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I think both parties should endeavor within the best of their ability to restrain their impulses, and police officers generally do an extremely commendable job of doing so, despite every day at work consisting of dealing with the angriest, most agitated, most disagreeable people around. However, when Bob acts like an asshole toward that officer, he’s acting like an asshole toward an avatar of society at large, and in order for the basic administration of justice to not turn into a massively inefficient series of individuals holding court on the side of the road, police must be empowered to take decisive punitive action to discourage people from offering significant, time-consuming resistance.
Yes, I’ve already said I don’t think there should be significant consequences for just complaining; however, I’m fine with consequences for complaining that takes the form of personal insults and especially threats to the officer. “You a bitch, I’d fuckin’ beat yo ass if you ain’t have that badge on” is a pretty common one I see. Cool, dumbass, how’s pavement taste?
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