<p>"I don't know. Was this tasering more or less cruel and painful than having a pair of women's panties put on your head?"</p>
<p>Good question, Higherlead. If being made to wear women's panties as a hat is torture (as many posters on CC claimed it was when the Abu Graib story broke), than being tasered certainly is.</p>
<p>What I don't understand, is why they didn't respect the Senator's wish that the kid be allowed to stay so he could address his question. As someone already asked, why did they decide to remove the kid when they did? Kerry wanted to answer his question. I think they should have waited until that was done before acting to remove the kid from the forum . On the other hand, I also agree that Meyer SHOULD NOT have been rewarded for what clearly was rude, selfish behavior of the highest order. It really is hard to second guess the decisions of the police in this incidence. Even after having watched the video, I can see good points on both sides of the argument.</p>
<p>Perhaps some of you do not realize the international outrage about what happened at UF. From an american perspective, Meyer may have gotten what he deserved from being disrespectful and behaving like a jerk at the conference. Regardless, the excessive use of force and the behavior of the police officers is what has really come into question globally. For those of you who dare venture outside this forum, the term "fascist" is being entertained. This is being discussed by high school students across the nation and .....beyond.</p>
<p>Americans who do not understand how out of line the University of Florida Police Officers were, are really out of touch with what's happening internationally and with the stereotypes and perception that such behavior is reinforcing about how we, americans, are perceived in the global arena.</p>
<p>The President of UF was deeply embarrassed and showed it with his statement. It behooves all students ( especially UF students ) to be a little more tuned to that......no matter what an ass Meyer might have been.</p>
<p>Opie, I think that you need help. You make some of the most outrageous comparisons and inferences that I have ever seen in my short life. But I guess it is better to continue to embarrass yourself in an anonymous forum than in a "real life discussion".</p>
<p>as far as embarrassing oneself in your short life your still ahead of me.:)</p>
<p>As far as world opinion based on news programs, do you REALLY think this is the first time? Or that the local news you watch is truthful all the time? Having traveled and spending some time abroad I do understand how the world views us and we in turn view them.. usually through coke bottle thick glasses...</p>
<p>What I think you may be out of touch with is simply if you behave like a jerk you run the risk of getting hurt. I consider that a lack of parenting and don't blame you or the tase me brother.. That's your folk's fault for allowing you to think you can behave any dam way you want to anywhere at anytime. That what you have to say is more important than the invited speaker whom everyone came to see..</p>
<p>What the internet has done is allowed people to speak without thinking and sometimes they forget and do it publically and get pounded for it...</p>
<p>I'm sorry if you feel my comparisons are too outrageous for your young life. I guess posting about "world opinion" about taser boy is spot on though..;) </p>
<p>This kid burst inside the forum with cops following behind him, meaning he got past them forcefully. You have to sign up in advance for these things, he can't just be bursting in based on his own political agenda.</p>
<p>Finally, they tasered him. So what, it's non-lethal (usually). Would you rather they had gone to work on him with nightsticks or perhaps something more?</p>
<p>If that's the way it happened- he got past them forcefully, and they were already in "pursuit" while he was up there jabberjawing with his book- then they sure do look like idiots standing behind him, and allowing him to talk as long as he did.</p>
<p>No, they were not in pursuit of arresting him until he had been going on for quite some time. Actually, according to one of the police reports, him using the word "blow job" was the last straw. He was obnoxious, and it isn't appropriate or usually allowed for someone just to bust in on a meeting like that. But once he was given the mic, they were basically giving him tacit permission to continue. Then they decided they'd had enough, after he made the comment about wanting his two minutes and the blowjob remark.</p>
<p>Edit, I take that back. I shouldn't assume what their motives were. Maybe they were planning on arresting him all along (as soon as he busted in) but were willing to wait until he was finished with his question. I guess they weren't too afraid that he was a terrorist.</p>
<p>I think as the story goes he burst in, crowded (in other words, cut the line) to the mike and started to demand t be heard. Kerry asked him to wait his turn and he would get his question, so he stepped back into line. That's when the officers appeared behind him as he already had bullrushed somebody else. I think they were going to give him his chance, but they weren't going to be where he could over react and not be handled. </p>
<p>He could have chosen to wait and ask his questions calmly, but he chose to go deep end and they had enough. </p>
<p>so depending on what you know of the situation and when it actually started, you may have different opinions on what the police did or didn't do right.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Regardless, the excessive use of force and the behavior of the police officers is what has really come into question globally. For those of you who dare venture outside this forum, the term "fascist" is being entertained.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Depending on from where that term is being thrown around, that is a very interesting relative comparison. If its from anywhere in the EU, I would laugh and them and go elsewhere. Europe has been turning into the biggest nationalist/collectivist area in the world. And if you want to talk about the nanny state (or police state) phenomenon, go no further than our British brothers across the pond and ask them about their CCTVs, gun confiscations, and anti-self defense legislation.
People need to stop sensationalizing such a small issue and realize that there are much bigger problems in the world that need to be addressed.</p>
<p>I wonder if there's a little "quasimodo" thinking going on- not with people in this forum, but some of the stuff I hear...</p>
<p>BTW, no one in my family including myself, thinks this kid's behavior is defensible...</p>
<p>But here we have this doofus journalism student who makes stupid videos and is a rude bigmouth. And it's in Florida. And his questions and general demeanor were negative toward John Kerry. Let's say instead, it had been at Columbia, and a petite, pretty pre-law/poli sci female student had rudely elbowed her way into the hall. And she was acting the same way toward George W. (not that he would be doing a town hall at Columbia, but...). And when they start taking her away, she becomes hysterical and recalcitrant, ending up on the floor getting zapped with a taser. I don't believe people would be bringing up her online blogs, etc, but even if they were, the reaction would be more like she is "gutsy", "irreverant" and "cutting edge". And tazing a crying female college student would just be...totally unacceptable to 90% of the population.</p>
<p>
[quote]
and strick11, you would just lay there and let them haul you to jail for speaking up
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Why yes, isn't that how it's done? That's how it was done in my day. Power to the people. :D</p>
<p>You can continue arguing all you want while they're arresting you, but if you start to get physical, expect them to do what they have to do to get in control. Actually, well trained protesters are the most polite. Never give the cops an excuse, you know? Then if they pull something stupid with the cameras rolling, you've really got something on them. See the film from Chicago '68 to see what I mean.</p>
<p>I personally haven't offered an opinion on this guy, but it won't sound that original. This kid is a spoiled brat, showboating for the cameras. He clearly doesn't understand that the rules, all of them, apply to him to.</p>
<p>I am from China. The police violence there may be one notch above what you have here, but the fact a lot more people here support this sort of cruelty is truly amazing. And this is what I think worse.</p>
<p>Cruelty? Have you ever seen anyone worked over with a night stick, QW553? </p>
<p>They don't go "owwww!" like this pompus jerk did. They bleed and go very limp and silent.</p>
<p>BTW, the thread's sort of gotten away from me. Did anyone mention this report from CNN?</p>
<p>Cops on leave after Taser incident, student's behavior under scrutiny
[quote]
Police noted that [Meyer's] demeanor "completely changed once the cameras were not in sight" and described him as laughing and being lighthearted as he was being driven to the Alachua County Detention Center.</p>
<p>"I am not mad at you guys, you didn't do anything wrong. You were just trying to do your job," Meyer said, according to the police report.</p>
<p>At one point, he asked whether there were going to be cameras at the jail, according to the report.
<p>QW553--I suggest a week of viewing COPS in Miami or wherever they are this month. Arresting people is not patty-cake in this country if you resist. Consider that something worth remembering.</p>
<p>From what I understand, most young people in China have never even heard of the events in Tienaman square. The Chinese government has google and the other internet search engines in it's back pocket, with an agreement to censor anything the government considers "inappropriate" for Chinese consumption. That includes any information relating to Tienaman Square.:rolleyes:</p>