[tonyhell]

I'm not against talking to police. I filed a police report when someone stole my favorite pumpkin the Halloween before last. My problem is with people who will rat out someone else to get themselves out of trouble. I also have a problem with people that speak of "criminals" as if they could never be one or have never broken a law themselves.

Black people consider the police the enemy because they get picked on and harassed and arrested more than white people. And if you don't believe that, then what cave have you been living in? I've seen it myself. There's an old saying that goes something like "me against my brother, but me and my brother against the neighbor".

[Chris]

I broke the law not long ago. I got a speeding ticket. I paid it.

If I break the law again and do something deserving of jail time, it'll suck, but I won't bitch that I didn't deserve it.

Simple solution: If you don't want to be "snitched" on, don't do anything you aren't proud of.

[noodles]

Originally Posted by tonyhell

Black people consider the police the enemy because they get picked on and harassed and arrested more than white people. And if you don't believe that, then what cave have you been living in? I've seen it myself. There's an old saying that goes something like "me against my brother, but me and my brother against the neighbor".

This argument goes completely out the window when you start talking about violent crime. You don't kill and rape people. Period. If you do, you deserve to go to jail. Period. I have no way of seeing how you can argue that it is understandable to not report a violent crime. There is a very thin line between cool and stupidity.

I'll agree with you that black culture has many good reasons to be distrustful of police. Then again, I will also argue that rap stars that glorify criminal behavior, professional athletes that act like spoiled children, and walking windbags like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson do much to perpetuate the negative stereotypes that the typical African American is forced to deal with. I also absolutely guarantee you that for every white man like me, who will have rational discussion with you on this subject, their is a redneck piece of white trash who is thinking, "Awesome, now them damn <n-word> are just standing by and letting each other get killed."

I completely fail to see how this has one positive aspect about it.

[The Dark Wolf]

Well said, Dave.

Originally Posted by Chris

Simple solution: If you don't want to be "snitched" on, don't do anything you aren't proud of.

I agree with that completely.

But these thugs are very proud of their criminal behavior.

[noodles]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

But these thugs are very proud of their criminal behavior.

I blame parents. If you're a parent, you personally listen to everything your kid wants to listen to. My parents flat out disallowed me to listen to a whole lot of stuff, and completely forbid me from going to concerts. Did I sneak out? Yes. Did I get caught and punished? Sometimes. Did I get tapes from friends? Yes. Did I get caught and punished? Sometimes.

The point is I now understand my parents were trying to protect me from things they found questionable, and I always understood that just because it happens in a song or video, doesn't mean it's right. If parents do their jobs (like telling their kids to report crime to the police), then kids don't grow up fucked up, thinking that they can't snitch if they want to keep their rep.

I always thought the concept of "street cred" when it applies to committing crime was completely stupid. There is absolutely nothing cool about getting arrested and thrown in jail.

[Cancer]

Originally Posted by noodles

If you watch the first video, Busta Rhyme's bodyguard was murdered in the studio he was in, but Busta refuses to talk to the police because it might hurt his record sales. If I was that man's wife, I would sue Busta into next fucking week.

That's just fucked up, no matter who you are.

[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

Isn't boondocks a cartoon or something? You know how I feel about that shit, Ken.

its worth your 20 minutes of time to see it.

[metalfiend666]

Here in the UK we've got a big problem with inner city gun crime. Guns are virtually illegal here, yet the thugs still have access to them. Obviously, criminal's won't hand their guns over in any amnesty. Who're the main people being targeted by the police to end the gun crime problem? Young black men. Why are they being targeted? Because the vast majority of the people dying are young black men. The police are hving a hard time getting anywhere because of this "don't tell" bullshit.

I don't care if you're black, white, purple, gay, straight or anything else. People who get my respect are those who behave like the respectable, civilised human beings we should be in this day and age, not thuggish wannabe gangsters. Acting tough and withholding vital information that could save lives isn't big or clever. If you know any piece of information that can help catch the perpitrator of a violent crime you should tell the police.

[The Dark Wolf]

Originally Posted by metalfiend666

Here in the UK we've got a big problem with inner city gun crime. Guns are virtually illegal here, yet the thugs still have access to them. Obviously, criminal's won't hand their guns over in any amnesty.

No shit?

Well well well. This speaks volumes (to me) of the need to maintain our right to bear arms here.

After all, in a place where guns are "virtually illegal", and the criminals STILL have access to them, then all those laws seem really to do is deprive law-abiding people the ability to defend themselves.

Sorry for the tangent, but I couldn't help but comment.

[b3n]

Originally Posted by The Dark Wolf

After all, in a place where guns are "virtually illegal", and the criminals STILL have access to them, then all those laws seem really to do is deprive law-abiding people the ability to defend themselves.

Let's face it, you can never completely erradicate firearms, and the people with the connections to obtain them are usually those most likely to use them.

A few weeks ago I saw a reporter interviewing a couple of teenagers (black and white) who wouldn't admit to carrying but said that their friends did and it was easy to buy them.

In a half-assed attempt to tie this back to the topic, I'll mention that when asked, they wouldn't tell where the guns came from