Master Thief Caught at Supermarket

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
41

[quote]nephorm wrote:
…
[/quote]

I understand. Schwarz’s comment was bound to be interpreted as boasting and trigger nationalistic fire from across the pond. Thing is, no matter how you turn it, this story and so many others of police abuse are simply not acceptable in most of Europe. It’s a cultural thing as well as lessons they drew from their tormented history. The US, in comparison, is an idealistic toddler who hasn’t seen anything yet. I recall posting a story of a cop who shot an unarmed kid and people were fervently defending the action. In Europe, such an event would result in the cop hung in public (figuratively of course).

Face it, American cops have to deal with a lot more shit than the Europeans, and that is slowly pushing back the line of acceptable behavior for the former. And if you don’t see it, it’s that you haven’t been paying enough attention.

P.S: I’ll let Orion tackle the Vienna reference.

42

No need to dredge up the Nazi reference. Germany’s abuse of police powers through the Stasi shows the mindset persisted well beyond 1945.

43

[quote]Schwarzfahrer wrote:
Thanks Hedo, you made me laugh today.

As to your links, they are mostly garbage, especially “freedom magazine”.
[/quote]

No problem. Your posts make me laugh quite often…just returning the favor.

By the way those links came from about 2 minutes on Google. All first page. I didn’t bother reading the other 25 pages.
Do you only agree with Amnesty International when they agree with the point you are trying to make…like something regarding Gitmo?

Are you sure you live in Germany? When I was there in the late 80’s the German cops were known to swing a thing called a truncheon pretty freely for just about any reason. One of the main reasons they would beat on you was if you were Turkish or Kurdish. God help a Turk who actually got caught comitting a crime. I hear they aren’t to fond of Scientologists these days. Do they welcome guest workers with open arms these days in the Fatherland?

44

[quote]Schwarzfahrer wrote:
Why do you guys hate my german freedom so much?

Tgunslinger: nobody implied there is no abuse at all. Sweet Satan, can nobody read between the lines today anymore?
In this very forum, you see threads upon threads where for example guys getting their asses tasered for bullshit invoke little to no disgust.
Some guy posts about a man who has to sit behind bars for a period of time because he forgot a soda case underneath his cart.
And if I raise my voice in that thread It must be okay to show how awful I do find that.
But no, apperently the anti freedom league must chime in:
“Ahm… Hitler anyone?”
"look up this bullshit link in (sic) “freedom magazine” "
“Ahmedinejad, is that you?”

Germany is not the US, a discussion which nation might be freer is nonsense (although both parties here have a favorite, I guess).
But our policemen are 16 year old emos compared to your guys- for what it’s worth.

If our policeman were so tasertriggerhappy like yours or so quick with their cell-keys, they’d get into big trouble, along with their superiors. [/quote]

German cops use impact weapons. Batons and truncheons. Far more destuctive to the intended victim then a taser.

Ask a guest worker or a G8 protestor?

US Police aren’t trigger happy and bad shooting are investigated thoroughly in the US, nor covered up. Again ask a G8 protestor how quick the Germans are with their cell keys and what crimes they were charged with? Too funny.

Your hatred has blinded you from reality. Read something not written by a Social Democrat and make an informed opinion.

45

[quote]nephorm wrote:

I am, however, unaware of any genocides committed by the United States, much less against her own citizens. [/quote]

Neph,

What happened to all the people here before the white folk’s arrival?

46

[quote]Tex Ag wrote:
nephorm wrote:

I am, however, unaware of any genocides committed by the United States, much less against her own citizens.

Neph,

What happened to all the people here before the white folk’s arrival?[/quote]

I anticipated that someone would bring that up. What happened to the Native Americans was not genocide, although it was tragic. Large portions of them died out from diseases imported by the settlers. Of course, that was not intentional. When the United States went to war against them, I do not believe the intention was to exterminate the Native Americans. Rather, the intention was to subjugate them and take their territory. This may not have been just, but I do not think it qualifies as genocide, even though such a very large percentage of the NA population was wiped out. At least, if genocide is the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, or cultural group.

47

[quote]lixy wrote:
I understand. Schwarz’s comment was bound to be interpreted as boasting and trigger nationalistic fire from across the pond.[/quote]

Thinking about it today, I probably should have done what MC, hedo, or tGunslinger, etc. have done: find more contemporary examples that are germane to this particular type of incident. So my comment was not the most helpful to move a discussion forward.

48

Yes, u dont get arrested in europe for nonsense shit or for “talking back” to a police officer, u dont get tasered for no reason and no matter what you do youre not thrown to the ground by 10 people and get strip searched by force, like it happened in that well known case about 2 months ago. There seem to be a lot of police officers in america who are on a power trip.

There is just a certain tolerance towards violence and police authority in america that doesnt exist in europe. Dont wanna sound “anti-american”, but the problem of this thread are the americans who have no idea about life in germany or europe in general.

49

[quote]nephorm wrote:
I anticipated that someone would bring that up. What happened to the Native Americans was not genocide, although it was tragic. Large portions of them died out from diseases imported by the settlers. Of course, that was not intentional. [/quote]

I seem to recall reading something about blankets purposely tainted with smallpox. Is it a myth?

50

[quote]Ken Kaniff wrote:
Yes, u dont get arrested in europe for nonsense shit or for “talking back” to a police officer, u dont get tasered for no reason and no matter what you do youre not thrown to the ground by 10 people and get strip searched by force, like it happened in that well known case about 2 months ago. There seem to be a lot of police officers in america who are on a power trip.

There is just a certain tolerance towards violence and police authority in america that doesnt exist in europe. Dont wanna sound “anti-american”, but the problem of this thread are the americans who have no idea about life in germany or europe in general.

[/quote]

My sister in law was threatened with arrest when she tried to report a theft in Italy. The cops refused to take her report, refused to do anything. She asked if they were in on stealing from tourists and then they got belligerent and started threatening her.

Cops are cops the world over. Good and bad. Just because the Europeans cover up police brutality does not mean it does not happen.

51

[quote]lixy wrote:
nephorm wrote:
I anticipated that someone would bring that up. What happened to the Native Americans was not genocide, although it was tragic. Large portions of them died out from diseases imported by the settlers. Of course, that was not intentional.

I seem to recall reading something about blankets purposely tainted with smallpox. Is it a myth?[/quote]

I think it was a pretty isolated thing but it happened a couple times where blankets used by small pox victims were given to Indian tribes.

52

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:

Cops are cops the world over. Good and bad. Just because the Europeans cover up police brutality does not mean it does not happen.[/quote]

It quess it correlates somewhat with the level of corruption in the given country. Friday nights are a special case, everyone must know stories about police misuse of power in the wee hours.

53

[quote]nephorm wrote:
Tex Ag wrote:
nephorm wrote:

I am, however, unaware of any genocides committed by the United States, much less against her own citizens.

Neph,

What happened to all the people here before the white folk’s arrival?

I anticipated that someone would bring that up. What happened to the Native Americans was not genocide, although it was tragic. Large portions of them died out from diseases imported by the settlers. Of course, that was not intentional. When the United States went to war against them, I do not believe the intention was to exterminate the Native Americans. Rather, the intention was to subjugate them and take their territory. This may not have been just, but I do not think it qualifies as genocide, even though such a very large percentage of the NA population was wiped out. At least, if genocide is the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, or cultural group.[/quote]

Since scalping was started by white as a way of getting payment for killing Native Americans, well, that started a trend. Lets not forget Manifest Destiny. The West was Won through bloodshed. Then, it was illegal to speak native languages on reservations (until I believe George Bush I’s term). Assimilation was the aim of the gov’t. Sounds to me like a systematic removal–through killing and the erasure of culture. It worked so well that when minorities are discussed, Native Americans are usually left out of the discussion, not just as participants, but as a minority group to be discussed.

Last stat I read was 90% of native people’s in the Americas were wiped out. Not just a US thing, but context.

54

[quote]hedo wrote:
US Police aren’t trigger happy
[/quote]
Hahaha. That’s a joke.

55

[quote]Tex Ag wrote:
Since scalping was started by white as a way of getting payment for killing Native Americans, well, that started a trend.
[/quote]

This is a myth. Scalping was practiced long before the Europeans arrived.

You ought not confuse killing and “erasure of culture” with genocide. One does not remove a racial or ethnic group by removing their culture. Btw, do you have a reference to support that speaking native languages was illegal? My understanding was that speaking native languages was discouraged… but not illegal.

[quote]
It worked so well that when minorities are discussed, Native Americans are usually left out of the discussion, not just as participants, but as a minority group to be discussed.

Last stat I read was 90% of native people’s in the Americas were wiped out. Not just a US thing, but context.[/quote]

Again: tragic. Still not genocide.

56

[quote]Molotov_Coktease wrote:
Plenty of insane bollocks happen in Germany, …not necessarily with regard to shoplifting perhaps, but…suddenly…

This thread is making me want to play…Germany or Florida!

There is a test to see if you can figure out how adept you are at choosing between the two, might make you rethink your ‘only in America’ attitudes.

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/take

This one was funny:

In an attempt to force himself into a healthy routine of exercise, a man hired a hit man to kill him if he failed to show up to any of his 3 weekly workouts for the past 5 years.

"At first I thought the ridiculous membership fees and that ludicrous up front joining fee would make me workout so I wouldn’t waste the money - but that didn’t work. Within weeks I was coming up with all sorts of lame pathetic excuses not to go. So I decided that if money wouldn’t promote me to go, losing my life would. The hit man idea has worked like a charm, maybe even too good.

There were some times that I truly would have preferred not to go, like that time I had bronchial asthmatic pneumonia. I’ve never had so much dark green mucus running down my face in my life, you should have seen that treadmill afterwards. But with all its ups and downs, my only complaint lately is that what I originally thought were expensive gym fees have been over shadowed by the high cost of the hit man.

Now that I want to stop, I can’t because I told him to shoot me if I told him I wanted to give up."[/quote]

Oh man! I remember “Germany or Florida” from when Loveline was on the radio back in high school. Funny stuff.

57

[quote]Inner Hulk wrote:
hedo wrote:
US Police aren’t trigger happy

Hahaha. That’s a joke.[/quote]

Actually it’s a fact. Travel a bit and you will see.

Try some really stupid shit in Mexico or other parts of South America, Asia or Africa and see what trigger happy really means. Make sure you let them know you aren’t from that country to get that extra special hospitality! Then tell them what you think of the their system of government and police force. I’m sure it will be a friendly and enlightening experience for all involved.

58

[quote]hedo wrote:
No problem. Your posts make me laugh quite often…just returning the favor.

By the way those links came from about 2 minutes on Google. All first page. I didn’t bother reading the other 25 pages.
Do you only agree with Amnesty International when they agree with the point you are trying to make…like something regarding Gitmo?

Are you sure you live in Germany? When I was there in the late 80’s the German cops were known to swing a thing called a truncheon pretty freely for just about any reason. One of the main reasons they would beat on you was if you were Turkish or Kurdish. God help a Turk who actually got caught comitting a crime. I hear they aren’t to fond of Scientologists these days. Do they welcome guest workers with open arms these days in the Fatherland?

AND [since apparently, this wasn’t enough]

German cops use impact weapons. Batons and truncheons. Far more destuctive to the intended victim then a taser.

Ask a guest worker or a G8 protestor?

US Police aren’t trigger happy and bad shooting are investigated thoroughly in the US, nor covered up. Again ask a G8 protestor how quick the Germans are with their cell keys and what crimes they were charged with? Too funny.

Your hatred has blinded you from reality. Read something not written by a Social Democrat and make an informed opinion.
[/quote]

I’m glad I live in a country where they beat you with sticks and not taser you, for reasons you obviously do not understand or don’t want to.

The majority of my friends is left, of course ( since being openly right in Germany is more or less an invitation for trouble). Funny enough, this is the only time they’d agree with you: namely that Germany’s police is really mean and evil and that they routinely cover up their brutalizings.
In reality however, most young guys who become cops here can’t believe how little authority they have and either burn out or quickly strive for a higher education & career, away from the street.

Turks have a good life in Germany. I should know, I know a shitload of them and lived practically constantly near quasi-turkish hotspots (even now)- unlike you. The problem is that many young Turks don’t know if they should feel german, turkish or whatnot and have a poor education as well as religious/ cultural background which is undemocratic and backward and doesn’t really help integration. Most don’t realize that and just whine.

And scientologies can go fuck themselves. It’s not a religion. If you start giving out tax benefits too freely, walmart and citibank will soon apply, too.

G8:Compare how we treated the protesters with other countries.
Not ideal, but still.
Lefties will always whine, no matter how police treats them, as you know. I spare you anecdotes of certain “castor-transports” through Germany, how left wingers and green party members endangered atomic transports and how mindblowingly delicate and tender most of the time the cops engaged them. Since you’re a Germany-expert, you already know.

You still fail to see the point: Our cops here get wet batons when they imagine how their american colleagues can treat a citizen - and get legally away with it.

59

[quote]Schwarzfahrer wrote:
hedo wrote:
No problem. Your posts make me laugh quite often…just returning the favor.

By the way those links came from about 2 minutes on Google. All first page. I didn’t bother reading the other 25 pages.
Do you only agree with Amnesty International when they agree with the point you are trying to make…like something regarding Gitmo?

Are you sure you live in Germany? When I was there in the late 80’s the German cops were known to swing a thing called a truncheon pretty freely for just about any reason. One of the main reasons they would beat on you was if you were Turkish or Kurdish. God help a Turk who actually got caught comitting a crime. I hear they aren’t to fond of Scientologists these days. Do they welcome guest workers with open arms these days in the Fatherland?

AND [since apparently, this wasn’t enough]

German cops use impact weapons. Batons and truncheons. Far more destuctive to the intended victim then a taser.

Ask a guest worker or a G8 protestor?

US Police aren’t trigger happy and bad shooting are investigated thoroughly in the US, nor covered up. Again ask a G8 protestor how quick the Germans are with their cell keys and what crimes they were charged with? Too funny.

Your hatred has blinded you from reality. Read something not written by a Social Democrat and make an informed opinion.

I’m glad I live in a country where they beat you with sticks and not taser you, for reasons you obviously do not understand or don’t want to.

The majority of my friends is left, of course ( since being openly right in Germany is more or less an invitation for trouble). Funny enough, this is the only time they’d agree with you: namely that Germany’s police is really mean and evil and that they routinely cover up their brutalizings.
In reality however, most young guys who become cops here can’t believe how little authority they have and either burn out or quickly strive for a higher education & career, away from the street.

Turks have a good life in Germany. I should know, I know a shitload of them and lived practically constantly near quasi-turkish hotspots (even now)- unlike you. The problem is that many young Turks don’t know if they should feel german, turkish or whatnot and have a poor education as well as religious/ cultural background which is undemocratic and backward and doesn’t really help integration. Most don’t realize that and just whine.

And scientologies can go fuck themselves. It’s not a religion. If you start giving out tax benefits too freely, walmart and citibank will soon apply, too.

G8:Compare how we treated the protesters with other countries.
Not ideal, but still.
Lefties will always whine, no matter how police treats them, as you know. I spare you anecdotes of certain “castor-transports” through Germany, how left wingers and green party members endangered atomic transports and how mindblowingly delicate and tender most of the time the cops engaged them. Since you’re a Germany-expert, you already know.

You still fail to see the point: Our cops here get wet batons when they imagine how their american colleagues can treat a citizen - and get legally away with it.
[/quote]

I would rather be tasered than beaten with a baton and according to Amnesty International Germany does not keep statistics and covers up the use of the baton so you are basically talking out your ass.

60

[quote]hedo wrote:
Inner Hulk wrote:
hedo wrote:
US Police aren’t trigger happy

Hahaha. That’s a joke.

Actually it’s a fact. Travel a bit and you will see.

Try some really stupid shit in Mexico or other parts of South America, Asia or Africa and see what trigger happy really means. [/quote]

Focus. We were talking about Germany.