The Zimmerman Trial

[Hauldren Collider]

I assume you just made that up, but I googled it anyway and the second result on google was Noam Chomsky.

[KrazyHorse]

I made it up. If it's Chomsky then I deserve a Nobel prize...

[Koyaanisqatsi]

The clearest meaning I can determine is that he is saying that neighborhood watches are powerful because they don't just ignore crimes.

Individuals feel power because they have the option not to report. Along with all the other reasons that are nicer like the feeling of protecting people, etc.

And this is a little less clear, but it seems that he is saying that an organized method of communicating with the police is too much "authority" for your everyday citizen to possess.

Seems to have been in this case.

Would it make things easier on you if I just said these kinds of programs are attractive to people who are too interested in things that aren't any of their business and, like the police, people who want to be able to say what is right or wrong? The big difference is that the police at least are willing to train and filter the people they get. Volunteers don't have the same checks in place.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Our humanity is dependent on the nostalgia we feel for primitive ways of being

Thus my avatar, natch.

[regexcellent]

Your username is a ****ty auteur film about nature.

(which, to my displeasure, I was required to watch part of)

[Koyaanisqatsi]

True, though the people who made it would argue with it being about nature. I was forced to watch it too.

[notyoueither]

And then you'll be able to get it again in two months when it all falls to pieces.

Used Lada dealership?

[Berzerker]

Then maybe you shouldn't have been watching him as if he was a criminal?

That'd be my job as a neighborhood watch volunteer... Our community has been terrorized by a rash of home invasions and burglaries and young black males are the suspects, and here's a strange young black male acting suspiciously...

To be honest, I've never understood neighborhood watch programs (regardless of this case). They always seem to me like great examples of the idea that the last person you should hand power to is someone who goes out of their way to get it, even if that power is only in their own head.

They aint running for office, just trying to deter crime

Zimmerman risked his life for his neighbors and nothing I've seen tells me Martin had cause to attack him

[Koyaanisqatsi]

That'd be my job as a neighborhood watch volunteer... Our community has been terrorized by a rash of home invasions and burglaries and young black males are the suspects, and here's a strange young black male acting suspiciously...

And what qualifications did he have to do that job? Who determined if he was doing the job well, based on what criteria? What would happen if he wasn't doing the job well? What processes are in place if somebody wanted to claim he wasn't doing the job well?

I don't have a problem with police because there are well defined answers to those questions (even if they are not always implemented quite as written). Quasi-police volunteers...well, it's not a job that amateurs should get involved in, it's too important for that.

They aint running for office, just trying to deter crime

Zimmerman risked his life for his neighbors and nothing I've seen tells me Martin had cause to attack him

I'd rather they were running for office, really.

[kentonio]

It's hard to hear you over the sound of the giant victim complex you're building.

**** that *****. She's a fat, slow, dumb ****.

Aww, Gordon Gecko's back. :hi:

Well you see, it's not usually a victim 'complex' when you're actually a victim. She lost a close friend to murder and America tried to help her by humiliating and shaming her at every turn. Pretty much exactly the level of class I'd expect to see from you guys in fact.

[Felch]

And what qualifications did he have to do that job? Who determined if he was doing the job well, based on what criteria? What would happen if he wasn't doing the job well? What processes are in place if somebody wanted to claim he wasn't doing the job well?

I don't have a problem with police because there are well defined answers to those questions (even if they are not always implemented quite as written). Quasi-police volunteers...well, it's not a job that amateurs should get involved in, it's too important for that.

This attitude is why Europeans are such a bunch of pussies.

[rah]

Aww, Gordon Gecko's back. :hi:

Well you see, it's not usually a victim 'complex' when you're actually a victim. She lost a close friend to murder and America tried to help her by humiliating and shaming her at every turn. Pretty much exactly the level of class I'd expect to see from you guys in fact.

Hmm, she lost a close friend in a tragedy an has received support from a good portion of America and has now received an offer for a full ride scholarship to any college in the US. And all you can focus on is some morons that poked a little fun at her. There are always a few bullies everywhere.

[SlowwHand]

What does the method matter? Is being hacked to death so much better than being shot?

[Sava]

What does the method matter? Is being hacked to death so much better than being shot?

I'd prefer shot.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

And what qualifications did he have to do that job?

The only qualificaion required is the willingness to do a volunteer job for no pay out of a sense of responsibility and service to the community.

Who determined if he was doing the job well, based on what criteria? What would happen if he wasn't doing the job well? What processes are in place if somebody wanted to claim he wasn't doing the job well?

If anyone didn't like what he was doing it is well within their own abilities to volunteer to do it in his stead. This typically is the problem with home owners associations everyone wants to ***** about the volunteers who do things, but never want to get involved to make a meaningful change. However, given the interviews of his neighbors it would seem that most folks were happy with his volunteerism and service to the community.

I don't have a problem with police because there are well defined answers to those questions (even if they are not always implemented quite as written). Quasi-police volunteers...well, it's not a job that amateurs should get involved in, it's too important for that.

Which is the reason why most folks are disgusted by public beheadings without anyone from the public doing jack ****e about it or wanting to get involved. The ole "Not my problem thats for the police to deal with....." Ohhh but no one is empowered to call the police in the first place so there is that.

I'd rather they were running for office, really.

Right, because only elected officials are capable of reaching out to the police, not the mere citizenry.