Why are people so down on the police?

just be glad you don't live in the third world where police beat and sometimes kill innocent passers by

With respect dicki that isn't really what this thread is about. The UK police, in cycling related matters, can hardly be held responsible for what you're suggesting.

I disagree, it's just a difficult thing for many to admit that the police do do good. When a thread gets started about the police fucking up somehow it runs and runs when a thread gets posted about them doing a good job on behalf of cyclists it's largely ignored.

Of the three examples you gave from the forum - one can't be easily viewed by many, one is in a thread for inconsequential EPIC WINS and the third had a whole page of positive commentary PLUS the followup thread to that one was nearly two pages long full of positive commentary. Consequently, I disagree that posts about police doing a good job get largely ignored on this forum. The difference is that they don't spark up a debate that rages on for 4 pages

Up until you ass/house/bike/flat is in peril and they come to your rescue...

Notice firefighters are always hailed as heroes but police rarely so...even though the Police save more lives each year (an unconfirmed but likely fact)

..ok, I have had two houses burgled, living shit kicked out me by a car load of bams which they tried to drop a breeze block on my head from a nearby skip, bike stolen etc ..im still waiting for them to rescue me ..oh wait, thats right I got a letter saying they didnt want to allocate valuable resources to a crime that would be difficult to solve. Police save lives? so what have a fucking cookie.

With respect dicki that isn't really what this thread is about. The UK police, in cycling related matters, can hardly be held responsible for what you're suggesting.

..well you didnt really set out that it was only cycling tems in your original post. I can see your point I really can but all I can say is there is a heavily seated opinion of the police in the UK by the majority of the population that needs to be changed, but how can we do that? maybe when we see a difference?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwmhSFk5IIM&feature=related

this is about as much response as the OP deserves... Idea? You'll have the express pounding on your door offering you a job soon.

Of the three examples you gave from the forum - one can't be easily viewed by many, one is in a thread for inconsequential EPIC WINS and the third had a whole page of positive commentary PLUS the followup thread to that one was nearly two pages long full of positive commentary. Consequently, I disagree that posts about police doing a good job get largely ignored on this forum. The difference is that they don't spark up a debate that rages on for 4 pages

OK, just the front wheel back post for example, which is on Epic Win a very long and often looked at thread according to the stats 1,148 replies and a whopping 28,139 views. From nuknow's story of getting his front wheel returned by the police there are only 2 people who reference the police directly who after all were the people who went after and returned the wheel. Oliver and General Lucifer who went on to say he was beering it up and everything had smiles, east end images then posts to say he saw the police arrest a bike thief near Old St, he posted this 11 hours ago and there's not been one single comment since. I wonder if the same would be true if it was a post about the police really cracking down on RLJing near Old St. Would it feck.

YouTube- Constable Savage

I think you'll find that there's very, very, little praise given (one of those threads about a new anti bike theft intiative ran to a whole 7 or so posts),

21 posts, and it was started yesterday - but that is nitpicking

if any and often only by the person who has directly benefitted. In direct contrast to the deluge of braying and bile when they fuck up. What I'm saying is it's too easy, it's counter-productive, and it's pretty childish.

But surely that is to be expected? After all, police, who's duty is the protection of our civil liberties and rights, should not fuck up - their fuck ups results in more than just someone suffering a little injustice or an unfair beating but in the undermining of a system which is meant to keep both our rights and ourselves safe.

I disagree that stating dissatisfaction at police fuck ups (which in my opinion happen way too often) is childish or counter-productive in the slightest - the ways in which we can genuinely complain against police who do a poor job are few and far between, therefore we take advantage of any means available including ranting on the internet.

I agree that when police do a good job - an above average job - they deserve commendation. It just so happens that the standards of what constitutes a good job in public perception are set quite high; or better yet, they have not fallen together with the falling standards of what an 'average job' is.

Finally, it is hardly a surprise that good performance is often (and sometimes only) applauded by those who benefit them - especially when most people are still affected by poor service. When your waiter fucks up your service but the table across from you gets the best waiter in the world you don't stand up and write a review about how great the waiters were in Restaurant Chez Pig.

I notice that you've chosen to ignore all the examples I did give you, instead choosing to focus on the negative. I'd appreciate it if personal insults could be left out of this discussion, it's uncalled for and simply reflects badly on you. Thanks.

I realy shoudn't get dragged in to this...

Can you highight where I have concentrated on the negative on the subject matter. I don't think I have.

I have concentrated on the negatives of your approach though and to be honest accusing me of trading personal insults is a litte rich. 1 because well I haven't, 2 because, your opening posts suggests that people hold opinions based on nothing more than a desire to be cool and that they are therefore immature is hardly the most respectful of opening shots and makes you complaining about insults just a touch hypocritical in my opinon, 3 because your reply when I asked you too back up your viewpoint was undeniably condescending and franky why should I research evidence to back up your viewpoint, and 4 because based on this thread and the fact that your whole argument seems to be "I'm right, you're wrong" I don;t think that sugggesting that you aren't one of lifes great thinkers is entirely unreasonable.

..well you didnt really set out that it was only cycling tems in your original post. I can see your point I really can but all I can say is there is a heavily seated opinion of the police in the UK by the majority of the population that needs to be changed, but how can we do that? maybe when we see a difference?

Thanks for a reasoned response, I didn't set that out perhaps as clearly as I should have. I think it has to be 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other. If when the police are being really positive regarding things like, finally, cracking down on organised bike theft then a very positive and vocal response from those who benefit, cyclists, can only be a good thing. And help to further build positive relations.

Restaurant Chez Pig.

Too easy.

With respect dicki that isn't really what this thread is about. The UK police, in cycling related matters, can hardly be held responsible for what you're suggesting.

i don't want to get into a RLJing rant, but, i'd have a lot more respect for police if they enforced the law. i've ridden daily on london roads for close to 6 years and i RLJ. in this time, i've been fined once and told off 3 times. this includes going through lights in front of police.

if only the police made real efforts to crack down on bike theft in the same way as they crack down on red light jumpers it might curry a bit of favour with the cycling community
as that is our main issue as far as crime is concerned

so many people have made them aware of bike theifs on brick lane and yet they fuckers are still there week in week out selling stolen bikes

i am sure if someone reported a regular dangerous red light jumper at the bishopsgate / london wall junction i bet they'd have someone there a week later ready to pull the dude

doh
who'd have thought it dale and i with the same ideas in our head

I realy shoudn't get dragged in to this...

Can you highight where I have concentrated on the negative on the subject matter. I don't think I have.

I have concentrated on the negatives of your approach though and to be honest accusing me of trading personal insults is a litte rich. 1 because well I haven't, 2 because, your opening posts suggests that people hold opinions based on nothing more than a desire to be cool and that they are therefore immature is hardly the most respectful of opening shots and makes you complaining about insults just a touch hypocritical in my opinon, 3 because your reply when I asked you too back up your viewpoint was undeniably condescending and franky why should I research evidence to back up your viewpoint, and 4 because based on this thread and the fact that your whole argument seems to be "I'm right, you're wrong" I don;t think that sugggesting that you aren't one of lifes great thinkers is entirely unreasonable.

I didn't say negative in the subject matter I made a comment about focussing on the negative generally. My approach was intended to create discussion and I'd say it's been pretty successful. Although I wholeheartedly believe there is a an overwhelming negative bias towards the police even when they try to get it right. And yes you have made a personal insult. We're not trading personal insults because I haven't made any towards you. You said that 'I'm clearly not one of life's great thinkers' that's an insult and it's directed at me. You know nothing about me.

And you still haven't commented on the positive links that I did supply you with and you asked for.

Up until you ass/house/bike/flat is in peril and they come to your rescue...

Notice firefighters are always hailed as heroes but police rarely so...even though the Police save more lives each year (an unconfirmed but likely fact)

what is wrong with mistrusting them even when they are assisting you? just because they are there it doesn't mean they are actually doing anything that will be beneficial (i.e., will they actually be chasing your bike theft up, getting witnesses, filling out all the right documents that are necessary for something to actually happen)

as for the second point, please, blow it out your ass until you have some actual facts...

if only the police made real efforts to crack down on bike theft in the same way as they crack down on red light jumpers it might curry a bit of favour with the cycling community
as that is our main issue as far as crime is concerned

so many people have made them aware of bike theifs on brick lane and yet they fuckers are still there week in week out selling stolen bikes

i am sure if someone reported a regular dangerous red light jumper at the bishopsgate / london wall junction i bet they'd have someone there a week later ready to pull the dude

You need to read the whole thread dicki, sorry but I'm running a temp of 103 (man-flu) and not willing or able to pick out the points already made that are relevant to this.

read the whole thread are you mad
i just like typing in random statements

i just like typing in random statements

I knew that already ;)

The Police are now no more than a revenue collection agency if you ask me, albeit heavy handed at times

As with good parenting or man-management, wielding authority while maintaining trust and respect requires impartiality and consistency. For all the good work they do, the police score a massive fail for consistency, particularly regarding traffic offences.
I understand why people have a lack of respect, but I get really pissed off with the childish antagonism that is sometimes displayed here. Yes, criticise the police for their failings, but don't go out of your way to make their jobs harder than they already are.

monkey trousers

I didn't say negative in the subject matter I made a comment about focussing on the negative generally. My approach was intended to create discussion and I'd say it's been pretty successful. Although I wholeheartedly believe there is a an overwhelming negative bias towards the police even when they try to get it right. And yes you have made a personal insult. We're not trading personal insults because I haven't made any towards you. You said that 'I'm clearly not one of life's great thinkers' that's an insult and it's directed at me. You know nothing about me.

And you still haven't commented on the positive links that I did supply you with and you asked for.

No you are right, I know nothing about you, my impression is founded on this thread and this thread aone.

You links, first 2 are nothing more than the police doing the job they are paid to do. The 3rd I can't open and the 4th is the police again doing their job, I haven't read the whoe of that thread and realise it is an emotive one so don't want to sound critical but I think the CPS woud have had more of a bearing on the upgrading of the court (correct me if I'm wrong) and whilst the outcome is superb, again, arguably we are appauding the police doing their job.

And you still haven't commented on how effectively calling people immature isn't a personal insult?

I haven't actually stated my views on the police other than I disagree with you. I refuse to applaud them for doing their job but when on occassion they go above and beyond then yes of courtse they deserve it. But they certainly deserve criticism and in this day and age when everything can be filmed and posted on the net they will clearly get it. But I have had too many brushes with them to feel anything other than nervy around them and have a strong distrust of them.

I didn't say negative in the subject matter I made a comment about focussing on the negative generally. My approach was intended to create discussion and I'd say it's been pretty successful. Although I wholeheartedly believe there is a an overwhelming negative bias towards the police even when they try to get it right. And yes you have made a personal insult. We're not trading personal insults because I haven't made any towards you. You said that 'I'm clearly not one of life's great thinkers' that's an insult and it's directed at me. You know nothing about me.

And you still haven't commented on the positive links that I did supply you with and you asked for.

You are clearly not one of life's great thinkers, sorry.

Your whole soapbox statement is basically like saying:

Vanilla Icecream. It doesn't get nearly enough praise. The only thing you hear about vanilla icecream is bad experiences. I think that people slagging off vanilla icecream are just trying to be cool.

What I would ask is have YOU had any good experiences with the police? If so why aren't you highlighting them or providing any firsthand experience? If not why the fuck are you trying to start such a holier than thou 'argument' that really doesn't have much substance other than vague generalities or personal opinion? If you yourself haven't got any examples of good policing, then why do you expect others to have any?

Clearly negative service in any walk of life attracts more comment-you can go into a whole load of social reasoning for why people dislike the police as people on here have, and you then move the goalposts to purely cycle related examples-which really, isn't the point-the police are not a purely cycle related entity, are they? If you really think the Police deserve more good press why not start a 'Good Police Experience' thread for people to contribute? Or maybe just volunteer giving them comforting massages and polishing their shoes to show your appreciation on the weekend?

Go stick a thermometer up your arse and try operating the thing between your ears a bit more.