Why Do So Many People Hate the Police?

[Lem0nade Inlay]

I don't know, they're trying to do the right thing. People just think they know what's best for them, even though a lot of the time they don't.
Also, the media loves making huge fusses out of a minor police/law enforcement screw up, so I guess some people just assume all police are stupid assholes.

Though, maybe I'm just overly-optimistic.

 

[Betancore]

Maybe it's because most people haven't actually encountered the police. So they don't know what to think of them, and go to the next best thing. That being, whatever everyone else says. I've had many encounters with the Victorian cops, and they really aren't that bad. Very reasonable, very understanding, and they're just doing their job. I've only had one bad encounter with the cops but then they could've been Scientologists, since their behaviour was so different from the cops we usually get.

 

[Audio]

I grew up in Scotland; all i knew was Police stop you having fun. Even today, i just feel the need to 'behave' when one is about..bastards !

 

[Generic_Dave]

It's a case of a few bad apples spoiling the bunch. Cases of greed / corruption / stupidity of a few colour the opinions against all.

For example, I am an avid pot smoker. And have on more than one occasion (and from more than one cop) bought weed or hash from cops. And I know for sure that one of my friend's friends who is a cop, used to sell anything he confiscated.

But they are the exceptions. I find our boys in blue (An Garda Síochana in this part of the world) do their jobs to the best of their ability.

 

[XJ-0461]

Because it's edgy and cool!

Seriously though, I'm not entirely sure, but it's probably due to bad experiences in the past with the police. Stuff like wrongful arrest, a police officer being a dick over the slightest thing etc. happens to them, and then this colours their view of all police officers. What's bad about this is that they overlook the fact that not all Police Officers have the same personality, and while one might be an asshole, there could be 10 or 20 who are all right people.

Personally it's something I don't quite get. Without the Police, shit would mostdefinately hit the fan, and society would get completely fucked up. And while I don't hate the Police, I do hate the corrupt officers.

 

[blankedboy]

Because:
A) People are stupid
B) The Media likes blast every isolated case of police brutality or anything like it all over the place.
C) Rap music. Rappers are constantly slamming the police. You can't tell me that a few dipshit wannabe gangstas don't pick up on that.
D) People are stupid

This, and also:

E) People fear a cop coming up to them and asking this serious questions because... [see A and D]

 

[iblis666]

i like the idea of the police its just sad that the cops in san jose, ca are so useless

 

[XJ-0461]

Because it's edgy and cool!

Seriously though, I'm not entirely sure, but it's probably due to bad experiences in the past with the police. Stuff like wrongful arrest, a police officer being a dick over the slightest thing etc. happens to them, and then this colours their view of all police officers. What's bad about this is that they overlook the fact that not all Police Officers have the same personality, and while one might be an asshole, there could be 10 or 20 who are all right people.

Personally it's something I don't quite get. Without the Police, shit would mostdefinately hit the fan, and society would get completely fucked up. And while I don't hate the Police, I do hate the corrupt officers.

Society could "hit the fan" in bigger cities but humans have survived quite peacefully without a large law enforcement system like ours.
There would have to be some kind of order, but at least in smaller communities we could make our own laws and they could be laws that didn't infringe on lifestyle choices or your choice of "plants"

Completely forgot about smaller communities, sorry. I'm a city kid, and that's what I think of when I consider how society works. I'm sure if I were raised in a small village, then that's what I'd think of first.

 

[severusjusticia]

Police are just people. Most are chilled and cool and just doing their job. Some have anger management and power issues. The rest are probably psychopaths deep down. No different from any other workplace if you examine it closely. It's a crappy job sometimes so you have to love it and truly want to help society and believe you are making a difference if you want to stay sane.

 

[Arkzism]

honestly i dont know.. i even get fed up with them but im generally fine around cops.. i know how to act around them

 

[Nouw]

I only respect these Police as the ones in my Country suck

Spoiler: BEHOLD!

ROBO-COP! AND JUDGE DREAD!

 

[Alandoril]

It's not the police...it's the kind of people who become police.

 

[Yureina]

I don't have a problem with police. But then again, i'm not exactly someone who would be approached by police considering that I am white, not strange looking, never break the law or do anything odd, and am otherwise not a public nuisance. I guess my opinion will change once I actually have an experience dealing with police.

 

[Tears of Blood]

Two words:

Speeding tickets

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

What is it about cops that gets so many people's panties in a bunch? If someone is willing to risk their life everyday to keep me safe, then I'm going to damn well support them, but I seem to be in a shrinking minority, especially with people in my age group and younger (20-30 and under).

Please enlighten me on why you believe (or don' believe) that cops deserve our support.

I have yet to find someone who hates the police rightfully. What ever way you look at it the police HAVE to check you and arrest you for certain things. ITS THEIR JOB. Some people think they have weird rights like "the police cant physically touch me" and get outraged when they do. They can. If the police catch you breaking the law no matter how trivial they are obliged to apprehend you. If they let small things start to slide it becomes a slippery slope of corruption and people just getting away free with dangerous speeding.

The police need to enforce these laws. I cant think of a single law you can excuse breaking, feel free to quote me if you can think of one. If you break the law you face the consequences. Deal with it.

Why should a uniform make them immune to my hate? They're mere humans like all of us, and assholes like many.

But because it's their job I'm supposed to be well-mannered and compliant no matter what they do? Because they wear a uniform they're allowed to give me shit and I'm supposed to eat it? Because they carry a badge I'm supposed to smile while they tread on me?

No. Pigs are pigs. Fuckem.

I can completely see where your coming from. If someone is an ass hole they deserve your hate regardless of occupation, I would totally not respect a cop who is giving me shit for no reason. However I think its not fair to be so anti cop to every cop I meet before they start being ass holes, my friends dad is a cop and he's really nice. I think that a policeman deserves my respect if he is being respectful and as helpful as possible and seems to want to help get this over with as fast as I do. If he starts being a badge waving ass then he's a pig and will be treated as such.

Stopping you from going 80 over the limit isn't treading on you. So sometimes I think the police do have a right to be a little harsher. Especially to people who are really unrepentant and you can tell will do it again the second they get the chance.

I know people like those you described exist. Thankfully none in my area. They are massive ass holes, its unlucky you seem to have met a few of em.

 

[helldragonX]

I can't say that I hate cops. But I don't especially like them either....I have had to many bad experiences with the cops around where I live. What I do hate is that none of the cops around here think they have to follow the road laws. If there is an emergency is one thing, but when they are just cruising the street they should have to follow the road laws like anyone else.

 

[sketch_zeppelin]

I belive the cops desreve our support but that doesn't mean i'm not damn uncomfortable around them. We're talking about someone who, if they wanted, could frame me and ruin my life. I'm not saying that a cop would but who knows mabey i say somthing that pisses them off and they want to teach me a lesson. My point is that i choose to limit my expossure to the police so i minimize the chance of getting on there bad side.

 

[MadeinHell]

Really there are only two main reasons why people hate police:

1(main). They've been teached to hate Police. Yeah just that, seriously ask a skinhead (if you have any friendly one) why does he hate police, he will spam your ears with curses but ask him again "Why do you hate police? Did they ever do anything bad specifically to you?". 9 out of 10 times they will have no real answer. Just hate them... "because".

2. People who have ACTUAL bad experience with police, I mean people who got beat up for no reason (AKA my father who actually doesn't hate police), who got fooled by the law into thinking the police will solve their problem et cetera.


I personally have my respect to Police force. Only time when I had actually sat in the Police van and was being interrogated on the spot (they used dangerous words but didn't really do anything, I was calm but my friend was freaking out [facepalm]) was because I acted stupid and reckless. And I was drunk and underaged (2 months before 18 but still counts). The police officers were nice enough to let the matter slide for me (since we were actually just watching somebody do something stupid and not really taking any actions in it) but not so much for my "DON'T TOUCH ME YOU F*** DOG!" friend. Eventually I managed talk them into letting him go since he was really really scared.

But back on topic I respect the Police force and while many of my friends say that "police is stupid" (well they use heavier words) I really find no reason to say so. They are just doing their job and if there wasn't any police force the world would drown in chaos. Seriously if not for police I would probably get curb stomped a few years back by skinheads for wearing WRONG SHOE LASES.

 

[dragonslayer32]

I like the police, hell, I want to join them! In England however, we have what is called a 'chav'. Now, most 'chavs' and police do not mix and because more and more of our people are becoming 'chavs', there is more hate fore the police.

 

[SextusMaximus]

Abuse of power mainly. Police think they can do whatever they want by telling people to do X, Y and Z JUST because they're police. Not all of them. Just the ones who stand out, giving the police a bad name.