11 March 2009

Anger at the Police for this mornings disruption!

| Efsevia
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This morning while driving down Gungahlin Dr (on my way to work, during peakhour) I was forced to merge into the right hand lane, because a police officer decided it was a HUGELY WONDERFUL idea to park his cruiser in the left hand lane (just after a set of lights and just before the GDE on ramp from GD). He stood there on the side of the road, watching the traffic, whilst another police officer walked around the scrub behind him. She seemed to be searching for something? There was another car which was totally off the road in front of the police officer, and another plain clothes guy wandering around with the female officer…

WHY COULDN”T THE POLICE CAR ALSO PULL OFF THE ROAD?! WHAT WAS SOOOO IMPORTANT THAT HE COULDN”T JUST TAKE HIS CAR OFF THE ROAD, INSTEAD OF DISRUPTING THE TRAFFIC?!

Speaking of dodgy parking by police officers… I always thought there was some rule about where they pull you over? Now, one evening coming home from work, I was shocked at the stupidity presented by what I saw: a police officer had pulled over a motorist (fair enough) but he decided it was a good idea to do this just before a bridge, where it’s single lane in both directions, and where no one could see them until it was nearly too late. It’s an 80km road. Couldn’t the officer ask the driver to pull off the road, and do the same himself before attempting to fine the motorist? I was tempted to go back to the police officer and tell him off – but I figure that I’d end up getting into some sort of trouble by arguing with a police officer…

But seriously – doesn’t anyone else see this stuff and shake their heads at it? I’m sooo angry!

They get to uphold the law, but don’t use any common sense in doing so?!

[ED – *diving for the fire bunker…*]

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jakez said :

Lol I partly agreed with the troll.

Uber fail for me.

No fail.

The ones who react with insults (the ones playing the man, not the ball) are the ones who failed.

They are all valid points. Points that most around here never consider.

If you run for LA jakez, I’d vote for you.

Lol I partly agreed with the troll.

Uber fail for me.

um jim. I said [/thread]

But as I say to my wife: I can keep up all day if you are in the mood.

Curse you farq.

Successful troll is successful. 🙂
[/thread]

dexi said :

Teach your kids fear and distrust of clowns.

John Wayne Gacey = proof!!!

Teach your kids fear and distrust of clowns.

Clown Killer3:33 pm 17 Mar 09

Will somebody please drive a stake through this threads cold, black heart!

Jim Jones said :

There’s a very big difference between teaching road safety and actively advocating fear and distrust of the road.

okay then, I’m not teaching my kids fear and distrust of police. It’s police-safety.

farq said :

Jim Jones said :

Hmm … perhaps you could explain how you think teaching your children fear and distrust might impact positively upon their development.

Do you teach your children to stay away from and fear the road. To distrust the skill of other road users (I know it’s taring all drivers with the same brush, most are quite skilful)?

Do you teach your children that the stove is hot (even though more often than not is cold and off)?

🙂

There’s a very big difference between teaching road safety and actively advocating fear and distrust of the road.

Jim Jones said :

Hmm … perhaps you could explain how you think teaching your children fear and distrust might impact positively upon their development.

Do you teach your children to stay away from and fear the road. To distrust the skill of other road users (I know it’s taring all drivers with the same brush, most are quite skilful)?

Do you teach your children that the stove is hot (even though more often than not is cold and off)?

🙂

Hmm … perhaps you could explain how you think teaching your children fear and distrust might impact positively upon their development.

This is slowly turning into a good discussion… I’m sure we can bring the tone down again soon!

Can anyone provide a link to what exactly afp officers swear too? My google-fu seems to be lacking.

I dunno, the coast guard?

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Farq “Police seem to be the only one where they are not ashamed that they react to people they dislike. In fact they seem proud that their professional standards are so easily compromised.”

I’ve seen this in action many times in relation to how you present. Probably the easiest example is how male officers treat men and women when confronted with the same offence. Mostly Women will be let off while the male offender will be intimidated and possible charged. It helps if you are a big breasted flirtatious blonde.

If you think police don’t make snap judgments then maybe you are lucky enough not to appear like a criminal or are blonde.

“Doctors are a good example of the kind of professional standards we should seek from our police force. “

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24240938-421,00.html

Yes, a brilliant example

farq said :

Police swear an oath to the law, not to what is right. Therefore, it is best to limit your exposure to them.

I take a similar view. I don’t think that makes me a crazy anarchist or lunatic criminal.

Madame Workalot said :

Why then don’t I feel the same way about police as you do? I think there’s a simple explanation – I choose to believe in the system. Without that belief we have nothing.

Yummy kool aid eh?

Believing in the system is one thing (although I don’t think a belief in the system is all we have). I don’t dispute that the police force should exist, they absolutely should. However keeping an extremely strong and skeptical eye on those who have a great deal of power seems to me to be only natural not to mention beneficial. As they say, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. I would apply that same maxim to justice as well.

Oh, and excellent post, Madame Workalot!

BerraBoy68, I love that you play Santa at their Christmas parties!

: )

Madame Workalot12:42 pm 17 Mar 09

Finally – I can post again! Stupid computer…

OT – Farq, I really hope one day you realise just how dangerous your actions are. I find it incredibly hard to believe that your views are the norm among your social group, and think that tends to paint a clearer picture of your friends than it does of the behaviour of police officers. JB – a poll would be interesting here 😛

It is unrealistic and naive to believe that ALL police officers are good people and will never hurt anyone. However, it is ignorant and harmful to believe that all police officers (or even the majority) are dangerous and untrustworthy. In all honesty, if those are the values you are instilling in your kids I genuinely fear for their safety if they ever get involved in a situation where police assistance is necessary.

What would your solution be, Farq? Do you propose to have absolutely no police officers and just leave everyone to their own devices? Or do you think the force itself should be dismantled and rebuilt from scratch? Can you give examples of your interactions with officers that have led you to feel this way? Because if you can’t, I’m inclined to believe (and hope!) that you don’t really feel this way and are just trolling.

FWIW, I had a very unpleasant interaction with a police officer in my youth. It ended up (besides causing me significant psychological damage at the time) being investigated internally and referred to the Ombudsman and led to significant changes in that particular region (I was told 5 officers lost their jobs and about another 30 were disciplined).

Why then don’t I feel the same way about police as you do? I think there’s a simple explanation – I choose to believe in the system. Without that belief we have nothing.

LOL, but agreed!

berraboy, you and i both know that the kids that are raised to not respect authority end up on the wrong side of the law. case and point is half of charnwood in the ’80s…

farq said :

vg said :

You cannot be ‘indoctrinated with culture’ in a training academy. Organisational culture is something you have to be immersed in post training to experience.

But the culture is there.

Farq – a word of advice, for god sake keep your kids away from Russell,Duntroon or in fact anywhere military personnel may be. As an ex-member of the military I can tell you they certainly do spend several months purposely stripping you down from your position when you join and indoctrinate you into their culture. You eat live and sleep the military 24/7. And guess what? All this is to ensure you become an effectve trained killer!! Now I’ve read your concerns, I’ll let my kids school know that after 4 years playing Santa at their Xmas parties, I can no longer be trusted around children.

vg said :

…you aren’t a nutter, just a twit.

Holly shit, for VG that is pretty much a compliment 🙂

vg said :

You cannot be ‘indoctrinated with culture’ in a training academy. Organisational culture is something you have to be immersed in post training to experience.

But the culture is there.

Whatsup said :

farq said :

You would be surprised how common this view is among 30ish, educated middle class people. All but the most shut-in of my co-workers and friends share similar cop-horror stories, which has evaporated (or in the process of,) their trust in the police and the law.

Although our demographic is the same, I don’t know anyone who has so little respect for the law and those who attempt to maintain it as you do. Maybe you and your friends are not the norm…. have you considered that ? Its a radical suggestion I know.

ah, farq counted me out with the edumacated bit. so THATs why i am different! must be my slum roots. I will continue to teach my children that the police are there to protect us against bad people, and that they should never be afraid to ask them for help.

farq said :

You would be surprised how common this view is among 30ish, educated middle class people. All but the most shut-in of my co-workers and friends share similar cop-horror stories, which has evaporated (or in the process of,) their trust in the police and the law.

Although our demographic is the same, I don’t know anyone who has so little respect for the law and those who attempt to maintain it as you do. Maybe you and your friends are not the norm…. have you considered that ? Its a radical suggestion I know.

“Police swear an oath to the law, not to what is right. Therefore, it is best to limit your exposure to them.”

This line alone shows you have no idea at all of what you are talking about. Maybe too much talkin’ ’bout the five oh online and watching US TV shows.

You cannot be ‘indoctrinated with culture’ in a training academy. Organisational culture is something you have to be immersed in post training to experience.

I dunno why I actually bothered with the above, you aren’t a nutter, just a twit. I was taught to styand up for myself but there is a time and place to do it, not all day every day. If you do it in every social situation you’re involved in people will just think you’re a toss bag………..hang on a second……………………

You really are a complete freakin’ nutter.

I would not suggest that the readership of the riot-act represents the view of the wider community. Besides, lurkers are everywhere. They may not say anything, maybe I have said it well enough for them 🙂

While yes, I am a troll (I have always admitted that). I still say that of the groups mentioned cops are the highest risk for abuse. In most cases, the culture they are indoctrinated with at training encourages it. Police seem to be the only one where they are not ashamed that they react to people they dislike. In fact they seem proud that their professional standards are so easily compromised.

You would be surprised how common this view is among 30ish, educated middle class people. All but the most shut-in of my co-workers and friends share similar cop-horror stories, which has evaporated (or in the process of,) their trust in the police and the law.

I teach my kids to stand up for themselves. This is obviously not a wise idea when confronted with a pig.

Police swear an oath to the law, not to what is right. Therefore, it is best to limit your exposure to them.

Farq, the Police are obviously are as bad as you make out, given the amount of support you have received…….. NOT.

Farq is a troll….simple.

Granny said :

Excellent point, Spideydog!

: )

Thanks Granny 😉

You’re a very special person Farq. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Do you need a hug?

PsydFX: +1
Farq: -1

Farq, at the risk of being moderated, I’m going to tell you what I really think.

I think you’re an idiot and it’s the fault of you and irresponsible parents like you that cause the violent clashes between youths and police. By teaching your children that Police are not to be trusted or respected causes this bullshit anti-police mentality that will inevitably result in aggressive behaviour towards Police.

You mentioned Police violence in relation to breaking up teen parties, guess what, I’ve seen the same the news reports, however, I seem to have noticed that preceding the “Police violence” that there is usally mention of numerous youths pelting Police Officers with rocks and glass bottles. So violence is ok when it’s directed towards Police is it? But they can’t defend themselves?

If you actually spent your time properly educating your children about Police and their role, this us and them mentality could finally be put to rest.

Italics…that’ll teach me for not previewing.

farq said :

peterh said :

Ever seen how police behave in crowd control situations? At protests? Handling teenagers at a noisy party? Ever seen an ambo work like that?

Never seen an ambo have to deal with crowd control situations or protests or teenagers at noisy parties.

As for the professional standards of doctors…I have experienced some shockers and heard some absolute horror stories.

and we haven’t even started on psychiatrists…

I had a doctor abuse his position of authority after I gave birth to my third child. I have also been told by one midwife about one obstetrician who insisted on feeling his patients’ breasts. There was no medical reason for this.

Abuse of power or authority can and does occur in every profession.

“Doctors are a good example of the kind of professional standards we should seek from our police force. “

Jayant Patel anyone?

“Ever seen how police behave in crowd control situations? At protests? Handling teenagers at a noisy party? Ever seen an ambo work like that?”

Yep, yep, yep and yep…….the sky is falling

peterh said :

imagine the situation of a group of kids at an event steering clear of const kenny koala, as he wasn’t to be trusted. “because Daddy said so”. wake up to yourself. there are always going to be abusers of authority, but i haven’t met one yet, in my 38 odd years of life so far.

Don’t lump fire brigade and ambos in that mob. In fact I tell my kids if they get lost at the show (or similar) to seek them out them out over a copper.

Ever seen how police behave in crowd control situations? At protests? Handling teenagers at a noisy party? Ever seen an ambo work like that?

Almost all of us were raised to trust the police. Just some of us have that belief changed after seeing example after example of the unprofessional behaviour they are capable of.

Maybe you need to get out and about more. They might change your mind for you too!

BTW: Who raises their kids to trust large corporations or lawyers? Or priests for that matter nowadays?

farq said :

Reply

farq said :

Reply

farq said :

Simple, none of the people you mention are likely (or have a long history) of using violence when their status is affronted.

Yes they do. Every authority form mentioned has a history of precisely this, and it wouldn’t be too hard to give examples.

PsydFX said :

Let me ask this: do you also teach your kids to walk away from family members, doctors, preists, lawyers, bankers, large corporations, the government or any of the other billion entities that may abuse their authority?

Simple, none of the people you mention are likely (or have a long history) of using violence when their status is affronted.

Doctors are a good example of the kind of professional standards we should seek from our police force. They are just as human as any of us, yet medical professionals don’t allow the actions/words/attitude of their patients influence the standard of care they offer.

Police often talk about people failing ‘the attitude test’ and then ‘throwing the book at them’ with glee (with the mob cheering on).

We would be appalled if Doctors worked like that. They hold a standard that everyone is entitled to the best of care, no matter what they think of the patient.

Why are police not held to a similar standard?

bump: for farq wearing a tin foil hat so that the evil police can’t read his thoughts and take him to jail to torture him FOR NO REASON AT ALL!!!

farq said :

BerraBoy68 did you even read what I wrote? Because I think you just skimmed it and read what you wanted to hear (looking for a black to your white).

Yes Farq, I read your post several times. I read it as you meant it and as yu statet in your subsequent post at #163. I just think you are tarring al cops with the same brush. I’ve met many police, some socially and some professionally and I’m yet to meet one that abuses their authority, especially in relation to children.

PsydFX makes a good point at post #165 and I’d be interested in your response. Until then I stand by my comments on the stupidty of your position.

Why would you bump something that makes sound like an ignorant fool?

Let me ask this: do you also teach your kids to walk away from family members, doctors, preists, lawyers, bankers, large corporations, the government or any of the other billion entities that may abuse their authority?

bump – for the lunch time readers.

Oh the lulz.

BerraBoy68 did you even read what I wrote? Because I think you just skimmed it and read what you wanted to hear (looking for a black to your white).

“…unless you are in danger (only then are they worth the risk). Cops CAN BE very dangerous…”

Anyone who disputes the logic of the statement probably needs to think long and hard about the injustices that the law causes (lawfully and unlawfully) everyday.

Birch (and his many colleagues that turned a blind eye) is only the most recent example (that is documented) that comes to mind. How many more abuses go unreported?

If I had all day, I would provide you with countless other examples. Ones not even from the 1980s. Pathetic this stuff happens from “those that protect us” I know, but listening to many of the comments on this board, it sounds like we get the police force we deserve! At least my kids will be mitigating their exposure and risk 🙂

farq said :

That is why I tell my kids: if you see a cop, turn around and walk the other way. On no accounts talk to them unless you are in danger (only then are they worth the risk). Cops can be very dangerous because if they don’t like you they will abuse their authority.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything so bloody stupid in my entire life. I hope nothing bad happens to your kids due to your instilling a fear in them of those that protect us – you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself.

Efsevia said :

(Why do I feel that no matter what I write here, I’m just digging a deeper hole?)

Tip #1 – put the shovel down!

Madame Workalot9:37 am 13 Mar 09

Agreed nicnacvb – that does sound like it wasn’t really well thought out.

If it was me in that position, I would probably call the police station and explain my concerns, and ask them if they might mention it to officers posted in that area. I would be polite and then I could at least feel like I’ve done the right thing.

Farq – gee, your children are going to grow up to be well-rounded individuals aren’t they? Do you also tell them that strangers are all out to kidnap and abuse them? Reminds me of a woman I used to know who told her kids that if they didn’t behave the police would come and get them. Those children grew up to believe that police were only there to punish them, and when they did need help when they were older? Yep – you guessed it, they were so bloody terrified of the police that they couldn’t help until it was too late. I’m not a parent, but I would be very wary of what values I’m instilling in my children.

The idea of a slip lane (as I see it) is that I enter the slip lane at 80km/hr then use the length of it to slow down to 20 or so km’s to make the turn. Thus preventing disruption to the fast moving traffic.

It’s also dangerous when I’m exiting because I can’t see around the parked car when I’m turning onto the highway.

I’d love to, Jim. I might give my library a heart attack and pay them a visit! I’ve always loved reading and did it a lot as a kid in the days when I had more ‘me’ time. Nowadays I wouldn’t even know what to read anymore.

Excellent point, Spideydog!

: )

nicnacvb said :

Just thought I’d follow the Newbie thing and add some more fuel to the fire with a rant of my own.

I have to second the vote that cops sometimes do some pretty dopey things. Every afternoon I pull into a certain driveway off a highway in Canberra where the speed limit is 80km/hr. This property has a dedicated slip lane to so that people entering can get out of the fast moving traffic, thus preventing many accidents.

At least once a week some idiot parks their car in the slip lane causing me to have to slow right down to get around them and into the driveway. Some people are just idiots. But not that long ago I came up the highway on the way to the property and found a cop car parked in the slip lane with a radar to catch people speeding.

So in the process of trying to make our roads a safer place, he nearly caused an accident when I had to slow down from 80km/hr to about 20km/hr to get into the driveway. You can imagine the feelings of the people travelling behind me.

Call me crazy (asking for trouble, I know), but I think a cop should know better.

Wouldn’t you normally have to slow down from 80ks to 20ks to enter your driveway anyway ??

Often thought of joining a book club. Could be good.

If you get a chance, check out Chabon’s book, ‘The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay’ (it won the Pulitzer in 2001) or ‘The Yiddish Policemen’s Union’.

It’s great stuff. Very readable.

That’s cool, Jim Jones. I’ve never heard of him. Maybe you could start an RA bookclub thread where we vote on a book to read from a few selected options and post our comments as we go. That could be kind of fun.

That’s hard reading for late night. I’m reading Michael Chabon, and even then my eyelids kept shutting down in protest.

You’re not wrong, Jim Jones!

I was up all night reading the Draft Accessible Inclusive Playgrounds in the ACT—Play Space Strategy. 141 pages later …. However, I am excited. It is excellent!

Nap time Granny?

Just thought I’d follow the Newbie thing and add some more fuel to the fire with a rant of my own.

I have to second the vote that cops sometimes do some pretty dopey things. Every afternoon I pull into a certain driveway off a highway in Canberra where the speed limit is 80km/hr. This property has a dedicated slip lane to so that people entering can get out of the fast moving traffic, thus preventing many accidents.

At least once a week some idiot parks their car in the slip lane causing me to have to slow right down to get around them and into the driveway. Some people are just idiots. But not that long ago I came up the highway on the way to the property and found a cop car parked in the slip lane with a radar to catch people speeding.

So in the process of trying to make our roads a safer place, he nearly caused an accident when I had to slow down from 80km/hr to about 20km/hr to get into the driveway. You can imagine the feelings of the people travelling behind me.

Call me crazy (asking for trouble, I know), but I think a cop should know better.

Dvaey, A guy changing his tyre on the side of the road in the dark is a little bit different to a police vehicle on the side of the road with emergency lights blazing. Not to mention that your vehicle is intentionally protected by the off set parked police vehicle.

In saying that…I wasn’t there in your case so we can’t really comment without the full facts.

farq said :

Aeek said :

Said? I would have been doing 40. Only relevant if I’d hit him or the barrier.

he could always lie.

your word against his. and only one of you has ‘authority’.

long story short, argue with a pig, you lose. they might just decide to ‘do you over’ by breaking rules, lying/make shat up and generally abusing the system to make you suffer (the ‘big man’ with a badge syndrome).

and their colleagues will look the other way with a smile while they do it.

I hate to point out the obvious, but you are pathetic……..its not the early 80s in NSW

Spideydog said :

Another thing to think about is sometimes police will indicate for a driver to pull over in a spot that is safe, but sometimes those drivers will continue to drive to a spot they think is better (ie, in front of a single lane bridge) Sometimes motorists think they know road safety better than the police and pull over when they see fit, often in a dangerous position. (not saying that police are perfect by any means)

You may or not remember about 10 years ago when a man was killed changing his tyre on Drakeford Drive just down from the Kambah Village. About 2 weeks after that fatal accident, I was pulled over for speeding in the same spot by a police car parked on the side of the road. When I finally pulled over, I tried to pull my car off the road out of the traffic. The police officer told me to stop the car and turn the engine off. I put my hazard lights on and told the officer I didnt feel safe sitting in the same place a driver was killed so recently and wanted to get out of the car. I was told to stay in my car and leave it in the left lane (just after a sweeping corner on an 80km/hr road). This seems unsafe and I have often seen traps setup in similar locations (cnr Boddington Cct) where the police pull cars into a slip lane, forcing cars that want to use the slip-lane to have to swerve around.

Id like to honestly see what an officer would do if you did try to continue to a ‘safe’ location against their wishes. No doubt they would issue an on-the-spot-fine rather than issue a court summons for disobeying an order, due to lower burden of proof.
[sorry for late rant, I only just got home from work]

stupid netbook again. ‘you are smarter than that’.

there fixed.

farq said :

You just wasted 30 seconds of our lives that we will never get back… I suppose you also tell your kids that Ice doesn’t only come in the freezer variety, and is also good for you ??

attempt, but I know ou are smarter than that.

ice is to keep daddy’s wiskey cold honey 🙂

Granny said :

Efsevia, STFU!

Thankyou!!

Granny, what gives you the right to tell this person what to do? Are they supposed to toady up and beg permission every time they have something to say?

“Yes, massa. No, massa. Three bags bloody full, massa.”

Who died and made you the speech police?

🙂

I dunno, I’m overloaded !!??

How many seconds now?

farq said :

Aeek said :

Said? I would have been doing 40. Only relevant if I’d hit him or the barrier.

he could always lie.

your word against his. and only one of you has ‘authority’.

long story short, argue with a pig, you lose. they might just decide to ‘do you over’ by breaking rules, lying/make shat up and generally abusing the system to make you suffer (the ‘big man’ with a badge syndrome).

and their colleagues will look the other way with a smile while they do it.

ROFLMAO – and the sky is falling too farq ….. pfft

Aeek said :

Spidey: Glad I didn’t overload your brain then.

Oh wow, you got me. You say my brain is overloaded when you want to ride your bike through a crowd control situation ??

farq said :

Aeek said :

I remember when the Chinese Supremacy Rally(1) was on, the police standing in the bike lanes oblivious to the idea that there might be cyclists. I was seriously tempted to speed between officer and crowd control barrier, but chose to claim the lane instead.

wise move. if you have said anything his ‘status’ would have been affronted, and we all know how pugs react when that happens (won’t matter if they are right or wrong, you will only get bad attitude from them) if he could find something to charge you with, that will be held over your head until you have fluffed his ego to compenstate for questioning his behavior.

That is why I tell my kids: if you see a cop, turn around and walk the other way. On no accounts talk to them unless you are in danger (only then are they worth the risk). Cops can be very dangerous because if they don’t like you they will abuse their authority.

You just wasted 30 seconds of our lives that we will never get back… I suppose you also tell your kids that Ice doesn’t only come in the freezer variety, and is also good for you ??

Aeek said :

Said? I would have been doing 40. Only relevant if I’d hit him or the barrier.

he could always lie.

your word against his. and only one of you has ‘authority’.

long story short, argue with a pig, you lose. they might just decide to ‘do you over’ by breaking rules, lying/make shat up and generally abusing the system to make you suffer (the ‘big man’ with a badge syndrome).

and their colleagues will look the other way with a smile while they do it.

Said? I would have been doing 40. Only relevant if I’d hit him or the barrier.

farq said :

…it is just that getting an emotional reaction normally means you have hit a nerve and people are thinking about your point.

Almost all the evidence on this site is that this is untrue. Getting a thoughtful response, and getting an emotional reaction, seem to be almost mutually exclusive. You can easily get an emotional reaction by abusing people or their beliefs. Getting people to think is much harder.

stupiddnetbook keybaord. I meant pigs,not pugs.

next door has a pug. friendly little guy!

Aeek said :

I remember when the Chinese Supremacy Rally(1) was on, the police standing in the bike lanes oblivious to the idea that there might be cyclists. I was seriously tempted to speed between officer and crowd control barrier, but chose to claim the lane instead.

wise move. if you have said anything his ‘status’ would have been affronted, and we all know how pugs react when that happens (won’t matter if they are right or wrong, you will only get bad attitude from them) if he could find something to charge you with, that will be held over your head until you have fluffed his ego to compenstate for questioning his behavior.

That is why I tell my kids: if you see a cop, turn around and walk the other way. On no accounts talk to them unless you are in danger (only then are they worth the risk). Cops can be very dangerous because if they don’t like you they will abuse their authority.

Spidey: Glad I didn’t overload your brain then.

Weren’t we supposed to have a blitz over the long weekend? Did they blow the budget on the publicity? I saw ZERO police and I was out and about.

Aeek said :

I remember when the Chinese Supremacy Rally(1) was on, the police standing in the bike lanes oblivious to the idea that there might be cyclists. I was seriously tempted to speed between officer and crowd control barrier, but chose to claim the lane instead.

(1) Olympic Torch Relay

Are you serious ???? That’s not even worth a thought out reply !!

ant said :

I see the local police persons are back on their favourite thing. Despite being told by the site owner that I and farq are not teh same person, they keep banging on about it. They are clearly not very bright (news at 11).

What tooks said.

I remember when the Chinese Supremacy Rally(1) was on, the police standing in the bike lanes oblivious to the idea that there might be cyclists. I was seriously tempted to speed between officer and crowd control barrier, but chose to claim the lane instead.

(1) Olympic Torch Relay

Tooks said :

You bite every time, don’t you ant?

he he

you dish it out ant, it comes back :p

No one gives a rats if you are the same person as farq or not.

You bite every time, don’t you ant?

I see the local police persons are back on their favourite thing. Despite being told by the site owner that I and farq are not teh same person, they keep banging on about it. They are clearly not very bright (news at 11).

Perhaps it was one of them that was blocking rush-hour traffic and causing long delays.

Special G said :

or maybe even fly. Now that would be cool. Coppers with rocket packs.

huh? wtf?

but it must be said “when ‘pigs’ fly?”.

or maybe even fly. Now that would be cool. Coppers with rocket packs.

Granny said :

Some people are just born trollbait, I’m afraid.

: )

We are all born as trollbait. One by one we learn to stop giving a shat about what some random git on the-tubes is raging on about.

For me it is never personal, it is just that getting an emotional reaction normally means you have hit a nerve and people are thinking about your point. They may retreat into their own belief system, but alt least they have thought about what has been said.

Give them enough time and cracks will appear in their world view.

I do love you all. Even the pigs! One day they will see the light 🙂

saw some coppers giving little kids stickers in Dickson maccas recently. Darn good public relations exercise and gave passers by a really good feel about our coppers. Went outside and they were parked illegally. Now see the coppers who post here still unable to ignore the odd comment about their chosen occupation.

Recently spent a fair bit of time with some National AFP copppers. Very rewarding experience and these guys knew their stuff. Back to Canberra and dealt with a local plod who didn’t know about the ARR immediately prior to the one cited elsewhere in this thread, even though was equipped to administer the law.

However, can see the original post on this thread was not needed.

Some people are just born trollbait, I’m afraid.

: )

ant said :

Efsevia, I hope you stick around and keep posting. Today was was picnic day for the sanctimonious to come out and frolic, but on another day they’ll be posting rants about what has annoyed them. Also they are terrified of what vg and co will say.

Today was also a picnic for those of us who like to get a reaction from the sanctimonious users so I guess it balances out 🙂

If i was one of the users you mentioned, I would not be afraid of what vg and co will say. Besides a little internet stalking (just ask deadmandrinking) they are here for the same reason everyone else is: to get on their high horse and comment anonymously.

They really like it when someone is critical of police because they can play the ‘big man’/’internet tough guy’ and be condescending (looking at you vg). Something about talking down to people just ‘does it for them’. Amirite?

Granny: Don’t make a troll’s job easier. Easy enough around here, I’m after a challenge 🙂

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy9:22 pm 11 Mar 09

Leave the poor old pigs alone.

In all seriousness, they have a prick of a job, and it’s surprising more of them aren’t angry bastards.

“They get to uphold the law, but don’t use any common sense in doing so?!”

If only people in general had some common sense in the first place, like the people who drive along in their own personal tanks sneering at the police and making wild assumptions about their motives for stopping their vehicle (presumably with lights flashing).

Deckard said :

Ok, so maybe only a few of you. But what the OP might not have known is that if anyone abuses the cops on here they can expect a bit of abuse back.

I hear what you are saying, I suppose it may come down to: It’s a thankless job which is accepted, but being abused for doing it is another thing which they may fell the need to defend ??

To Fisho – unfortunately Police vehicles are not equipped with a broom, shovel and waste bin, oh and kitty litter for oil spills. The greenies don’t like broken glass and crash debris down the storm water drains. But I do get your point 🙂

Police are people too..

Maybe when you indirectly or directly work with them, you will realise that they are real people as well. They may not demand a lot of respect, but sure as hell they deserve it.

I will freely admit i know a LOT of feds and ACT policing personally. The nature of their job is such that no one notices their existence until they (rarely at that) stuff something up.

Police are not robots, they are human like you and I, they make mistakes…

@vg (C’mon eds, surely there are better stories around than this one…..or was it a plant?)

Wholly predictable answer to that…

(And no, I’m not a copper either. Don’t think I could handle it, to be honest.)

Explanations were offered to you and you seem to have accepted those which is good.

No, he/she continued to p!ss and moan in spite of an explanation being provided 100 odd comments ago. What an idiot.

Grow a pair would ya?
The coppers could have been doing all sorts of things, preserving evidence or whatever. I’m sure they would be prefer to be doing other things rather than standing around in rush hour getting sneered at.

Does remind me of another incident, a couple of very unhappy looking coppers standing around outside work, blocking a lane after a minor nose-to-tail. Being one to always enjoy a bit of impromptu street theatre, I observed. Basically they were waiting for urban services to come and sweep up the broken glass.

So they’re competent enough to tackle dangerous crims and loonies, yet sweeping up a bit of clutter is judged as too dangerous. Would the OH+S clowns who dream up such rules please go and top themselves, the world doesn’t need them.

Hopefully this gives a clue as to why police response times are sometimes not the best, it seems some chair polishing inbred waste of oxygen has laid down policy that assumes all police are idiots without any common sense that can’t handle a task an 8 year old could do.

And before some conspiracy theorist asks, I don’t work for the police, am in no way associated with the police. If I was a copper I’d go postal having to put up with that bs.

Ok, so maybe only a few of you. But what the OP might not have known is that if anyone abuses the cops on here they can expect a bit of abuse back.

DJ said :

Spideydog said :

How many of the people who reacted negatively to Efsevia’s initial comment were Police ??

How many were not?

That’s pretty much what I was getting at 😉

LOL – I forgot about farqant

Spideydog said :

How many of the people who reacted negatively to Efsevia’s initial comment were Police ??

How many were not?

I think Granny bit at the wrong person here. farq used the word pig and Granny went back at them then OP suggested that Granny stop reading. I didn’t see OP using pig or other words to describe police.

Farqant is one person with two logins. Doesn’t matter what they say to contradict this. It’s like Peterh and Peter at home just he’s up front about it.

I don’t think farq realises that people actually nominate to go to traffic policing. It’s not like what’s depicted in movies where you mess up and suddenly find yourself giving out parking tickets.

As for the OT – Why would a cop bother blocking a lane just for kicks when they could be munching on a donut and drinking coffee. Your story just doesn’t make sense. Cops are all jerks anyway.

How many of the people who reacted negatively to Efsevia’s initial comment were Police ??

I think Efsevia may have underestimated the number of police who are Rioters.

Granny said :

I find it as offensive as I would find a racial slur frankly.

It is a special slur. you rat, you dirty dog, you snake in the grass, you bird brain, you worm, you monkey, you weasel etc.

Efsevia said :

IMHO I’m the expert on just about everything!

Oh, and I wouldn’t ever let facts get in the way of my opinions.

:p

Maybe I missed something? Did a police officer respond here? A close friend of mine is police officer (she previously worked in a remote NSW community) and she’s been called every name under the sun, most a lot harsher than “pig”, but as she put it, water off a ducks back…
That’s not to say that I’m condoning name calling, because like I said, I don’t. I’m just saying that if it’s so offensive to you, stop reading… but you can’t help yourself can you! lol

So, her reaction when you openly call her a pig to her face? Surely you do since it isn’t all that offensive in yor opinion…

vg said :

It’s times like these that we turn to Winston Churchill

Or, if you prefer your Winnie quotes to be coarse, fictional and funny, the late Michael O’Donoghue from National Lampoon:

http://personals.theonion.com/blog/594/post_12084.html?dcb=personals.theonion.com

Efsevia – There is a way to convey a gripe and unfortunately yours came off a little vicious, hence some of the replies. Explanations were offered to you and you seem to have accepted those which is good.

Another thing to think about is sometimes police will indicate for a driver to pull over in a spot that is safe, but sometimes those drivers will continue to drive to a spot they think is better (ie, in front of a single lane bridge) Sometimes motorists think they know road safety better than the police and pull over when they see fit, often in a dangerous position. (not saying that police are perfect by any means)

Additionally, police vehicle’s in a traffic stop will always be offset from the vehicle they have pulled over…why ?? To create a safety zone for the officer and also for the vehicle that has been pulled over. And yes, this will mean the police vehicle will encroach into the lane – it’s a safety mechanism.

Once again it is good to see the usual chorus of the resident police haters ant and farq. Good work guys 😉 keep it up. Your rose coloured view of the world just got rosier.

Efsevia, I’m sorry that you are feeling upset. I know how it feels to get a bit of a shellacking on RA. If you would just realise that you did do some things to contribute to it and heed the advice of people like Skid and peterh who were trying to help you, you will be fine.

I actually think it would be really nice if you apologised to the officer concerned, even though you are both anonymous.

And, yes, anonymity is important in these situations. There are a whole lot of people who don’t like me a whole lot too.

It’s times like these that we turn to Winston Churchill

“Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people’s idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone else says anything back, that is an outrage.”

Welcome to the real world

How do I go about deleting my profile – I don’t want to deal with this crap – I was just having a vent about something that annoyed me, I thought I’d have others say similar things, that they got frustrated at similar incidents. I even expected some people to sling some of the crap that was dealt. But if I knew it was going to come to this, I would never have written anything… I’d like someone to explain how I get rid of this seeing as there’s no “delete my profile” button. Can one of the Eds do this?
I always thought this was an open and inclusive forum and enjoyed previously reading other people’s posts. Clearly I was mistaken. If you opinion differs from the norm/majority or Granny gets upset, then it’s a personal attack from all sides…

Thank you for once again reinforcing the virtues of remaining annonymous.

Efsevia said :

Man – if I had any idea this would get bigger than Ben H…

Is there a way to delete a thread?

Yes, but we need a better reason than remorse. (threats to life and limb considered).

You had your say, others have had theirs, and so far no-one’s disgraced themselves and been flung into moderation.

Wins all round.

It’s a troll. I’m out.

Bigger than Ben H?

*guffaw*

No inflated sense of self-importance there!

Thanks also for the unsolicited forum advice. You’re doing so well, genius.

Efsevia, please consider that if you have managed to get granny so upset that they have resorted to swearing, which they never, ever do, that stopping now is a good idea?

granny is a very nice person. I don’t like seeing anyone so upset. you are a new poster. you may feel that everyone is against you, but, don’t worry, it takes a while for you to be accepted.

taunting isn’t ok.

ok?

Efsevia said :

Man – if I had any idea this would get bigger than Ben H…

Is there a way to delete a thread?

Actually if you had any idea about anything whatsover you wouldn’t have started it.

As my daddy told me once ‘its better to remain silent and let people think you are stupid rather than open your mouth and prove that you are’

To the original poster

Dear Genius

I hope the experience you outline in the above wasn’t too traumatic for you as clearly the Police had deliberately and calculatedly acted in a fashion designed to annoy you the most. I mean it is highly unlikely that they were performing any duty such as:

Cordoning a crime scene
Searching for an injured person in a car accident

or a myriad of other law enforcement and investigational taskings. He/she/they were just having a good old lark at trying to annoy as many people as possible. I mean that must have been it musn’t it. Or maybe you just weren’t considered important enough to brief in some depth.

I am also sorry that your otherwise orderly life was thrown a good 6 or 7 seconds off kilter, and chaos must have ensued for the rest of the day.

Is there a rule about where Police can and can’t pull cars over. Well yes there is. Its called section 305 of the Australian Road Rules. Check it out.

And as for the heroes comments, well Police generally hear those from a distance, while their backs are turned, or from an anonymous voice in the crowd. Generally uttered by those who deny the remark at a gazillion miles an hour as their ticker doesn’t match their apparent ‘wit’. Great to see that applied in an on line context.

On an aside I saw a policeman breathing today, what was going on with that. Would it be better if we had a Royal Commission over it or just an hysterical anonymous rant on a website.

(C’mon eds, surely there are better stories around than this one…..or was it a plant?)

Man – if I had any idea this would get bigger than Ben H…

Is there a way to delete a thread?

IMHO I’m the expert on just about everything!

Oh, and I wouldn’t ever let facts get in the way of my opinions.

:p

Maybe I missed something? Did a police officer respond here? A close friend of mine is police officer (she previously worked in a remote NSW community) and she’s been called every name under the sun, most a lot harsher than “pig”, but as she put it, water off a ducks back…
That’s not to say that I’m condoning name calling, because like I said, I don’t. I’m just saying that if it’s so offensive to you, stop reading… but you can’t help yourself can you! lol

Well, you’re the expert on police, aren’t you Efsevia?

In fact, the police officer who responded sounded so totally ok with the whole ‘pig’ thing. But never let any facts get in the way of any of your opinions will you?

I’m guessing it means Shut the F up?
That’s all you got?? LOL

Efsevia, you might be thinking that we’re a bunch of arrogant, nasty pricks on this blog, but after a while you’ll discover most of us are just arrogant pricks. 🙂

STFU?? No idea what that means…
So if you’re swearing at me, no effect! :p

Efsevia, STFU!

Thankyou!!

Chewy – thank you for the explainations (post #6).

This is a little bit off topic – but if it upsets you so much Granny, change the channel! (as in, stop reading…)

I could have taken offence to the people who called me a selfish, arrogant tool, but there’s no need… They don’t know who I am, and the reality is, the only reason we post on here is the anonimity of it… so you can say what you like.

And my assumption would be that police officers are used to being called every name under the sun (usually by law-breaking individuals)… so I don’t think being called a name as simple as “pig” will hurt them… I think kids at school who get called “pig” because of their weight or the shape of their nose (or their newly sprouted tail :p) would be more hurt than an adult who should know better than to take it personally.

(And the hole grows deeper)

Granny said :

Yes, jim jones, it really does affect me that way. It actually upsets me.

granny, don’t worry, you and i know that the more you ask people to stop, the more that they will keep on doing the same things. I think i need to go feed trolls on another forum now…

Hmm… By digital abuse, I don’t mean anything involving fingers.
That much is entirely between consenting adults.

I just meant being verbally abused in a digital forum.

farq said :

Granny said :

Yes, jim jones, it really does affect me that way. It actually upsets me.

Welcome to the internet. It’s serious business.

Thanks, pig.

Efsevia said :

Can someone please explain what OP and OT means? Clearly I am a newbie…/quote]
OP: Original Poster
OT: Original Topic

Efsevia said :

(Why do I feel that no matter what I write here, I’m just digging a deeper hole?)

Being digitally abused by a bunch of faceless strangers just for having an opinion is a small part of the RiotACT Experience.
It gets better eventually, and you can join in the abuse, but the commenting readership tends to react this way to clueless vitriolage.

Granny said :

Yes, jim jones, it really does affect me that way. It actually upsets me.

Welcome to the internet. It’s serious business.

Yes, jim jones, it really does affect me that way. It actually upsets me.

chewy14 said :

I love that this thread has gone on 5 hours after I answered the OP’s question at #6

Mostly it’s just pointing and name calling now. That’ll keep everyone entertained for at least another day or so.

Can someone please explain what OP and OT means? Clearly I am a newbie…

PS – I never used a derogatory word – they are Police Officers and like I said in a previous post, I am not disrespecting the work they do or how hard they work, but it did fire me up that the police officer seemed to be doing nothing, and with the car parked in the lane (when in my opinion he could have pulled off the road)…
Had it been a quieter time on the road, or indeed a real accident during peak hour, I could definitely accept and deal with the traffic and the police parking their car in the lane etc…

Thanks to all who’ve enlightened me with your points of view – can’t say I agree with all of you, but you’ve definitely enlightened me!

(Why do I feel that no matter what I write here, I’m just digging a deeper hole?)

Don’t you people ever read a thread?

chewy14 @ post #6 saw what happened and has already informed everybody that the policeman was helping a motorist in trouble.

Sheesh!

It’s not rocket science people!!

I remember when some of the local police-persons were running a fairly effective campaign, that I and farq were the same person. They didn’t get moderated for that, I noticed. Don’t worry farq, some of us still love you.

I love that this thread has gone on 5 hours after I answered the OP’s question at #6

Granny said :

I find it as offensive as I would find a racial slur frankly.

Really?

I always think it’s a bit childish and stuff. But it just never seemed to have that offensive punch that racist epithets have.

or not.

maybe we have word filters now.

play-nice or else eh.

Ah the mod queue. Only the best make it in here.

But John, I thought you liked it when I trolled the mouth breathers 🙂 You know, get a reaction, pump up your page views?

I find it as offensive as I would find a racial slur frankly.

Depends on the name. In the case of police being called “pigs” it is usually meant in a nasty and anti-social way, usually by people who don’t like being caught doing the wrong thing. A pig is sloppy and slovenly, but that is not the meaning of the word in the context it is used against police officers.

Having said that, I agree with the writer of the original post that the police officer in this this instance was doing something that appears stupid and dangerous.

There are far more offensive terms out there – “Real Estate Agent” for one.

Qbn Gal said :

i object strongly to police officers being called “pigs”, it’s very disrespectful whether you like them or not.

Does this ‘play nice’ policy extend to all professions/groups? Or just ones you have strong feelings about?

Would you mind if we used derogatory names when talking about politicians? I mean I know there are some rotten apples in that profession, but can we tar them all with the same brush because of those? 🙂

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy4:41 pm 11 Mar 09

If people had a clue on how to merge, it wouldn’t be such an issue.

I don’t think the police are “pigs” either, but the OP saw something that looked really stupid and stuffed up a lot of people, and she/he had a right to rant about it. And she/he didn’t use that term, it should be pointed out. they just asked what on earth they thought they were doing, and it’s a legitimate question.

Sorry, the post I’m talking about is farq #50

i object strongly to police officers being called “pigs”, it’s very disrespectful whether you like them or not. They do a difficult job, and there are rotten apples in any profession, but you don’t tar them all with the same brush because of those.

I think you show a double standard, Johnboy, when you pull up Aussiegal #7 for her language, but Farq can get away with it.

I hope Efsevia sticks around because angry people are absolutely piss funny.

ant said :

Efsevia, I hope you stick around and keep posting. Today was was picnic day for the sanctimonious to come out and frolic, but on another day they’ll be posting rants about what has annoyed them. Also they are terrified of what vg and co will say.

hey, ant, not having a shot at the OP, just at the people who haven’t had anything to do with police and believe that they have a “holier than thou” attitude, because of who they are, and what they do. The AFP are a fine body of people, there may be the odd bad apple, but they are pretty rare nowadays…

Efsevia, I hope you stick around and keep posting. Today was was picnic day for the sanctimonious to come out and frolic, but on another day they’ll be posting rants about what has annoyed them. Also they are terrified of what vg and co will say.

Oh DJ, come on you can do better than trotting out the same old predictable:
“You are an anarchist” – “You better hope you never need to call for help” – “You suck” – etc 🙂 Good to see I can still get a reaction, but I had hope that you could rise above the predictable (and pathetic) standard-issue police response. I get the feeling that you feel like anyone who raises questions about the attitude and/or professional standards of the afp HAS TO BE anti-police. You know, black and white, no shades of grey. That is how things work in your little corner of world right?

People should read your last post again, but this time doing that deep-monotone-pig-voice in their head. I know it’s only online, but I reckon you just displayed exactly the ‘bad attitude’ that pigs trot out left right and centre.

Back to the OT: I put it that the dude was on a power trip.

+2 to DJ
+1 to peterh

eyeLikeCarrots said :

Leave the cops alone, they guard you while you sleep.

That sounds like a great tag for a Cop-Horror Movie.

I’m askeert already!

farq said :

RandomGit said :

Retardenest. Rant. Ever.

People say that so often RGit that it has lost all meaning.

Does being a police officer make you misanthropic, or does it simply attract that sort of person?

As I have mentioned before, I wouldn’t want to be a police officer, mainly for the cr@p that they have to put up with, mainly from people who think that they are there to be called all sorts of names, for doing a thankless job. I have seen police having to assist paramedics (another thankless job) removing a fatality from a vehicle, and a few of my mates who are in the service have had the bad calls, missing children, murdered family members, fatal accidents, etc. Think about what they do, day to day. They are there to assist you and others in the worst of times. They see the worst in human nature far more often than the good side.

if you think that they do a cr@p job, join up and see how long you can remain unemotional about what you see day to day. No wonder they are sour sometimes. They live with us, in our community, and they deserve our praise, not our criticism, most of the time….

Pommy bastard3:33 pm 11 Mar 09

+1 to DJ

eyeLikeCarrots3:33 pm 11 Mar 09

If a member of the public is doing something patently stupid, they should be set right. If a member of the police is doing something patently stupid, they should be set right.

Being a cop is not excuse for being stupid. That being said there may well have been an entirley valid reason why the lane was blocked off and the OP was put at such disadvantage this morning on his/her way to work.

I think that the OP needs to either STFU, HTFU, GTFO…. or just get laid… Leave the cops alone, they guard you while you sleep.

Does being a police officer make you misanthropic, or does it simply attract that sort of person?

Well Farq, my honest guess is that you mostly attract insects that fly.

Could you have been more predictable in your lame ‘pig’ comments? Try something new without the insults that give everybody here some insight into your short commings or jaded view on life or you could just go back to your little corner of the world where everything is rosey and you will never have to call on help.

Socialist? Anarchist? Any-ist? Some days everybody calls for help ad regardless of the foolish rant above you’ll get it… just don’t always expect a smile.

RandomGit said :

Retardenest. Rant. Ever.

People say that so often RGit that it has lost all meaning.

I for one generally agree with Efsevia, you get the feeling that some pigs ‘get off’ on dicking the general public around, especially the ones stuck doing traffic year after year.

Maybe this guy was having a bad day. By having a little power trip, creating a mini traffic jam and watching the frustrated motorists crawl by at walking speed he propped up his self esteem for a brief moment. Maybe he did it so he could feel a little better about himself and life choices he has made.

You do get the feeling that some/many/most pigs have a ‘chip on their shoulder’ against the general public. Maybe it is because police are often ostracised socially because of their profession. Maybe they feel that the public does not support and recognise their efforts substantially enough. Maybe it’s PTSD.

And I’m not talking about your standard-issue overly-aggressive and or bullying behaviour pigs display when their ‘status’ has been affronted. I’m talking about a more subtle, almost completely repressed loathing for everyone and anyone who is not ‘one of them’.

Does being a police officer make you misanthropic, or does it simply attract that sort of person?

did someone mention the Spanish Inquisition?

Efsevia said :

WOW – All I was expecting was to have a rant – not this!

No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition…….

Retardenest. Rant. Ever.

Valium – You should try it if you are that angry!

Madame Workalot2:00 pm 11 Mar 09

Hi Jivrashia – just to clarify, the cyclist scenario was hypothetical only, to illustrate what MAY have happened. I don’t think that’s what happened at all.

I-filed said :

Canberra police do a great job. If they are required to deal with psychopaths on ice, and drunks lying in the middle of the road, and the seamy underside of Canberra life, as far as I’m concerned they can have a couple of perks. Mind you, I recently went where the aforementioned “life’s victims” probably wouldn’t dare: a police van was pulled up in the single lane next to a traffic island just off Ainslie Ave, chatting away with a passerby through the passenger window. I was brave enough to toot the officer – three times – before he moved away and let me continue on!

Check your mail…. ha ha ha

Canberra police do a great job. If they are required to deal with psychopaths on ice, and drunks lying in the middle of the road, and the seamy underside of Canberra life, as far as I’m concerned they can have a couple of perks. Mind you, I recently went where the aforementioned “life’s victims” probably wouldn’t dare: a police van was pulled up in the single lane next to a traffic island just off Ainslie Ave, chatting away with a passerby through the passenger window. I was brave enough to toot the officer – three times – before he moved away and let me continue on!

Just getting a bit off topic (or back on topic, depending on which side of your nickers are currently in a knot…).

The section of the road mentioned has a DEDICATED BIKE TRACK, which is at least two metres from the road that is Gungahlin Drive. And yet a cyclist was hit and (fatally?) injured by a car.
That could only mean that the driver of the car had managed to swerved so much that he launched himself onto the bike path and into the cyclist.

As a cyclist, that is a bloody scary thought.

If you’re going to drink then don’t drive.
If you’re going to drive then don’t drink.
If you’re going to drink and cycle then watch out for the telegraph poles. They can really hurt.

Efsevia said :

All I was expecting was to have a rant…

Maybe you could just rant quietly to yourself?

What do you want from a rant? Do you want people to read it? To respond? To reason with you? Or just rant in agreement?

Anyway, even if the first half was just you having a tanty, you did drop into ‘serious’ mode later in the post by saying ‘seriously’, so of course you’ll get responses.

If you sound like a goose, people go looking for saucepans…

Skidbladnir said :

Your rant has been met by other people having rants, all fighting for dominance.

Welcome to RiotACT.

aren’t you glad you ranted here?

(out of my bunker, hesitantly)

The police have a difficult job to do. they deal with all manners of problems, and I personally would be complaining about the ACT government’s narrow minded attitude to the GDE – who would have thought a single lane road would create so much chaos?

The police have to be mindful of the safety of the person that they have pulled over, and their own. if they delay others whilst doing their job, so be it.

Efsevia: Expect replies when you fly off the handle like you did. This is a blog, after all.

Your rant has been met by other people having rants, all fighting for dominance.

Welcome to RiotACT.

WOW – All I was expecting was to have a rant – not this!

Quite… bugger just saw a typo in my witty well thought out post. Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations, congratulations, congratulations. Wont happen again…

Holden Caulfield1:10 pm 11 Mar 09

This is going well.

AussieGal83 said :

What do you expect from those pig bastards? Im not at all surprised. Morons that they are.

From Cronulla by any chance?

Janus said :

I got in trouble for continuing to drive until I found a safe spot once, the cop used questions like “why didn’t you pull over when you saw me” and I used answers “because it was unsafe”. He told me to watch my mouth, so I thanked him for my speeding ticket.

The upshot of this is that they own the roads because they are heroes.

Congratualtions to our winner of the prize for being “Tool number 2”.

I know the facts!

They stopped to protect and apprehend a rouge six pack of VB hiding in the bushes

Selfish git.

Worst thread ever. +1 to Madame Workalot’s comments.

AussieGal83 said :

What do you expect from those pig bastards? Im not at all surprised. Morons that they are.

bahaha. seriously. did I just read what I think I read?!

I can’t for the life of me figure out why you would automatically assume, with the facts you knew (none) that it was the police officer who was doing something stupid.

Making baseless assumptions is what is stupid and more likely to make a fool of a person than anything else.

I would recommend in future: ask first, shoot later.

Remember hcildren, the first post is traditionally where one fires off a spray about whatever has one’s knickers in a twist that day.
And almost always there’s something fundamentally wrong with the post, which ticks off everybody.

Or just has

Pommy bastard12:40 pm 11 Mar 09

Janus said :

The upshot of this is that they own the roads because they are heroes.

Would you like some fish with that chip?

Madame Workalot12:38 pm 11 Mar 09

Efsevia said :

Madame Workalot/Ozhair – Yes, my precious time is far more important than anything else going on in the world (I know sarcasm is hard to hear, so I thought I’d just point out that I am being sarcastic…) – But I did get riled up about this today, and I wanted to tell someone – too bad you came across this post and figured you had to resort to name calling…

No Efsevia, I thought I made some valid points in my post besides the namecalling. Care to address them? Or should I just excuse you because you’re having a bad day….

Welcome to teh RiotACT Efsevia. haha.

Janus said :

I got in trouble for continuing to drive until I found a safe spot once, the cop used questions like “why didn’t you pull over when you saw me” and I used answers “because it was unsafe”. He told me to watch my mouth, so I thanked him for my speeding ticket.

The upshot of this is that they own the roads because they are heroes.

Another cup of sour grapes, sire?

Firstly – this was my first ever post – I needed to get it off my chest, and now that I have, I feel much better! 🙂

Next, I want to validate my comments by saying that I have a lot of respect for what our police officers do (and to be honest, I’m scared sh*tless of them most of the time, even though I know I’ve done nothing wrong). I just think that if they’re supposed to be setting a good example, this is not how to do it. And these were just 2 examples – surely I’m not the only one?

chewy14/fnaah – Thank you for showing me the different side to the story – all I could see this morning is that my normally easy drive to work took over 45mins and that the reason for this was that I was stuck in a traffic jam because of the “situation”. Maybe I’m just having a bad day?

Gobbo – very funny! lol, but this morning I definitely felt like doing just that!

Mr Evil, if you think I’m wasting your time, then don’t read the thread…

Madame Workalot/Ozhair – Yes, my precious time is far more important than anything else going on in the world (I know sarcasm is hard to hear, so I thought I’d just point out that I am being sarcastic…) – But I did get riled up about this today, and I wanted to tell someone – too bad you came across this post and figured you had to resort to name calling…

Janus said :

…..The upshot of this is that they own the roads because they are heroes.

Gee, is that a forest on your shoulder, or what????

Perhaps the police car was blocking one lane so that they could conduct their business without the fear of some tosser hell bent on getting to work as quickly as humanly possible running them down (hint: i’m referring to you Efsevia).

I got in trouble for continuing to drive until I found a safe spot once, the cop used questions like “why didn’t you pull over when you saw me” and I used answers “because it was unsafe”. He told me to watch my mouth, so I thanked him for my speeding ticket.

The upshot of this is that they own the roads because they are heroes.

Wow… It hurts my head to write like that.

yo man i h8 da pigz 2 they allways b haslen mi and braking up mi partys and stuf

Pommy bastard12:19 pm 11 Mar 09

In another thread we are discussing a fatal crash, which killed two women. Anyone envy the police their role in that incident? Dealing with the bodies, investigating the crash, informing the relatives?

+1 to Madame Workalot’s comments

Madame Workalot12:12 pm 11 Mar 09

Are you for real? Is your precious time sooo much more important than anything the police may be doing? No really, anything given the facts you have outlined in your post.

Here’s a scenario for you. The car in front is pulled over because approximately an hour earlier, it was involved in a fatal accident with a cyclist. The police are now gathering evidence to be used as the driver was drunk and will be charged with culpable driving. Should the police wait until after peak hour? Should the police put their lives in danger by not blocking off the lane? Or should the police not worry at all because it might disrupt too many people?

This scenario is hopefully not the case, but could well be given what you knew at the time.

With regard the other scenario, I don’t quite understand what you mean. You say the police officer had pulled over a motorist, but in your own words: “Couldn’t the officer ask the driver to pull off the road, and do the same himself before attempting to fine the motorist?” Huh? Had he not pulled all the way off the road or something?
How do you know the driver they pulled over wasn’t being pulled over for a more serious and urgent offence than speeding? How do you know that car hadn’t just been reported stolen near the scene of an armed robbery where a hostage was taken?

Apologies for the language here, but you seem to be a selfish, arrogant tool. If this is the best you have to whine about, might I suggest you are a very lucky person.

Efsevia, do you have anything you wish to say to the class? Hmmm?

Yep, it’s true – the Police are vindictive bastards who often block the road at peak hour just to piss people like Efsevia off.

Now go back to your very busy, important and meaningful life, and please don’t waste our time again!

10 years ago I thought London police were absolutely top drawer.

But I gather that things have changed.

Pommy bastard11:59 am 11 Mar 09

Funnily enough, in my line of work I have frequent dealings with the AFP. I find them courteous, intelligent, fair and industrious.

If you think you have it bad here, have some dealings with the Pommy police, you’ll probably change your mind rapidly.

The police serve a vital, demanding and and often personally harrowing role within society.

I was tempted to go back to the police officer and tell him off – but I figure that I’d end up getting into some sort of trouble by arguing with a police officer…

Do it next time. Do it.

Make sure you are really, really, riled up as well. That will help the police officer to know that you MEAN IT.

🙂

Silly bacon.

Hah, thanks Chewy. 🙂

Okay, I’ll play Devil’s Advocate. Let me don my flame-proof hat.

In the first scenario you describe, perhaps the blocking of traffic in the left lane afforded the other officer a bit of a safety buffer between the area she was searching and the on-rushing traffic, eh? Perhaps they were attemptiong to stop commuter drones from haplessly destroying some crucial piece of evidence?

AussieGal, in future I’d like you to make your point here without resorting to that kind of language.

Thanks.

I saw this this morning going into Mitchell.
The car in front broke down in the left lane with smoke coming out of it.
The Police car then stopped behind it, to protect the car from being hit from behind.
Then car in front then managed to get his engine going long enough to get it off the road.
Don’t know what they were looking for afterwards, maybe just looking at the litres of oil left over the road?
Sorry to ruin a good rant with some facts.

screaming banshee11:40 am 11 Mar 09

Pretty sure I saw the same site and its like 300 metres before traffic comes to a standstill at a form one lane while everyone has a vehicular argument about who should go first.

Whats the problem…..lost 3 seconds of your life you’ll never get back. I’d be more worried about that swolen vein on your forehead if I were you.

What do you expect from those pig bastards? Im not at all surprised. Morons that they are.

Well, it’s definitely not fawningly positive. but it’s a decent rant, plenty of facts and examples. I think it’s a fair comment.

Mr editor, for once, I am with you. Bunkering down…

Geez…take a deep breath. Sure, perhaps they could have parked off the road, but really…why let this make you so angry? It’s really not worth it….a few moments of some inconvenience is all it amounts to, go on with your day & stop worrying about it.

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