# Sandra Bland video **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 22, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859 "2015-07-22T05:50:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 63
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1241 "2015-07-27T19:23:12Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > It’s not just a job commute. What about stores, bank, any kind of chores? You cannot live in this area without a car. And there is no indication whatsoever that she was actually doing something (or even knew) about the upcoming suspension. Also, how did she get from Illinois to Texas? Did she walk? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1242 "2015-07-27T19:23:32Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Never heard of a bike, or walking? Or still bumming a ride from a good friend. 😕 This is not an urban area. Bike/walking will not get you far. > [@](#): > > I give her the benefit of the doubt that she was attempting to reconcile her past. As I would hope for if I made a horrible mistake. You keep trying to make her a heinous citizen that deserves her jail time and ultimate suicide. GLWAT. I have no idea what kind of citizen she was - well, I know she was a pretty irresponsible one, but otherwise - no idea. I certainly don’t think she “deserved suicide”, very few people in the world do. I just hate the narrative that immediately get built around incidents like that - an angelic innocent and courageous civil rights fighter gets accosted by an evil and corrupt power hungry authority figure that illegally kidnaps her in his clutches and kills her in his dungeon. Hell, just today “Anonymous” came out with a stupid video claiming that the mugshot was taken when Bland was dead. Just enormous stupidity. And there are people swearing up and down that it is true. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1243 "2015-07-27T19:26:00Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > So, this is why I dislike debates about “moral culpability,” with interlocutors who do not share a moral system with me, and indeed do not have a rigorous moral system at all, but rely strongly on what feels right at a particular moment, or with a particular set of actors. > > In contrast, a legal point is undeniably defined by statute and caselaw. (And even then, some commentators strenuously resist the truth of claims grounded solely on the legal system). > > All that said, I have an answer for the point you raise: the cop’s actions are arguably a reflection of what we as a society endorse. The cop is responsible for enforcing our laws, at our behest. We rightfully demand from him, and his department, a high level of professionalism and courtesy. > > The family may well be flakes, or they may have been reasonable people without two nickels to rub together. Regardless of the reasons for their inability to help, we as a society don’t see their failures as ours. > > We see the police officer’s failures as ours. > > In my opinion. Very well stated. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1244 "2015-07-27T19:26:17Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > …I give her the benefit of the doubt that she was attempting to reconcile her past. As I would hope for if I made a horrible mistake. You keep trying to make her a heinous citizen that deserves her jail time and ultimate suicide. GLWAT. Why are you only giving Bland the benefit of the doubt? Is it because you have already determined that all of the other participants are guilty of Bland’s suicide? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1245 "2015-07-27T19:28:02Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > This is not an urban area. Bike/walking will not get you far. cite? > [@](#): > > I have no idea what kind of citizen she was - well, I know she was a pretty irresponsible one, but otherwise - no idea. I certainly don’t think she “deserved suicide”, very few people in the world do. > > I just hate the narrative that immediately get built around incidents like that - an angelic innocent and courageous civil rights fighter gets accosted by an evil and corrupt power hungry authority figure that illegally kidnaps her in his clutches and kills her in his dungeon. > > Hell, just today “Anonymous” came out with a stupid video claiming that the mugshot was taken when Bland was dead. Just enormous stupidity. And there are people swearing up and down that it is true. Totally agreed. She committed suicide as is her right as a human being. Check out anytime you want. Ignore the conspiracies, and focus on the facts. I align with the autopsy: She did, indeed, commit suicide. Society, however was arguably not on her side. Perhaps she knew this? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1246 "2015-07-27T19:30:46Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Why are you only giving Bland the benefit of the doubt? Is it because you have already determined that all of the other participants are guilty of Bland’s suicide? No. Because I believe most people want to try and overcome their past transgressions. The facts behind her recent life-developments re-enforce that. In the end, however, I believe her emotions got the best of her. And she used the huge plastic bag as a way out of the hell she found herself in. ---
**Author:** ![climbuponahilltop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c0e974/32.png) [@climbuponahilltop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/climbuponahilltop)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1247 "2015-07-27T19:34:50Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I think I see what you are getting at, but [del]IME[/del] a friend told me that eating pot doesn’t make it last three days. In fact, the high fiber content of pot brownies tends, in some cases, to accelerate the exit of the material from the body, if you catch my drift. Maybe her digestive system didn’t work the same - I don’t know. > > But my gosh, even if you are constipated, how much of the chronic would you have to eat to go on a three day’s high? > > More likely IMO that she got hold of some during her incarceration, and decided to get a little toasted that morning and it didn’t cheer her up. > > I expect some shake ups in the jail administration - not only are the prisoners hanging themselves, but are able to supply themselves like it was a college dorm. > > Regards, > Shodan It’s not about your digestive system, and it’s not about how long the high lasts. When you consume pot, whether by eating or smoking, the high only lasts a few hours, but the chemical components linger in your blood, urine, and hair. This is why users can fail a drug test days or even weeks after they last used. The record I’ve found, for an exceptionally heavy hitter, is a positive drug test 67 days after the last use. I have absolutely no idea how anyone can tell if she consumed in jail or not. ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1248 "2015-07-27T19:38:09Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Actually, no. If you note the date on the article I cited, it is July 17th. 10 days ago. NBC Chicago did their job. Then this information was very studiously ignored by every other media outlet. It didn’t play into the narrative. You mean that it didn’t play into the narrative that the police officer could have given her a ticket turned around and walked away and there would have been no further issue. Was that the narrative that you were referring to?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1249 "2015-07-27T19:38:49Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Very well stated. For once, or maybe twice, I agree as well ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1250 "2015-07-27T19:41:42Z")
> [@climbuponahilltop](#): > > It’s not about your digestive system, and it’s not about how long the high lasts. When you consume pot, whether by eating or smoking, the high only lasts a few hours, but the chemical components linger in your blood, urine, and hair. > > This is why users can fail a drug test days or even weeks after they last used. The record I’ve found, for an exceptionally heavy hitter, is a positive drug test 67 days after the last use. > > I have absolutely no idea how anyone can tell if she consumed in jail or not. To put it more succinctly: She may have consumed or inhaled a great amount of weed. But the high would’ve only lasted mere hours, 3 at the most, and stayed in her system for weeks. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1251 "2015-07-27T19:51:39Z")
She is dead because the system responsible for her well-being in custody totally failed in its duty. No, its very unlikely that she was murdered, she was merely neglected. But, she was no angel. We mustn’t forget that, its important. Nosiree, Bob, not an angel. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1252 "2015-07-27T19:54:57Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > She is dead because the system responsible for her well-being in custody totally failed in its duty. No, its very unlikely that she was murdered, she was merely neglected. > > But, she was no angel. We mustn’t forget that, its important. Nosiree, Bob, not an angel. Only angels are aloud to roam free. Yessiree. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1253 "2015-07-27T19:57:24Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Only angels are aloud to roam free. Yessiree. Everyone else has to hum it to themselves? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Clu-Me-In](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@Clu-Me-In](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clu-Me-In)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1254 "2015-07-27T20:00:13Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > She is dead because the system responsible for her well-being in custody totally failed in its duty. No, its very unlikely that she was murdered, she was merely neglected. > > But, she was no angel. We mustn’t forget that, its important. Nosiree, Bob, not an angel. “SHE WAS NO ANGEL” Nice… who among us is? Mighty interesting that it seems that somehow we’ve all accepted that she committed suicide just cos the Texas system says she did. Would it surprise anyone here, if it came out later that in fact she did not commit suicide? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1255 "2015-07-27T20:00:20Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Everyone else has to hum it to themselves? :eek: Are the harmonicas provided by the state? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1256 "2015-07-27T20:03:32Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Are the harmonicas provided by the state? Swing low, sweet chariot…comin’ for to carry me home… (but to answer your question, obviously not, since harmonicas issued by the state would not be the mental kind, and so not allowed since playing one aloud is only allowed for angles ☹ ) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1257 "2015-07-27T20:06:12Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > “SHE WAS NO ANGEL” > > Nice… who among us is? Mighty interesting that it seems that somehow we’ve all accepted that she committed suicide just cos the Texas system says she did. > > Would it surprise anyone here, if it came out later that in fact she did not commit suicide? It actually would surprise me. If only for the audacity to cover up a murder within the State personnel. If this were the case, we’d have a MUCH larger issue at hand than mere officer traffic stop discretion. Though, ATM, I don’t believe it to be the case. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1258 "2015-07-27T20:07:33Z")
> [@XT](#): > > Swing low, sweet chariot…comin’ for to carry me home… > > (but to answer your question, obviously not, since harmonicas issued by the state would not be the mental kind, and so not allowed since playing one aloud is only allowed for angles ☹ ) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1259 "2015-07-27T20:12:47Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > 😉 A moment of humor in an otherwise sad and tragic event. I really don’t like the way the discussion has gone in the last couple of pages and find myself in agreement with what (I THINK) 'luci is saying between the lines here: [QUOTE=elucidator] Well, she was no angel. Perhaps if she were a better person, her death might matter. Oh, well, whats on TV? [/QUOTE] As if being flawed and human somehow renders her death less meaningful or the tragedy necessary. Regardless of Sandra’s flaws, the officer still handled this event very badly, and so did the detention center, and that seems to be getting washed over by the rest. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859/1260 "2015-07-27T20:28:16Z")
> [@Clu-Me-In](#): > > Mighty interesting that it seems that somehow we’ve all accepted that she committed suicide just cos the Texas system says she did. > > Would it surprise anyone here, if it came out later that in fact she did not commit suicide? Yes, it would surprise me very much. What would _not_ surprise me is conspiracy theories about her murder based on a lack of any serious evidence in their favor. That’s how it usually works out in cases like this. Young person with history of depression and PTSD, previous suicide attempts, drug convictions, and facing thousands in unpaid debt, is found dead with a makeshift ligature, no marks of violence, in a locked cell with video tape showing no one entering or leaving the cell for ninety minutes before she is found dead. Definitely murder. Wake up, sheeple! Regards, Shodan [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859.md?page=62) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandra-bland-video/725859.md?page=64)