tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post8809330089099453764..comments2024-03-02T02:26:00.928-05:00Comments on bleakonomy: Familiarity breeds compassiontetracontadigonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04604381739383227553noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-18863951880301119492009-07-28T13:10:13.131-04:002009-07-28T13:10:13.131-04:00I haven't seen empirical evidence on this. But...I haven't seen empirical evidence on this. But I also have not seen empirical evidence that toddlers like to test limits, that men are generally (although not in every instance) more interested in mechanical stuff than are women, that New Yorkers talk faster than Southerners. And yet, I am sure all these things are true, too, based on conclusions I've drawn from my experience of the world.<br /><br />And yes, I do imagine there would be geographic variance.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09953173396955681485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-61613635510212521612009-07-27T21:04:19.767-04:002009-07-27T21:04:19.767-04:00Elizabeth, I'm curious how you know to a certa...Elizabeth, I'm curious how you know to a certainty that "generally speaking, a police officer will take mouthing off more amiss from someone black than someonw white or Asian." I really don't know if this is true or not. It could be, but I have no real way of knowing for sure. How did you come to your conclusion? What evidence did you use? Any geographical caveats, or is this true in all 50 States?Gadfly Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-35351776084448061982009-07-27T20:26:09.421-04:002009-07-27T20:26:09.421-04:00Thought I should return to this post. I heard the ...Thought I should return to this post. I heard the tape on the news this evening and no answer to my questions. The tape did not contain Professor Gates voice that of the police officer. Continue in a quandary.<br /><br />JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-57411906827082389682009-07-27T05:03:32.336-04:002009-07-27T05:03:32.336-04:00I for one want to hear the radio tape from the res...I for one want to hear the radio tape from the residence of Professor Gates. From what I understand about Cambridge Police policy is this: When called to a home for a break-in and finding persons inside, a sweep of the residence is required by the Cambridge Police Department. There could have been someone behind a door with a gun trained on the professor. The tape should answer any questions. Seems to me both President Obama and Professor Gates sure quited down after the tape surfaced. You can bet your last dollar the WH and the President has heard it. Cambridge is the most liberal city in the US and is constantly referred to as the, Republic of Cambridge. <br /><br />JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-78590152914081883542009-07-26T09:15:01.764-04:002009-07-26T09:15:01.764-04:00I have no idea what happened in this case. But I h...I have no idea what happened in this case. But I have zero doubt that, generally speaking, a police officer will take mouthing off more amiss from someone black than someone white or Asian.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09953173396955681485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-60901287079261402542009-07-25T22:28:43.358-04:002009-07-25T22:28:43.358-04:00You are right, it shouldn't be a crime to film...You are right, it shouldn't be a crime to film, photograph, or verbally abuse police officers in the US But you know what? Start giving lip to an officer, and white, black, female, Asian, whatever, you'll wind up on the short end of the stick quickly. Best to smile, be very polite but firm, and save the anger for the complaint later, when there is less danger of being tasered or shot while "resisting arrest.". How can a Harvard man not know this?Gadfly Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-9161707598884673352009-07-25T13:33:41.461-04:002009-07-25T13:33:41.461-04:00I think that's possibly true, and the police o...I think that's possibly true, and the police officer may well not have been motivated by racism. But the disorderly conduct charge does seem by all accunts unwarranted, and so we at least have a case of a policeman unwarrantedly throwing his weight around because he allowed himself to get pissed off. Also not pretty, and not just.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09953173396955681485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5393996338560944889.post-26976546553808796902009-07-24T19:05:30.861-04:002009-07-24T19:05:30.861-04:00I'm not at all clear that this was a case of b...I'm not at all clear that this was a case of bad police and good prof. We have two different stories. Apparently, Officer Crowley had his radio mike open, and he appears to be contemplating a suit against Prof. Gates, so we may hear some more shortly. But until then, it is not obvious this is racist police work. It could easily be a case of tired, hassled by Chinese and US border officials, airport security, Harvard prof losing it when officer doesn't immediately go away after being shown ID. Perhaps the officer was checking to see if there was a Ms. Gates, and if a protective order existed that would have made it illegal for Mr. Gates to be at that address on his driver's license. Perhaps there is another explanation. I don't know. But it does seem clear that Prof. Gates followed the officer out of his home and was berating him with the "I'm important, and you are going to regret not paying appropriate deference to me" line. That makes it quite hard for me to have loads of sympathy for the Professor.Gadfly Johnnoreply@blogger.com