General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,495 posts) Wed Apr 12, 2017, 09:36 AM Apr 2017

Dr. Dao's Past Has Nothing to Do with What Happened to Him, FFS! [View all]

Story after story is being published about the background of the man who was dragged off a United Airlines plane so a United employee could have his seat on that flight. All of those stories are completely irrelevant to what happened.

Dr. Dao was doing none of those things while sitting on that plane. He was not dispensing drugs or engaging in any of the activities being written about in those stories. He was simply a paid passenger, sitting in a window seat, waiting for the plane to taxi out and take off. His past is in no way relevant to his treatment by United Airlines and the Chicago Airport Police.

Those stories are nothing more than attempts at victim-blaming. That they are appearing here on DU as some sort of explanation of why it might be alright to bloody that man's face and perhaps break his jaw is just plain wrong.

Again, Dr. Dao's past is completely irrelevant to the events that took place on that aircraft. There is no point to those stories, other than to denigrate a victim.

108 replies

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Dr. Dao's Past Has Nothing to Do with What Happened to Him, FFS! [View all] MineralMan Apr 2017 OP

It is irrelevant mcar Apr 2017 #1

Yes, exactly! MineralMan Apr 2017 #4

Hear! Hear! Some are so indoctrinated that corporations can do NO wrong that they automatically BlueCaliDem Apr 2017 #30

And now we are seeing (Twitter) that United/media mcar Apr 2017 #34

Presumably, he had been convicted and served whatever punishment was passed down. Hugin Apr 2017 #2

Yes, and he's back practicing medicine. MineralMan Apr 2017 #3

It seems the only way to be "fair and balanced" to United is to smear the victim dalton99a Apr 2017 #6

I suppose so. I hate to see such things publicized on DU. MineralMan Apr 2017 #8

First they said he was lying about being a doctor. athena Apr 2017 #9

Yes. Exactly. Victim Blaming Is Never Justified. MineralMan Apr 2017 #11

If you don't commit at least one felony by lunchtime, I just don't know what you're doing with your AtheistCrusader Apr 2017 #57

It is despicable to normalize what happened. dalton99a Apr 2017 #5

It is. Nobody at that airport had any knowlege MineralMan Apr 2017 #7

Precisely. dalton99a Apr 2017 #10

She's a moron. He's probably a citizen. treestar Apr 2017 #32

Sure it does. It means the police should have been trained to deal with the mentally ill. randome Apr 2017 #12

His reaction was bizarre? In what way? MineralMan Apr 2017 #13

His 'screeching and flailing about'. The man has documented mental & anger issues. randome Apr 2017 #14

None of that happened until they were dragging him MineralMan Apr 2017 #15

And they only forcibly removed him because he refused the order to leave. randome Apr 2017 #19

Airports around the world? Do you have some examples? Kentonio Apr 2017 #26

I don't have research to support this and Google leads with 100s of Dr. Dao references for now. randome Apr 2017 #31

Yeah it definitely happens Kentonio Apr 2017 #35

It definitely happens globally FBaggins Apr 2017 #40

Maybe Poland is one of those places, like several of the Eastern European countries Kentonio Apr 2017 #53

What you said sounds likely. randome Apr 2017 #43

How to cry foul MannyRomero Apr 2017 #86

I see what you mean, but the cops did not treestar Apr 2017 #33

Sure, but they could have been better trained to RECOGNIZE signs of mental illness. randome Apr 2017 #39

Wrong. That is flat out wrong. yardwork Apr 2017 #48

Actually, we don't know what occurred before the video commenced. randome Apr 2017 #56

It's clear that you have not watched the videos. yardwork Apr 2017 #45

He was resisting an improper removal that wasn't allowed under the contract on the ticket. n/t pnwmom Apr 2017 #84

Your only weapon is your voice MannyRomero Apr 2017 #93

Sure, but his civil rights are/were not an issue. The issue is and was UA's right to refuse passage. randome Apr 2017 #94

His reaction didn't happen until he was assaulted. Further, KittyWampus Apr 2017 #17

Um, you just repeated what I posted. randome Apr 2017 #18

No, I didn't. His reaction was PROVOKED by violence from law enforcement. KittyWampus Apr 2017 #20

He wasn't beaten. He was forcibly removed and hit his head on the opposing row of seats. randome Apr 2017 #21

I'd call it a beating. Foamfollower Apr 2017 #44

It's very possible we all have the wrong David Dao. randome Apr 2017 #49

Well one thing is an absolute undeniable fact. Foamfollower Apr 2017 #54

See my points 4 and 8 above. I don't think that's the case. randome Apr 2017 #59

Boarding is not completed until the doors are closed. AtheistCrusader Apr 2017 #60

We may STILL have the wrong identity for this passenger. randome Apr 2017 #98

Empathy and Psychopaths MannyRomero Apr 2017 #96

Edit your post, Manny, before someone (not me) alerts on you. randome Apr 2017 #97

You have my permission MannyRomero Apr 2017 #107

p.s. MannyRomero Apr 2017 #108

Plus 1000000 JustAnotherGen Apr 2017 #28

If I were you, I'd check that you have the right Dao there. n/t Denzil_DC Apr 2017 #23

With that recent information, I am no longer certain about anything I've said. randome Apr 2017 #24

Then I suggest we disregard all that supposed "background" for now. Denzil_DC Apr 2017 #29

I have a fairly common name (not 'John Smith') and have been confused with others before. randome Apr 2017 #36

I think the concept of "reasonable force" will apply. Denzil_DC Apr 2017 #62

I wasn't saying anything about 'justification', only that it might explain Dao's odd behavior. randome Apr 2017 #66

Well, my point still stands. Denzil_DC Apr 2017 #70

Fuck the fascist corporations NewRedDawn Apr 2017 #37

This smear could be about a different Dr. Dao mcar Apr 2017 #38

Sickening, disgusting, appalling - I'm out of words. yardwork Apr 2017 #46

We should take nothing at face value, even this. randome Apr 2017 #50

That has been debunked, sorry. Neither's past has anything to do with how he was treated uppityperson Apr 2017 #99

It never should have been brought up mcar Apr 2017 #105

If I'm ever dragged off an airplane and beaten up... hunter Apr 2017 #41

Actually, I prize "odd". People are too conformist and too dull otherwise. randome Apr 2017 #52

I don't care if you "prize" me or not. hunter Apr 2017 #92

You've got the wrong GUY! Texasgal Apr 2017 #61

Actually, we have all jumped the gun here. randome Apr 2017 #63

You've seemed to jump it Texasgal Apr 2017 #64

In the real world, where many of us exist, the airlines CAN and DO keep 'upping the bribe' pnwmom Apr 2017 #103

NO. He was only yelling AFTER they physically grabbed him in an attempt pnwmom Apr 2017 #82

I think you need to give up on 'Rule 21'. randome Apr 2017 #83

It doesn't matter what mn9Driver states. If the special meaning of "boarding" isn't defined pnwmom Apr 2017 #85

Do you think David Dao knew this? randome Apr 2017 #88

They CAN be removed under Rule 21 for misbehavior or safety. Rule 21 doesn't allow pnwmom Apr 2017 #89

Having police better trained to deal with mentally ill is like universal precautions in healthcare uppityperson Apr 2017 #100

Correct and completely agree.... peacebuzzard Apr 2017 #16

And now they say those rumors are about someone else with the same name! usedtobedemgurl Apr 2017 #22

That is always a risk when someone searches for background MineralMan Apr 2017 #25

Thanks MM JustAnotherGen Apr 2017 #27

Especially when they smear him with somebody else's past Foamfollower Apr 2017 #42

I don't necessarily agree with the characterization HopeAgain Apr 2017 #47

FUCK UNITED OR ANYOTHER BUSINESS FOR THAT MATTER gopiscrap Apr 2017 #51

A couple of things from a former 'road warrior'. Stonepounder Apr 2017 #55

wow! at the corporate dick sucking in this thread . stonecutter357 Apr 2017 #58

+1 dalton99a Apr 2017 #67

The threads yesterday were horrid -- five in a row with clickbait titles and smear tactics anneboleyn Apr 2017 #68

It's amazing how some people really love authoritarianism, isn't it? yardwork Apr 2017 #69

Critical thinking is hard. Authoritarianism is easy. dalton99a Apr 2017 #72

That's definitely part of it - clearly some PR firms have employees posting here. But others.... yardwork Apr 2017 #77

That seems to be the pattern as well dalton99a Apr 2017 #81

Hah HoneyBadger Apr 2017 #80

There is a mentality among the right-wing that "bad people" deserve punishment neeksgeek Apr 2017 #65

Yes, and the attitude was here on DU yesterday. I put five people on ignore b/c their posts were anneboleyn Apr 2017 #71

Plus, the guy was not the right kind of American dalton99a Apr 2017 #73

They may be relevant if United is spreading them. Kablooie Apr 2017 #74

+1 dalton99a Apr 2017 #75

There are some people on this board who're talking like they'd hold you down to "help" the thugs.... Hekate Apr 2017 #76

Firm believers in rules and order - like the Golden Rule dalton99a Apr 2017 #79

Exactly. trying to approve what was done to him cuz of his past. That's WRONG. nt iluvtennis Apr 2017 #78

You are right, MineralMan. Nitram Apr 2017 #87

they asked for volunteers Swagman Apr 2017 #90

but today 1000 unchallenged radio stations will make it the buzz certainot Apr 2017 #91

No, it absolutely does NOT Proud Liberal Dem Apr 2017 #95

Victim blaming is shameful Dem2 Apr 2017 #101

Of course it doesn't. However, his past success on the professional Warpy Apr 2017 #102

That seems so very obvious to me tavalon Apr 2017 #104

Exactly! This is a media hatchet job pushed to divert attention AgadorSparticus Apr 2017 #106