:30Z")
A couple things being overlooked here. Colie told Cook “stop it”: at that point, when Cook failed tostop, the encounter can be described as Cook assaulting Colie, in the legal sense. It is clearly assault if one party objects to the encounter.        The other part is that Colie was working at the time. Trying to earn money. If one is engaged in livelihood activities, getting in that person’s way is highly problematic. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8867 "2023-09-27T20:08:04Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Would you feel the same way if he had been doing that to, say, a 5 foot 2, 100 pound woman? Would you still think there was no legitimate reason for fear, and she should be on trial for attempted murder? Of course I do. That’s a stupid question. Luckily the asshole was arrested and is being prosecuted for such a morally and legally indefensible action. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8868 "2023-09-27T20:20:31Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > No, I am literally advocating for the right to defend yourself against what may be the prelude to a violent assault. The person honking at you because you didn’t see the light turn green might also be a violent asshole, would you shoot them? Just about anything “may be the prelude to a violent assault”. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8869 "2023-09-27T20:59:03Z")
I could open carry in Colorado, or CCW. I don’t want to. It’s a HUGE responsibility and would also be a HUGE pain in the ass. You also have to put your brain in an entire different mode when carrying a firearm of any sort at any time for any reason. And also because of situations like this. Got a video of a bear tying to break into a neighbors house just this morning. So, yes I do have firearms. Not sure how they scared the bear away. Details are sketchy. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945/8870 "2023-09-27T21:53:44Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > You also have to put your brain in an entire different mode when carrying a firearm of any sort at any time for any reason. Yeah. I have a gun and haven’t carried it in years. I used to carry it just because I could, but it never felt right. It was 100% legal, I was licensed, but it was just this thing that I was constantly aware of that I knew was dangerous. I do enjoy target shooting and I have it just in case as a very last resort in a safe in my house, but I hate to carry it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945.md?page=442) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omnibus-stupid-mfers-in-the-news-thread-part-1/931945.md?page=444)