Calling the police: wrong?

[The Parkus Empire]

Just about everybody feels that, under certain circumstances, calling the police on someone is a pretty douchey thing to do. Like for pot or underage drinking. However, that type of thing is not what this thread is about.

What I'm asking is this: when someone does something you feel deserves some kind of action (and you know them to have done it--hypothetically of course, since even courts can't be absolutely sure someone is guilty), is it a betrayal of your conscience to call the authorities leave that action up to the law? You're saying the law gets to determine what this person deserves for something you believe is wrong. Do you see where I'm coming from?

[Lunatic Goofballs]

When I want sex, I call my nearest police officer.

[Ifreann]

When I want sex, I call my nearest police officer.

If you change your mind and just want to cuddle, do you get arrested for filing a false report?

[Lunatic Goofballs]

When I want sex, I call my nearest police officer.

If you change your mind and just want to cuddle, do you get arrested for filing a false report?

No, but sometimes I disturb the peace.

[Thevenin]

Well, if it's illegal then it is the duty of the police force to deal with said activities. I'm not usually one to call the police though, except maybe if someone is getting murdered or something.

[Ifreann]

If you change your mind and just want to cuddle, do you get arrested for filing a false report?

No, but sometimes I disturb the peace.

I am not at all surprised.

[The Parkus Empire]

Well, if it's illegal then it is the duty of the police force to deal with said activities. I'm not usually one to call the police though, except maybe if someone is getting murdered or something.

Yes, it's their duty. But should you call them? I mean, even if, say, someone was murdered, are you really being true to yourself to give it to the police to handle? Aren't you subcontracting your own sense of justice to the law's?

[Ifreann]

Well, if it's illegal then it is the duty of the police force to deal with said activities. I'm not usually one to call the police though, except maybe if someone is getting murdered or something.

Yes, it's their duty. But should you call them? I mean, even if, say, someone was murdered, are you really being true to yourself to give it to the police to handle? Aren't you subcontracting your own sense of justice to the law's?

If your own sense of justice is incompatible with the judicial system and could only be satisfied at your own hand.

[Tubbsalot]

I don't think it's betraying yourself so much as acknowledging you aren't perfect and can't get everything right.

I mean the whole reason we have a justice system is because individuals kind of suck at justice.

[The Parkus Empire]

Yes, it's their duty. But should you call them? I mean, even if, say, someone was murdered, are you really being true to yourself to give it to the police to handle? Aren't you subcontracting your own sense of justice to the law's?

If your own sense of justice is incompatible with trial by jury and could only be satisfied at your own hand.

AFAIK, a jury's only job is to determine whether or not someone is innocent.

[Call to power]

You're saying the law gets to determine what this person deserves for something you believe is wrong. Do you see where I'm coming from?

no, are you saying you lack faith in the justice system?

[Hippostania]

If you see something illegal, you call the authorities. It doesn't matter what he/she is doing, or is he/she your friend or family member. Citizen's duty is to uphold the law and report all lawbreakers to the authorities.

[Call to power]

If you see something illegal, you call the authorities. It doesn't matter what he/she is doing, or is he/she your friend or family member. Citizen's duty is to uphold the law and report all lawbreakers to the authorities.

who may choose to let it slide as all organs of the state (including you) are open to discretion with which persistent offenders such as old ladies tend to be vilified by everyone for wasting time

[The Parkus Empire]

I don't think it's betraying yourself so much as acknowledging you aren't perfect and can't get everything right.

Even something as basic as ethics? How can someone else be better at determine what's right than oneself is?

I mean the whole reason we have a justice system is because individuals kind of suck at justice.

If you're just talking about determination of guilt, than yeah, I agree with you. A proper trial is far better at determining guilt than an angry mob.

[Ifreann]

If your own sense of justice is incompatible with trial by jury and could only be satisfied at your own hand.

AFAIK, a jury's only job is to determine whether or not someone is innocent.

Bah, stupid posting while at work. That should be 'the judicial system'.

[The Parkus Empire]

You're saying the law gets to determine what this person deserves for something you believe is wrong. Do you see where I'm coming from?

no, are you saying you lack faith in the justice system?

Uh, what do you mean "lack faith", exactly? I don't believe it's perfect, but I get the feeling there's something more attached to your question.

[The Parkus Empire]

AFAIK, a jury's only job is to determine whether or not someone is innocent.

Bah, stupid posting while at work. That should be 'the judicial system'.

Well, unless your own sense of justice is "whatever he says" (which is certainly how many people feel about all kinds of justice, such as legal and divine), then it can't help but be incompatible.

[Conserative Morality]

In any situation in which I am:

A. Certain that the law is being broken

B. Believe that the police will get there before those in question leave so I don't end up having to answer a lot of questions and get suspected of making shit up.

[Call to power]

Uh, what do you mean "lack faith", exactly? I don't believe it's perfect, but I get the feeling there's something more attached to your question.

well are you advocating another way of doing things in certain cases? or are you just mentioning that sometimes the bad guy gets away?

A. Certain that the law is being broken

pretty sure the police are not too bothered by a few kids having a smoke, I mean yeah they are committing a crime but you would think the police have better things to be spending their time on

[The Parkus Empire]

In any situation in which I am:

A. Certain that the law is being broken

B. Believe that the police will get there before those in question leave so I don't end up having to answer a lot of questions and get suspected of making shit up.

You are not legally required to answer any questions the police ask you, nor would I suggest you do for the most part, mainly because of the reason you named.

[Tekania]

Just about everybody feels that, under certain circumstances, calling the police on someone is a pretty douchey thing to do. Like for pot or underage drinking. However, that type of thing is not what this thread is about.

What I'm asking is this: when someone does something you feel deserves some kind of action (and you know them to have done it--hypothetically of course, since even courts can't be absolutely sure someone is guilty), is it a betrayal of your conscience to call the authorities leave that action up to the law? You're saying the law gets to determine what this person deserves for something you believe is wrong. Do you see where I'm coming from?

Yes, I think calling the police and having the authorities handle it, leading to a possible trial with an impartial judge and jury is the best recourse; and most certainly better than getting together a group of friends to form a lynch mob to dole out justice oneself.

[The Parkus Empire]

well are you advocating another way of doing things in certain cases?

Sort of. I've noticed that a lot people say your conscience should take precedence over the law, and I'm just wondering how far we could take that.

or are you just mentioning that sometimes the bad guy gets away?

Nah, this isn't about "hurr durr the law lets people off 4 technicalities", it's more along the lines of: "Does this person deserve four years in the pen or something more/less?"

[-The West Coast-]

I'd call the police if someone I knew was breaking the law. Even a friend.

[The Parkus Empire]

Just about everybody feels that, under certain circumstances, calling the police on someone is a pretty douchey thing to do. Like for pot or underage drinking. However, that type of thing is not what this thread is about.

What I'm asking is this: when someone does something you feel deserves some kind of action (and you know them to have done it--hypothetically of course, since even courts can't be absolutely sure someone is guilty), is it a betrayal of your conscience to call the authorities leave that action up to the law? You're saying the law gets to determine what this person deserves for something you believe is wrong. Do you see where I'm coming from?

Yes, I think calling the police and having the authorities handle it, leading to a possible trial with an impartial judge and jury is the best recourse; and most certainly better than getting together a group of friends to form a lynch mob to dole out justice oneself.

There's a lot of stuff you can do to, erm, "correct" behaviour, much of which some people would possible even prefer to suffer from rather than the law.

I dunno about this lynch mob nonsense, and I'm not sure about it's place in this thread, since it connotes killing someone who didn't do anything wrong.

[The Parkus Empire]

I'd call the police if someone I knew was breaking the law. Even a friend.

Then you aren't really a friend.