Therapy Dog Beheaded

[Sophist]

Crow Noir---

On the flip side, one person's accusation doesn't mean it DID happen. Again, it's not like people have never accused the police of things that weren't true. And when one is frantic and upset and feeling helpless, it is easy to misinterpret things over the phone.


Yeah, there are a few bad apples. But that doesn't mean every time a cop is accused of something, they've actually done it.


I mean, your gut reaction was that the cops were somehow in cahoots or covering for the dog-killers, from what you've said here. Cops and their families end up dealing with a whole heck of a lot of people who tend to think the worst of cops, and if you are making that leap, it would be harder to take your word on the laughing part.

And finally, the news reports I have seen don't technically say that the cops laughed, they just quote the person's accusation. And even if they had, well, the fine members of the media are every bit as fallible as cops are.

[crow_noir]

A fine point you make while playing Devil's Advocate.

I was just quite enraged with "friend"'s continuing... argumentativeness on the topic.

Personally i work with a fine bunch of Public Safety Officers (a.k.a. police.)

Crow Noir---

On the flip side, one person's accusation doesn't mean it DID happen. Again, it's not like people have never accused the police of things that weren't true. And when one is frantic and upset and feeling helpless, it is easy to misinterpret things over the phone.


Yeah, there are a few bad apples. But that doesn't mean every time a cop is accused of something, they've actually done it.


I mean, your gut reaction was that the cops were somehow in cahoots or covering for the dog-killers, from what you've said here. Cops and their families end up dealing with a whole heck of a lot of people who tend to think the worst of cops, and if you are making that leap, it would be harder to take your word on the laughing part.

And finally, the news reports I have seen don't technically say that the cops laughed, they just quote the person's accusation. And even if they had, well, the fine members of the media are every bit as fallible as cops are.

[Sophist]

A fine point you make while playing Devil's Advocate.

I was just quite enraged with "friend"'s continuing... argumentativeness on the topic.

Personally i work with a fine bunch of Public Safety Officers (a.k.a. police.)

Just curious, but do you define Devil's Advocate simply as someone who does not agree with all of your leaps of logic?

[Denyce]

Frankly Sophist, I think what Crow Noir is trying to express is her hurt feelings that while relating a story which has upset her deeply her "friend" rather than being supportive and caring instead chose to be argumentative or play "Devil's Advocate". The point being that whether or not you(in a general sense "you" not you specifically) think something is true expressing such opinion while a good friend is visibly upset and continuing to be argumentative is not a caring, loving or friendly thing to do. She is only trying to express her hurt about the situation.

It isn't up to us to determine if the cops really laughed or not. It is only up to us to express our horror of a terrible deed done by SOMEONE and how awful it is and how much it hurts people who can emphathize easily with others and to try and be kind and supportive. It IS sad that for whatever reason the owners of the dog PERCEIVED the cops to be laughing or finding the situation amusing in some way.

I have a very hard time with this story. When one of the first American's to be beheaded in this never ending war occured I heard audio of the actual beheading on the Mike Gallagher show on the radio. I can not truly express how absolutely horrifying it was. It will be with me forever, that man's pain and fear as his head was being cut off. So in reading this story my mind goes to this poor dog and it is all I can do not to start sobbing at the thought of this innocent dog going through that same torment. It tears me up inside thinking of this. Yes, I know I am anthromorphisizing (sp) but I can't help it. I pray to whatever god anyone believes in that the dog was killed before it was beheaded and that it's end was quicker.

I am off to hug my dog and cats and say a prayer for all those animals in need right now.

[Sophist]

//shrugs

It is a bit of a leap to imply that anyone not willing to agree with you simply because you are upset is not a real friend, or incapable of real empathy. Yes, listening is important, but generally speaking allowing someone to wallow and paint the blackest picture possible without trying to step in isn't being a real friend either. Not speaking of Crow Noir and her rant, because we really don't know the context and her buddies' emotions, just with the thoughts Denyce expressed.


I think expecting your own emotional reaction to warrant unflagging support and a fear of disagreement is manipulative, and makes the person expecting the "friend", instead of the friend who is trying to reason with them.


Or just maybe, some people who react emotionally would tend to look a little more favorably on the cops because it is horrible, but at least this one little added extra bit of awfulness you aren't going to just accept? You can't deny the situation with the dog, but at least the salt in the wound is something you can rationally grapple with to make you feel like things couldn't possibly be as horrible and ugly as they usually are?

Why is it that the 'truly sympathetic' tend to only extend it to those who react the same way they do?

I react very emotionally to what I percieve of as attacks on cops, as it seems her friend does. I think that deserves some consideration. I wouldn't come on here and start ranting about the bad apple pit-bulls and not expect pit lovers to respond and be emotional.

[Denyce]

*shrugging right back* It is not being manipulative to know when is the right time to speak your mind and when it is being compassionate to just be a friend and say "yes that was a horrid thing".

I would agree that if say Sophist and I were friends and I knew of her attitude towards cops and how it is an emotional issue for her and I would take advantage of a horrid story and situation such as this to denigrate and carry on about how bad cops are AND also expect Sophist not to be defensive and try to defend cops in general.

You know what? I went back and read Crow Noir's post again for some clarification and she did know that her "friend" would be sensitive about cops since his brother is one and yes therefore expecting the friend not to be defensive is wrong. Reading the thread through quickly because of how upsetting this situation is caused me to not catch some of what was said. My bad.

I think letting this thread get back to what it's original intent was is best.

What a horrid thing was done to an innocent dog and the family.

*sigh*

[crow_noir]

No, I define it is the opposite side of things.

Just curious, but do you define Devil's Advocate simply as someone who does not agree with all of your leaps of logic?

[Sophist]

No, I define it is the opposite side of things.

That's not really what it means. When someone plays the Devil's advocate, they are arguing for something they don't believe in just for the sake of picking a fight.

I can't say I never do that, but I assure you that was not the intent of my post.

[crow_noir]

When I said "A fine point you make while playing Devil's Advocate." I had actually been trying to pay you a compliment. I had actually thought your previous post to that had been well written.

That's not really what it means. When someone plays the Devil's advocate, they are arguing for something they don't believe in just for the sake of picking a fight.

I can't say I never do that, but I assure you that was not the intent of my post.