• GeneralVincent@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      ACAB means that all cops are bastards. And if one isn’t a bastard yet, they will become a bastard or be kicked out/killed by the bastards.

      It doesn’t mean cops can’t do good things or that a good person can’t become a cop. It just means all cops inherently and inevitably participate in a broken system and those that try to fix it will end up being targeted.

      We can have a nuanced take while saying ACAB.

      • HeartyBeast@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        We can have a nuanced take while saying ACAB.

        It’s a phrase that explicitly denies any possibility of a nuanced take, or any possibility of reform or anyone good attempting to change the system from the inside. It indiscriminately labels everyone who takes a job to enforce laws globally. It’s crass and I hate it. And no, I’m not a cop

        • macaroni1556
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          1 year ago

          It also says you can’t change the system from inside. This article is about that. I think that’s proven by themselves.

          • HeartyBeast@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            There are certainly cases where internal reform attempts fail. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I see ACAB as a counsel of despair- it’s basically saying that it is intrinsically impossible for the rule of law to to be maintained in a fair, equitable and humane way.

            I don’t expect to change anyone’s minds. I’m just explaining why I dislike it.

            • wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one
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              1 year ago

              I see ACAB as a counsel of despair

              And you also see windmills as giants, but that doesnt make you correct, or compelling.

              • HeartyBeast@kbin.social
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                1 year ago

                I mean, I didn’t expect to change your mind. But I suppose I should ask - what kind of organisation do you favour to handle law enforcement?

                • wildginger@lemmy.myserv.one
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                  1 year ago

                  Do you think the goal of ACAB style movements is “kill everyone who is a cop, change nothing, and the world is saved”?

                  Or are you capable of grasping nuance?

                  Because Im not going to waste my time explaining anything to the former, which you seem adamant to demonstrate you are.

                  So which are you?

                  • HeartyBeast@kbin.social
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                    1 year ago

                    Do you think the goal of ACAB style movements is “kill everyone who is a cop, change nothing, and the world is saved”?

                    That wasn’t my first thought, no.

                    But to be honest, I don’t think I’d waste my time if I were you - I don’t think you’re particularly interested in a conversation, and you’ve apparently made up your mind what kind of person I am, so best to move on.

        • GeneralVincent@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I see it explicitly as a call to reform. If all cops are bastards, the only way to not have bastards as cops is reform. And if the reform works, the phrase dies.

          I agree it’s a combative phrase, but that’s part of the point. It’s a call to action

          • HeartyBeast@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            I agree that it’s a call for reform and that reform is needed. I just it damages the chances of successful report.

            If a force or its regulators are trying to get to grips with corruption, they are going to want to ask questions like ‘to what extent is corruption a problem’ or ‘in which departments is corruption worst?’ ‘All cops are bastards’ is a problem.

            You have stories like this: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66842521 I think there are cops who are trying - and succeeding to make it better. ‘All cops are bastards’ is basically punching those reformers. It will also put off good people who do want to enter the force, because why would you, if it makes you a bastard?

    • Alto@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Sorry, would “99.9% of cops are bastards and because of reactions like this the tiny fraction that aren’t are entirely irrelevant” be better? It’s a bit of a mouthful.

      ACAB

      • HeartyBeast@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Yes it would be better, because it would at least require people to think. But hey, if nuance gets in the way of a good slogan, we should jettison it in favour of simplicity.

        • Alto@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          They mean the same thing honey. The tiny portion that are “good cops” are unfortunately 100% irrelevant because of shit like this. If they’re not able to actually cause change, which they are not, whether or not they exist doesn’t matter because they may as well not.

          You’re being intentionally dense. You know it. I know it. Everybody here knows it.

          • HeartyBeast@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            They mean the same thing honey.

            No they don’t sugar. They are miles apart. One says the small number, but I would hope increasing number of cops who are fighting for reform and justice are bastards - fuck ‘em.

            The are police globally who believe in justice and are working effectively to make changes.

            It’s not me who is being intentionally dense

            • Alto@kbin.social
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              1 year ago

              It’s not me who is being intentionally dense

              As you continue to entirely miss the point