The Zimmerman Trial

[self biased]

Then what good are they? Unless you're splitting the hair of applying law to the population being different than causing law to be applied to the population, in which case I'll refer you to my earlier comment about the power inherent in choosing to report or not to report.

I can't tell if you're being outrageously willfully obtuse or crafting the most magnificent mountain out of a molehill.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I'm following the rule of law argument to its end to see what's there.

[The Mad Monk]

That's pretty clearly not the case, as someone who was qualified to do it wouldn't have put themselves in the situation where they could get sucker punched (again, going with that version of events).

So anyone who gets ambushed while looking for a suspicious person is not qualified?

[self biased]

So anyone who gets ambushed while looking for a suspicious person is not qualified?

evidently. But Leto II taught us that precognition ultimately leads to the stagnantion of society

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

That's pretty clearly not the case, as someone who was qualified to do it wouldn't have put themselves in the situation where they could get sucker punched (again, going with that version of events).

Given he was conversing with the 911 dispatcher and following up on her question as to which way the suspicious individual was going and then further complying with stopping any pursuit in accordance with the suggestion that "we don't need you to do that" seems he was simply assisting and complying to the best of his ability as the 911 dispatcher suggested. I see no reason to think he was unqualified or incapable of his volunteered role as a consequence.

Any further reason for being outside of his vehicle was an attempt to put himself in direct and earliest contact with the dispatched officer. I suppose remaining outside your vehicle to meet someone means you should be immediately disqualified to be a neighborhood watch person as a result.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

So anyone who gets ambushed while looking for a suspicious person is not qualified?

Correction - anyone getting ambushed while waiting for the cops to show.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Isn't that the first rule of a neighborhood watch? Don't put yourself into dangerous situations? If they can't fulfill that then no, they aren't qualified for the position.

Or are you taking the position that getting out of the car in the first place was the right thing for him to do and properly balanced potentially relaying information about a possibly suspicious person vs. leaving the safety of the car and going out into the dark with a possibly suspicious person?

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Then what good are they? Unless you're splitting the hair of applying law to the population being different than causing law to be applied to the population, in which case I'll refer you to my earlier comment about the power inherent in choosing to report or not to report.

The power to report or not report is part of any persons responsibility. The utterly flawed logic that only super uberly trained and/or elected people have the wherewithal and temperment to report crimes or otherwise suspicious activity is completely laughable.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Isn't that the first rule of a neighborhood watch? Don't put yourself into dangerous situations? If they can't fulfill that then no, they aren't qualified for the position.

No there are no written codes of conduct or rules to speak of. So your assumptions are completely unfounded. It may be common sense but so is the idea of attempting to be as helpful as possible to the authorities.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

It's part of their personal responsibility, sure. But there's a difference between reporting that your house was broken into and reporting that your neighbor's house might be broken into at some point in the future. I have little faith in people who are trained to get the second one right consistently and no faith in people without training doing it at all.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

No there are no written codes of conduct or rules to speak of. So your assumptions are completely unfounded. It may be common sense but so is the idea of attempting to be as helpful as possible to the authorities.

Every time I've ever heard of a neighborhood watch interacting with law enforcement, that is the first thing that the watch is told.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Or are you taking the position that getting out of the car in the first place was the right thing for him to do and properly balanced potentially relaying information about a possibly suspicious person vs. leaving the safety of the car and going out into the dark with a possibly suspicious person?

I believe I was clear. He got out of the car in order to provide the 911 dispatcher with the information the dispatcher requested. He broke off pursuit per the 911 dispatchers request. He remained outside his vehicel in order to facilitate earliest possible meeting time with the dispatched officer. Nothing untoward or otherwise unqualified about those actions.

During the time when he was outside waiting for the cops he got sucker punched.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Every time I've ever heard of a neighborhood watch interacting with law enforcement, that is the first thing that the watch is told.

Gee that bit of common sense applies to living in general. You need to be aware of your surroundings and don't put yourself into dangerous situations. I suppose Zimmerman should be found unfit for life and immediately terminated.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I believe I was clear. He got out of the car in order to provide the 911 dispatcher with the information the dispatcher requested. He broke off pursuit per the 911 dispatchers request. He remained outside his vehicel in order to facilitate earliest possible meeting time with the dispatched officer. Nothin untoward or otherwise unqualified about those actions.

If you think that pursuing someone you believe to be dangerous on foot in order to help the police who are already on their way is reasonable, then I'd say you're not qualified for a neighborhood watch position either. And I'm quite certain that the police would agree with me.

[DinoDoc]

Stupidity has already been immunized from consequence long before this case, Ogie.

Gee that bit of common sense applies to living in general. You need to be aware of your surroundings and don't put yourself into dangerous situations. I suppose Zimmerman should be found unfit for life and immediately terminated.

Well his idiocy has already claimed one innocent life...