Discussion
Watching old Minder episodes it's noticeable that all the characters have a taboo about 'grassing' in the sense of helping the police. Even if someone was reasonably law abiding and disapproved of another's criminal activities informing the police was regarded as beyond the pale.
I thought this was just a plot device to prevent every crime in West London being cleared up before the first ad break. But the drama 'Common' the other night had characters with the same taboo.
Is there or was there really a demographic that is anti criminal, but also anti police? Have I had a sheltered life?
I thought this was just a plot device to prevent every crime in West London being cleared up before the first ad break. But the drama 'Common' the other night had characters with the same taboo.
Is there or was there really a demographic that is anti criminal, but also anti police? Have I had a sheltered life?
Yes, the attitude is out there.
As far as I can tell it's a historical mix of IRA and Kray twins legacy where instead of keeping quiet to protect your life or kneecaps you pretend you're keeping quiet out of some sort of solidarity with them.
You're their friend, not their b
h/victim.
It's the same in schools where bullies never get grassed on - and the same attitude stays as they grow up.
As far as I can tell it's a historical mix of IRA and Kray twins legacy where instead of keeping quiet to protect your life or kneecaps you pretend you're keeping quiet out of some sort of solidarity with them.
You're their friend, not their b
h/victim.It's the same in schools where bullies never get grassed on - and the same attitude stays as they grow up.
Society seems to be full of levels of police-friendliness.
Some hate the police because they stop/stopped them doing something wrong.
Some hate the police because it sounds "cool" and gives them street cred.
Some hate the police because someone once told them they should.
Some like the police because they've helped them.
Some like the police because they appreciate they do a good job.
Some accept the police because they do a necessary job....
Some hate the police because they stop/stopped them doing something wrong.
Some hate the police because it sounds "cool" and gives them street cred.
Some hate the police because someone once told them they should.
Some like the police because they've helped them.
Some like the police because they appreciate they do a good job.
Some accept the police because they do a necessary job....
Been about for many, many years.
It is also a bit elastic from what I have observed. For example I know one chap who would never dream of 'grassing' on his neighbour who has some very odd looking tomato plants in their greenhouse. The same chap has been known to call Police to report a number of regular drink drivers.
It is also a bit elastic from what I have observed. For example I know one chap who would never dream of 'grassing' on his neighbour who has some very odd looking tomato plants in their greenhouse. The same chap has been known to call Police to report a number of regular drink drivers.
Mk3Spitfire said:
Society seems to be full of levels of police-friendliness.
Some hate the police because they stop/stopped them doing something wrong.
Some hate the police because it sounds "cool" and gives them street cred.
Some hate the police because someone once told them they should.
Some like the police because they've helped them.
Some like the police because they appreciate they do a good job.
Some accept the police because they do a necessary job....
Some hate the police because they stop/stopped them doing something wrong.
Some hate the police because it sounds "cool" and gives them street cred.
Some hate the police because someone once told them they should.
Some like the police because they've helped them.
Some like the police because they appreciate they do a good job.
Some accept the police because they do a necessary job....
I don't hate the Police, but I was once treated extremely badly by them, having done absolutely nothing wrong. I was then let down by the Complaints process, where the Police lied their way out of any sanction.
I am accordingly wary of the Police and mindful that whilst there are plainly a lot of decent Police, there are some who have agendas and motivations that aren't in my favour.
I do hate that "don't be a grass" culture though. I was appalled recently when I read a posting on a local social media site where someone posted that he had the number of vehicle that had smashed the mirror off someone's parked van and would pass it on if the owner got in touch. The poster was lept upon by a gang of people who unashamedly asserted that whilst it was wrong to smash the mirror and just drive off, "grassing" was even worse. b
ks say I.Some hate the police beacuse the police tried to wreck their lives.
Grassing is quite different from reporting a 'crime'.
A grass or snitch will do it for some gain e.g turning state witness to escape prosecution/reduced jail term (see super snitch Leroy 'Nicky' Barnes), monetary reward, take down a rival criminal's empire e.t.c
Reporting a drink driver or reporting your car stolen for insurance purposes isnt grassing.
Grassing is quite different from reporting a 'crime'.
A grass or snitch will do it for some gain e.g turning state witness to escape prosecution/reduced jail term (see super snitch Leroy 'Nicky' Barnes), monetary reward, take down a rival criminal's empire e.t.c
Reporting a drink driver or reporting your car stolen for insurance purposes isnt grassing.
It often seems to part of the rather childish obsession of the intellectually challenged to appear 'hard' by rejecting authority. This starts at school with 'hating' teachers and just moves on to the police as the next authority figures.
As for what constitutes 'grassing' I think there are many factors. If a crime does not affect me or the public and perhaps I don't consider it should be a crime at all then I think it would be daft and unreasonable to report it. If it affects me or others negatively and I have a moral problem with it then I think it is right to report it.
For example if my neighbor was dealing heroin from his house then I would be straight down the police station, if he was growing funny looking plants in his greenhouse for his own personal amusement then it would be pretty poor form to report him. If he was flipping stolen cars I would report it, if his tax disk had run out then I would not etc etc.
As for what constitutes 'grassing' I think there are many factors. If a crime does not affect me or the public and perhaps I don't consider it should be a crime at all then I think it would be daft and unreasonable to report it. If it affects me or others negatively and I have a moral problem with it then I think it is right to report it.
For example if my neighbor was dealing heroin from his house then I would be straight down the police station, if he was growing funny looking plants in his greenhouse for his own personal amusement then it would be pretty poor form to report him. If he was flipping stolen cars I would report it, if his tax disk had run out then I would not etc etc.
V8forweekends said:
mph1977 said:
Never met anyone who votes for another Party on the basis that "me faather and 'is gran-faather afore him " voted for the party in question.
I know plenty of Tories who do exactly that and will proudly say so - although perhaps not in the cod-northern way you quote.Eclassy said:
Some hate the police beacuse the police tried to wreck their lives..
If you're once again referring to yours or your mates helplessly unlucky experiences with the police...I'm fairly sure that no police officer in the country has enough time on their hands to specifically set out to ruin your/his life.mph1977 said:
Never met anyone who votes for another Party on the basis that "me faather and 'is gran-faather afore him " voted for the party in question.
I know of someone who was told to vote for X party or never return to the family home...Many people have their politics instilled in them from their family, certainly until they are politically mature which is sometimes never for some...
I know of a number of people who will only ever vote one way or the other and in times of flux when they disagree with their chosen party just don't vote.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff