Should you report Cannibis dealing?

[Farm Boy]

In this locality the suspension of library privileges isn't even complete. They're still happy to let you use the services of the library while inside the library. They just don't sanction you taking things with you if they're not convinced you'll probably either bring the things back or replace them if you don't(or pay the 10cents a day overusage fee if you squat on product past it's due date).

 

[Timsup2nothin]

In this locality the suspension of library privileges isn't even complete. They're still happy to let you use the services of the library while inside the library. They just don't sanction you taking things with you if they're not convinced you'll probably either bring the things back or replace them if you don't(or pay the 10cents a day overusage fee if you squat on product past it's due date).

I suspect that is true everywhere. I have never seen a bouncer at the library checking for past due fines before allowing entry.

 

[warpus]

Isn't it violence only when these men act in a violent manner? If there is no punch to the face, no forceful action, no guns going off, the mere presence of men capable of inciting violence is not violent on its own. You need to have someone act in a violent manner for it to be violence. Otherwise you can point to any cop walking down the street and say: "Violence!" and be correct.

I mean, I've seen libertarians try to redefine the word "violence" to include the making of omlettes, but those people are mental.. so..

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Isn't it violence only when these men act in a violent manner? If there is no punch to the face, no forceful action, no guns going off, the mere presence of men capable of inciting violence is not violent on its own. You need to have someone act in a violent manner for it to be violence. Otherwise you can point to any cop walking down the street and say: "Violence!" and be correct.

I mean, I've seen libertarians try to redefine the word "violence" to include the making of omlettes, but those people are mental.. so..

My views are formed from the submarine experience. No US submarine has fired a shot since WW2. Yet that packaged violence holds the entire planet hostage. So it is in my nature to consider entire consequence chains.

You can't point to the cop walking down the street and say "there goes a good non violent guy," because you are talking about a guy who took a job that involves carrying a gun and being willing to use it. Maybe the cop you are pointing at never has, and maybe he never will, but he did choose that job.

When a rat calls the cops they are usually either willfully or unintentionally ignoring the possible chains of circumstances that they are choosing to set in motion. Just like the guy who watches a city annihilated on the other side of the planet wants to say "I just pushed a button," the rat often does not want to take responsibility for an outcome. Usually this sort of rat can be corrected just by making them aware of the possibilities that their actions set in motion.

Of course there are other rats, who intend to benefit from what they unleash. My last encounter with code enforcement was over an "inoperable car" at my mother's house. They sent her a notice to have the "inoperable car" removed, along with a picture of the car with a flat tire. By "sheer coincidence" the next day there was a guy at her door asking about buying the car. I approached the guy under the pretense of being a neighbor who had tried to buy the car as well, and he established himself as the "more clever buyer" who had used a call to code enforcement to encourage a possible sale...a clever tactic that he claimed to have had some great successes with in the past. That type of rat I consider virulent enough to merit prompt corrective action beyond just trying to raise their awareness.

 

[warpus]

It's just that violence is only violence until it's violence. The presence of somebody with the equipment required to incite violence is not violence in itself. I myself have fists that are capable of violence, yet you couldn't single out violence here until I actually start swinging.

 

[El_Machinae]

If someone's being savagely beaten, somebody's already calling the cops. It would be incredibly out of the ordinary to see - half the neighbourhood would be watching. People would be likely running out to help, so I'd join them.

Never, ever(!) underestimate the damage the Bystander Effect can do.

The bystander effect, or bystander apathy, is a social psychological phenomenon that refers to cases in which individuals do not offer any means of help to a victim when other people are present. The probability of help is inversely related to the number of bystanders. In other words, the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is that any one of them will help.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

It's just that violence is only violence until it's violence. The presence of somebody with the equipment required to incite violence is not violence in itself. I myself have fists that are capable of violence, yet you couldn't single out violence here until I actually start swinging.

I could if you took a job as a bouncer, or any other form of professional thug.

I acknowledge that I was a violent criminal, despite the fact that I not only never used any violence to commit a crime but I never actually even explicitly threatened to do so. My choice of crimes was based on the very high probability they had that there would never be any actual physical violence required...but the fact that the threat of violence was implied so undeniably that I neither had to point it out nor follow through on it doesn't mean it wasn't there.

 

[warpus]

Sure, but the treat of violence is not violence.

A promise of a cheese pizza at 5pm is not an actual cheese pizza, etc.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Sure, but the treat of violence is not violence.

A promise of a cheese pizza at 5pm is not an actual cheese pizza, etc.

Let's say that I stand against coercion rather than against violence and call it good, hey?

 

[Borachio]

University registrars: Cops who use violence when you don't pay your tuition.

Hehehe. Good game!

Boating lake attendants: cops who use violence by not letting you take a boat out until you've paid your sixpence.

 

[warpus]

Let's say that I stand against coercion rather than against violence and call it good, hey?

Sounds good to me! But is a bouncer not letting you into a bar really coercion? He's just doing his job - you don't have a nice shirt on and your pants are sagging.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Sounds good to me! But is a bouncer not letting you into a bar really coercion? He's just doing his job - you don't have a nice shirt on and your pants are sagging.

Ah. I was actually thinking more of the bouncer who throws me out than the one who does not let me in, but I think it is the same coercion through threat of violence either way. Let's face it, if Casper Milquetoast is at the door saying no you can't come in he will likely not be effective. Same with being "asked to leave".

The bouncer has to be of sufficient cut that the silent "or else" at the end of every request that he makes can cut through whatever fog may be inhabiting the mind of the patron in question. That is his job.

 

[Farm Boy]

Never, ever(!) underestimate the damage the Bystander Effect can do.

One of the worst places to have a heart attack can be in the middle of a busy shopping mall. Lost an uncle that way. Still missing him 20 years on.