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Comment by dgzl | Hacker News Reader

I think people are missing a few big points.

1) It's extremely difficult being a cop

2) It's extremely terrifying being a cop

3) It's extremely unpopular being a cop

It boggles me every time I hear people say cops need "stricter requirements" and "less pay" but never hear anyone volunteering to join the force and make real change. Look around, how many white knights want to be a cop?

The videos from Thursday/Friday night Minneapolis shape my framework for these riots, not the supposed abuse to protesters and reporters. IMO, given the circumstances, the cops overall have been very civil while taking an onslaught of verbal and even physical abuse. And don't get me wrong, I'm not ignoring police abuse and brutality.

https://youtu.be/cHcELsLF7cg

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I think you underestimate just how wildly the police will protect their institution in defense of a perceived threat. Joining the force is not the path to change; dissenters in the ranks get punished personally and professionally in defense of the blue wall.

It's unpopular to be a cop because by and large, cops have a tremendous deal of power (compared to an average citizen) and very little keeping them in check.

With great power comes great responsibility, so the saying goes.

I couldn't imagine someone being against a police Union and also supporting civilian unions. They serve the same purpose. I also can't imagine a sane person thinking we don't need the police, unless you're also supporting a highly armed population (which, I am.)

> With great power comes great responsibility, so the saying goes.

So you acknowledge that it's difficult, terrifying, unpopular and requires great reasonability, but offer nothing for a solution. What good is your comment?

The police job is more stress than any content moderator on social media, because the police are living the content that gets moderated. They're subjected to immense violence because average citizens need protection from criminals.

Once again, do you have any decent solution or do you plan to just add to the stress of this critical and thankless job?

>I couldn't imagine someone being against a police Union and also supporting civilian unions. They serve the same purpose.

My local electrician's union doesn't have dispensation from the state to utilize lethal force on me or my family. Also, if I'm wronged by an electrician in the course of their work, I can expect a fair result from the justice system. The stakes are different.

>So you acknowledge that it's difficult, terrifying, unpopular and requires great reasonability, but offer nothing for a solution.

You never asked for a solution. Your comment stated that the solution was to join the force; I merely pointed out that your solution doesn't work. If you want to shift the goalposts and put the burden of supplying the solution on me, then I invite you to seek out and listen to some of the changes asked for by the protesters - external checks and balances like citizen review boards for PDs.

>Once again, do you have any decent solution or do you plan to just add to the stress of this critical and thankless job?

Given how vocal the Blue Lives Matter crowd is, I'd hardly call being a police officer thankless. There are plenty of people who still think/believe that cops are infallible, shining knights of justice who can do no wrong, and if they do, well, that person had it coming anyway.

Literally nobody is trying to stop the protesters. Literally nobody. I can't find anyone who doesn't agree that George was murdered. Hell, I have old seemingly racist family members who agree with that. It's the arsonist, rioters and murderers who are empowered by this new Anarchy Trojan Horse that we're trying to stop, and we will succeed. If you can't see that difference then you'll be blind during this insurrection.

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