# The Rittenhouse trial **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 4, 2021, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798 "2021-11-04T14:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/502 "2021-11-12T01:21:30Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > In that rolling one’s eyes is a kind of adjustment, I guess; you’d presumably never say “premeditated” when talking about, oh, buying groceries, or running in a marathon, or donating some blood to save some lives — or in any one of a hundred other situations when you of course _could_ use the word but (a) would draw a bunch of really weird looks from people; except, see, _those_ are times when you (b) aren’t out to winkingly imply something with connotation. None of those things are similar to killing someone “legally”, no. Someone who prepares to kill someone legally is not the same as someone preparing to buy groceries or run a marathon. Funny and scary that you can’t tell the difference. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/503 "2021-11-12T01:21:53Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Carrying the gun is not “escalating” matters Come on, now. Telling someone you fucked their mother is legal; it is also escalating things. ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/504 "2021-11-12T01:25:14Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > 🤣😅😂🤣😅😂🤣😅🤣suppose he didn’t shoot anyone so nobody felt the need to hit him with a skateboard? Suppose they tried to hit him with a skateboard and got shot for it. ¡Smiles and emojis! ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/505 "2021-11-12T01:25:32Z")
Telling someone you had sex with their mother is an insulting and provoking act. It does not give that person a legal right to use physical force against you. Carrying a gun is legal activity, whether you personally approve of it or not. It is not aggressive in any way if you are not pointing it at someone. It isn’t directed at anyone. The guy carrying a gun across the street from me is not insulting or provoking me in any way. Do you consider police officers on duty to be escalating situations? If not, then it seems that are back to the gun control debate which, like Rittenhouse’s age, is not a relevant part of this. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/506 "2021-11-12T01:28:05Z")
I’m not sure, if you’ve read my posts in the thread, where you got the idea I’m out to winkingly imply anything. I am saying that Kyle Rittenhouse had considered, prior to whatever night it was that he actually killed somebody, what it would be like to kill somebody in self-defense, and decided he would be interested in doing that if he ever found himself in that position. And that he then went out and found himself in that position. And that this is reasonably described as distasteful, while it is also, most likely, not conduct that is going to result in a conviction. Most people would not have taken all the steps required to be in position to exercise their right to self-defense in this specific situation. He did. That’s not judgment proof just because it is almost certainly not, beyond a reasonable doubt, the sort of thing you get found to have done in violation of the law. ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/507 "2021-11-12T01:29:11Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Telling someone you fucked their mother is legal; it is also escalating things. But telling them you intend to fuck their mother might just cross the line into threatening to rape your mother. Which, if credible, might be grounds for some harsh words or… waiting for the cops or something…. Idk. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/508 "2021-11-12T01:29:53Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > I’m not sure, if you’ve read my posts in the thread, where you got the idea I’m out to winkingly imply anything. I am saying that Kyle Rittenhouse had considered, prior to whatever night it was that he actually killed somebody, what it would be like to kill somebody in self-defense, and decided he would be interested in doing that if he ever found himself in that position. And that he then went out and found himself in that position. And that this is reasonably described as distasteful, while it is also, most likely, not conduct that is going to result in a conviction. 100% this. Rittenhouse got EXACTLY what he wanted out of the experience. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/509 "2021-11-12T01:30:39Z")
> [@K2500](#): > > But telling them you intend to fuck their mother might just cross the line into threatening to rape your mother. Which, if credible, might be grounds for some harsh words or… waiting for the cops or something…. Idk. Yes? Are you implying that it should be grounds for something more? ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/510 "2021-11-12T01:31:11Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > 100% this. Rittenhouse got EXACTLY what he wanted out of the experience. And the people he shot -tried- to get what they wanted out of this experience and failed ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/511 "2021-11-12T01:31:58Z")
To be clear, I took your hypo to be the crass insult of saying that you fucked someone’s mother. An insult. Not a literal description of sexual congress that you have or intend to have with that person’s mother. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/512 "2021-11-12T01:33:20Z")
> [@K2500](#): > > And the people he shot -tried- to get what they wanted out of this experience and failed. Got any evidence of this? For example a video of them talking about how much they wish they had a gun so they could kill some people? Cause Rittenhouse did exactly that. ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/513 "2021-11-12T01:34:24Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Yes? Are you implying that it should be grounds for something more? I am. If you’ve credibility threatened to rape my mother, or anyone else, your likelihood of receiving serious bodily injury or death has been greatly enhanced. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/514 "2021-11-12T01:36:24Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > 100% this. Rittenhouse got EXACTLY what he wanted out of the experience. After running as fast as he could from someone chasing him, that person knowing full well he had a rifle, and only shooting when the person got close enough to him to grab his gun. If nobody attacks him, then he plans are ruined, no? He then runs through the crowd that is hurling insults at him towards a police line and only fires again when someone knocks him to the ground with a skateboard. It just doesn’t look like the setting a trap scenario. Like I said above, if he had carrying a concealed gun, was standing in the street with a “All Niggers Back to Africa” sign and then shot the first person to attack him, your point would be well taken. It is not under the scenario proven by the video evidence. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/515 "2021-11-12T01:37:31Z")
So what? The real world is not a coddled online sanctuary and having a thin skin is not a license to break the law and assault someone. These are literally lessons one learns in kindergarten. It’s scary how much we have tolerated the infantilization of society. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/516 "2021-11-12T01:39:07Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > It’s scary how much we have tolerated the infantilization of society. Only for some. Rittenhouse is held to the standard as if he is running for Jesus. The prosecutor actually busted his ass because he…wait and be sure you are seated…drove without a valid drivers license! The horrors! He must be a murderer! ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/517 "2021-11-12T01:43:33Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Got any evidence of this? For example a video of them talking about how much they wish they had a gun so they could kill some people? Cause Rittenhouse did exactly that. Yes. There is video of them getting shot for attacking someone with a skateboard, a skateboard that they brought from many miles away, where they weren’t a member of the community. Showing up to a protest where they had no business at, with a weapon, who does that? ¡And not getting shot until he actually used the skateboard as a weapon! Such restraint shown by the victim! ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/518 "2021-11-12T03:29:36Z")
Apologies if this was raised up thread. Regardless of the verdict, Kyle is not _innocent_. He may be found _not guilty of certain charges_. That said, he was a minor, broke curfew, had a firearm he was not legally able to own purchased via a strawman, had not be invited by the owners to “protect” the property he was “protecting.” Two people are dead and one injured by his being in a place he had no legitimate reason to be in. If he was truely a law abiding patriot, he would have followed police and government directives to abide the curfew and not be an untrailed juvenile armed vigilante escalating the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/519 "2021-11-12T03:39:50Z")
He was on a public sidewalk and attacked by violent criminals, some of whom also had guns. Whatever the lack of wisdom Rittenhouse showed, it was easily matched by the people he shot. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/520 "2021-11-12T03:46:17Z")
> [@K2500](#): > > Yes. There is video of them getting shot for attacking someone with a skateboard Right, after the first murder ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2021, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798/521 "2021-11-12T03:52:10Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > I am saying that Kyle Rittenhouse had considered, prior to whatever night it was that he actually killed somebody, what it would be like to kill somebody in self-defense, and decided he would be interested in doing that if he ever found himself in that position. He did? I hadn’t heard that he specifically pondered the “in self-defense” part. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798.md?page=25) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rittenhouse-trial/953798.md?page=27)