General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Do you feel comfortable with your local cops? [View all]IrishAyes
(6,151 posts)A particular 3-story movie I saw years ago. In one segment Dick Van Patten - the dad on tv's Eight Is Enough, I believe - played an innocuous salesman who in the course of his travels appealed to the local cops for protection from a serial killer who was on the loose. Bodies dropping everywhere. He seemed terrified and so vulnerable you almost had to feel sorry for him. Anyway, eventually some young lady gets in the car with him and he stops to get something out of his trunk. That's when you find out he's a knife salesman and the serial killer too.
Dick Van Patten! Who'd have thunk?
Another story I vaguely remember might've been a Twilight Zone episode, can't be sure. But it pointed out a very good reason to avoid vigilante justice. Some lady had been raped and she and her husband went out looking for the perpetrator. Extremely traumatized of course, eventually she points out some guy and insists he's her attacker and that her husband must kill him because she doesn't trust the courts to punish him. Hubby keeps asking her if she's sure that's the man. Eventually she talks her husband into killing the guy and when it's done, the husband feels very guilty but at least it's over and they can go home now. Only trouble, minutes later she points out another guy and says he's the one and must be killed.
I know these are just stories but they do illustrate valid points about leaping to conclusions.
I'd also appreciate other people out there not misinterpreting my words, as some are unfortunately capable of doing. But to those so inclined, maybe I should say go ahead, I'm used to it. Got my helmet and flak jacket ready.
Incoming!