So we've all seen this by now:
And just about everyone knows it was, at least initially, a set up (if you didn't know that... well, surprise! It was a set up, and welcome back out from that rock you were living under). But I don't think he expected it to go so far. So let's weigh in. Did this guy have it coming in that it was a practical joke, he was monopolizing the conversation and was belligerent to the police? Or was this a gross violation of the first amendment since he was still making valid points? While I'm a firm believer in freedom of speech (bloggers do tend to support that one as a general rule of thumb), I also get annoyed by people who intentionally make a big production of something and talk just to hear themselves talk (which makes it ironic that I blog). In my opinion, with great freedom comes great responsibility (how very 'Spiderman' of me, I know). Yes, you should be allowed to yell "Fire" in a crowded theater, but if everyone in the theater rushes to the door and you get trampled in the stampede, well, you probably had it coming.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. Dude deserved what he got. I couldn't make out what he was saying but it really doesn't matter. I agree with you on free speech, but there are just times when discretion is the better part of valor. A political rally, or any situation where there is heightened security and heightened tension, is not the place to try and pull off a practical joke.
Cops constantly have to make split-second judgements and react to situations. They don't need yokels like this guy to bait them into responding. They are there to protect the public. They saw what they deemed to be a potentially dangerous and out-of-control situation arising and handled it.
I am not normally a proponent of excessive use of force, but I saw nothing wrong with their reaction here.
Posted at 12:32PM on Sep 25th 2007 by T-Mo
2. "Excessive use of force" might be part of the act too. A number of people who have been tasered have noted that it's not nearly as bad as the guy was making it out to be. Milking it up much?
Posted at 6:31PM on Sep 25th 2007 by itshotsummer