# Violent Left-wingers attack police **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 25, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507 "2009-09-25T12:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/81 "2009-09-26T15:47:19Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > For embodiment of evil, look no further than the Dallas Cowboys, who are to football what the Beach Boys were to rock 'n roll. > > And which of you have the audacity and courage to hire a quarterback who qualifies for Medicare, like our guys did? > > (Long, long ago I had the Baylor Bears. Now, I’ve the Minnesota Vikings, and the great circle is unbroken…) That’s pretty unfair to the Beach Boys. Dante’s _Inferno_ has circles, remember? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/82 "2009-09-26T16:03:47Z")
You cannot be unfair to the Beach Boys, any more than you can slander Glen Beck. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/83 "2009-09-26T17:40:37Z")
The premise is so stupid. The cops have guns, clubs, mace, tasers and love to use them. No unarmed group wants to skirmish with them. they will hurt you and love doing it. Nearly all the confrontations are initiated by cops, who think they have to teach them a lesson. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/84 "2009-09-26T18:06:10Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The premise is so stupid. The cops have guns, clubs, mace, tasers and love to use them. No unarmed group wants to skirmish with them. they will hurt you and love doing it. Nearly all the confrontations are initiated by cops, who think they have to teach them a lesson. Just when I thought the thread couldn’t get any dumber… ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/85 "2009-09-26T18:15:23Z")
> [@Tristan](#): > > Apparently there was one fellow responsible for the majority of the broken windows. > > [And he’s not from Pittsburgh.](http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09268/1000965-100.stm) > > I’m shocked. I curse him as I cursed the Pirates last year. May he have the worst year of his life (well, since 1890, but I bet it’s the same in this case) in this coming year. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/86 "2009-09-26T20:34:12Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Where did I say anything about “domestic terrorism?” Nowhere, but fools could readily make the assocation, and IME many have. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/87 "2009-09-26T21:14:35Z")
Any clues on the ‘abduction’ yet? Who the abducted dude was? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/88 "2009-09-26T22:45:09Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Any clues on the ‘abduction’ yet? Who the abducted dude was? [It looks like this blogger got an answer from the G20 organizers.](http://thecollegepolitico.com/the-truth-about-the-military-kidnapping-video-from-the-g-20/) Long and short, the guy was a vandal, and the “abductors” weren’t military, but part of the joint G20 security force. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/89 "2009-09-26T23:02:54Z")
Vandals? No Goths? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/90 "2009-09-26T23:30:43Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > Jeez, the Steelers lose one game and all hell breaks loose. One can only imagine what’s going to happen when they lose again tomorrow. Stock up on your canned goods, bottled water and toilet paper. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/91 "2009-09-26T23:46:04Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > Just when I thought the thread couldn’t get any dumber… Just when it couldn’t get dumber ,you felt the need to respond. You did get it dumber.Congrats. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/92 "2009-09-27T00:05:40Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Vandals? No Goths? The goths are all too stoned and don’t want to mess up their black nail polish. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/93 "2009-09-27T00:08:25Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The premise is so stupid. The cops have guns, clubs, mace, tasers and love to use them. No unarmed group wants to skirmish with them. they will hurt you and love doing it. **Nearly all the confrontations are initiated by cops** , who think they have to teach them a lesson. (bolding mine) I don’t know. Somehow I and everyone I know is capable of getting arrested by cops without the cops starting anything. We know that we have to respect them, at least while they are doing their job. The time to protest their activities is not when they are executing their duties. I do agree that that last bit is unfortunate, but it’s more of a case of human nature, rather than anything else. The job that cops do requires a certain amount of adrenaline, and it is difficult to be calm while your adrenaline is running. And most people became cops because they were mad at the criminals that get by. This is where having your own police escort comes in handy. Cops are people, too: there will be at least one who is on your side, if you approach them outside of a violent context. And s/he can carry all the same weapons the others can, while still maintaining that the protest was supposed to be nonviolent. Of course, the above may be wishful thinking. I know I have a lot of cop friends, but I live in a quite openly less progressive state. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/94 "2009-09-27T00:20:38Z")
I really do wonder why people bother protesting for the most part. I’m sure when there’s a G20 meeting on, the various World Leaders look out of their meeting room at all the Lefty protesters down in the street, and think “Everyone knows they’re Professional Activists who would protest the opening of a paper bag if they thought it didn’t come from recycled paper originally made from sustainable growth organic forests. No-one _really_ cares what they think, so why are they constantly annoying people whenever there’s a Global Summit of any kind?” ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/95 "2009-09-27T00:28:05Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > (bolding mine) > > I don’t know. Somehow I and everyone I know is capable of getting arrested by cops without the cops starting anything. We know that we have to respect them, at least while they are doing their job. The time to protest their activities is not when they are executing their duties. > > I do agree that that last bit is unfortunate, but it’s more of a case of human nature, rather than anything else. The job that cops do requires a certain amount of adrenaline, and it is difficult to be calm while your adrenaline is running. And most people became cops because they were mad at the criminals that get by. > > This is where having your own police escort comes in handy. Cops are people, too: there will be at least one who is on your side, if you approach them outside of a violent context. And s/he can carry all the same weapons the others can, while still maintaining that the protest was supposed to be nonviolent. > > Of course, the above may be wishful thinking. I know I have a lot of cop friends, but I live in a quite openly less progressive state. [http://forums.contracostatimes.com/topic/merced-police-taser-parapalegic-af-american-male-leaving-him-on-sidewalk-partially-nude](http://forums.contracostatimes.com/topic/merced-police-taser-parapalegic-af-american-male-leaving-him-on-sidewalk-partially-nude) I wish it were that simple. I too have cop friends. But there are a lot of people who are cops and should not be. Your friends will tell you that too. i am sure. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/96 "2009-09-27T01:18:29Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The premise is so stupid. The cops have guns, clubs, mace, tasers and love to use them. No unarmed group wants to skirmish with them. they will hurt you and love doing it. Nearly all the confrontations are initiated by cops, who think they have to teach them a lesson. Oh yes, the cops were the ones breaking windows and knocking over trashcans, blocking streets. :rolleyes: Why are you always such a dumbshit? ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/97 "2009-09-27T01:39:46Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The premise is so stupid. The cops have guns, clubs, mace, tasers and love to use them. No unarmed group wants to skirmish with them. they will hurt you and love doing it. Nearly all the confrontations are initiated by cops, who think they have to teach them a lesson. You could paint a skyscraper with a brush that broad. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/98 "2009-09-27T02:06:58Z")
> [@pedescribe](#): > > You could paint a skyscraper with a brush that broad. Not at all. It is rare when a demonstrator wants to get the cops swinging clubs. It gets ugly fast and only one side gets hurt. It would be foolish to let that loose. Cops are trained for suppression and the people are just trying to make enough noise to get the ear of the government. Dumped over trashcans? Wow, I did not know they were being that violent. Let the dogs loose. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/99 "2009-09-27T02:20:03Z")
Ah, what the hell. We’ve had every other viewpoint here, so I’ll try something new. Go protesters! ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2009, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507/100 "2009-09-27T02:45:45Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > Long and short, the guy was a vandal, and the “abductors” weren’t military, but part of the joint G20 security force. What the hell? “Multi-jurisdictional”? “It is not unusual for tactical team members to wear camouflaged fatigues. The type of fatigues the officers wear designates their unit affiliation.”? … No visible badges or uniforms (No, fatigues alone don’t count), a car that does _not_ look like a unmarked car. I got a problem with this setup, here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/violent-left-wingers-attack-police/511507.md?page=6)