RAT Less about fuzz and more about .... well....

[TimNGail@aol.com]

Bill -

<<You, of course, are incredulous at the mere idea of a youth spent in the 
company of many law enforcement people.  Well, I have no help for that.>>

Ummm.... BIll?  Not at all.  That was sort of the whole point.  Your 
experience is totally valid, but doesn't speak as a global generalization, 
which was the only thing that Jonathan and I were trying to point out.  Nor 
does my experience.  Nor anyone else's.

And, um... yes... I suppose generalizations come from some thread of actual 
truth or experience.  But I'd hate to surround myself with a universe where 
one accepts those threads and sews endlessly with them.

>>point (or even if it's NOT), then I would simply re-direct 
>>the question of who, exactly, is the spoiled brat child that can't read, 
>h>ear, or acknowledge that there is the possibility of experiences beyond 
your 
>>own?

>I'm afraid that would be you, my friend.

wow.  does this come from the "I know you are, but what am I" School of 
Intelligent Discussion?  I think that one phrase alone makes the point in the 
words that precede it.

<< It's much more amusing to ridicule my  poor keggers and garage bull 
sessions, or  dismiss them out of hand.>>

Once again, not dismissive... just putting your universe into perspective for 
you.

<<You are so keen on earning that gold star that you have gone to the other 
extreme:  all cops read HARPER'S.>>

hmmm.... once again, BIll... it seems like you're getting people who <gasp> 
disagree with your opinions or correlations and you have lashed back in a 
very reactionary and defensive way.  I'm really sorry if all this talk makes 
you feel the need to be defensive.  I'll go back and look at all the posts in 
this thread, but I'm pretty sure no one ever even went so far as to intimate 
that all cops read HARPER'S.  Now, I could see how you might extrapolate 
COSMO, but HARPER'S???  nawwww.... I think it's a stretch.

<<Now it's not that hard, if you are inclined to be honest, to infer similar 
patterns among (some) law enforcement officials.  Why do people do the things 
they do?  Perhaps some things are benign, or simply  inexplicable. >>

<<There are often patterns behind the things we do, habits and attitudes 
learned in childhood.  I trust that this is not a controversial idea for 
you?>>

No.  This is not a controversial idea.  It's how that idea is then stretched, 
bent, mutated, and used to suit whatever agenda a liberal or conservative 
reactionary needs it to fit.  "All them Darkies eat Fried Chicken and 
Watermelon."  Do you SEE what a slippery slope you're on here?

tim