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Car vs Protesters - Who was right?

Should the driver be charged?


  • Total voters
    41

whysoserious

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It is my argument that the entire Ferguson issue has become almost entirely divided down party lines. In fact, so divided, that even the simple driving of a car into a group of people is divisive. Some people think it was within the drivers right and some don't. I'm posting this poll to get an idea of what your lean is (liberal vs conservative) and where you stand on whether the driver should be charged or not.

If you have not seen or looked into this yet, here are videos shot of the incident:



*Edit:

The last option should say liberal - could a mod edit that for me?
 
Why is there no option for posters that don't lean either way?
 
Charged with what? Reckless driving or as you are arguing intending to run people over? What?

Also, your Title says: Car vs Protesters - Who was right?

There is nothing in the poll about who is right. Are the protestors who are illegally blocking an intersection right or is the driver right for wanting to drive through where they were protesting?
 
Charged with what? Reckless driving or as you are arguing intending to run people over? What?

Also, your Title says: Car vs Protesters - Who was right?

There is nothing in the poll about who is right. Are the protestors who are illegally blocking an intersection right or is the driver right for wanting to drive through where they were protesting?

With anything. The general consensus on the below thread is that he did absolutely nothing wrong and that the protesters should have moved.

http://www.debatepolitics.com/break...th-minneapolis-w-349-a-20.html#post1064040208

And generally speaking, if you think the guy should be charged, you would think he was was wrong. If you think he shouldn't, then the protesters were wrong. It's not a difficult concept.
 
The driver of the car is wrong, pedestrians have the right of way.
 
Hold on, are people really defending someone for running over protesters? That's insane, you can't justify assault like that. What the driver did was wrong, no matter what your slant is, if you think treating people like roadkill is right you're a horrible, horrible human being.
 
Hold on, are people really defending someone for running over protesters? That's insane, you can't justify assault like that. What the driver did was wrong, no matter what your slant is, if you think treating people like roadkill is right you're a horrible, horrible human being.

Go to the thread. A lot of people are.

http://www.debatepolitics.com/break...th-minneapolis-w-349-a-20.html#post1064040208

Apparently they were gathered illegally, and possibly threatening. Also, since she did not go under the tire, she was not run over.
 
Perhaps I should have used left/right instead of conservative/liberal?

Can you look at it that way?

Would have been a step up at least. Not so hard to put a "I don't lean either way and..." option though. :shrug:
 
Would have been a step up at least. Not so hard to put a "I don't lean either way and..." option though. :shrug:

Sorry, Telekat. But no lean doesn't really apply anyway - if someone has no lean then they wouldn't hold a partisan stance on this issue, and that's the point of this thread - to show the divide between left and right on even an issue like this.
 
Another poll specifying it is only for absolutist partisan people. :roll:
 
Sorry, Telekat. But no lean doesn't really apply anyway - if someone has no lean then they wouldn't hold a partisan stance on this issue, and that's the point of this thread - to show the divide between left and right on even an issue like this.

But I do have a lean. It's just not liberal or conservative.
 
Another poll specifying it is only for absolutist partisan people. :roll:

The poll is directly intended for partisan people. Though most people who say they aren't partisan are kidding themselves.
 
Hmm...

How about neither was right?
 
I wish the labels in your poll could be removed, because I don't identify with any of them. If I were able to honestly vote in your poll, I would say that the driver of the vehicle was clearly within their right to defend themselves.
 
With anything. The general consensus on the below thread is that he did absolutely nothing wrong and that the protesters should have moved.

http://www.debatepolitics.com/break...th-minneapolis-w-349-a-20.html#post1064040208

And generally speaking, if you think the guy should be charged, you would think he was was wrong. If you think he shouldn't, then the protesters were wrong. It's not a difficult concept.

I actually said that I wouldn't mind this going to a jury trial. How should I vote? Your whole argument in that thread is that only the driver's actions should be scrutinized but not the actions of the crowd in impeding traffic.
 
I actually said that I wouldn't mind this going to a jury trial. How should I vote? You're whole argument in that thread is that only the driver's actions should be scrutinized but not the actions of the crowd in impeding traffic.

Please, show me that. Show me where I said that. I don't know if they had a permit - and if not they probably shouldn't have been in the streets. But again, illegal protests - if it was illegal - are not on the same level to me as reckless driving.

But why wouldn't you just say what you just said in the thread instead of this:

Gotta tell you, if an angry crowd surrounded my car, leaving me no other way out, they'd better move themselves or you bet I'd move them.

Exactly, crowds are unpredictable. You can say it was a non threatening situtiation but we already know your sainted Ferguson protesters had been violent and destructive. I see a group of people in the street, impeding progress I'm trying to legally make, I'm not going to be very inclined just to wait to see if they're going to offer me tea.

That's the X Factor I got. Not, "well maybe it could go to a jury trial". For what reason?
 
For consideration: imagine you're in your in a place where you're legally driving your vehicle. A crowd gathers around your car. Images of violent protestors saturate the news. Do you wait around to see if they're offering hugs?
 
For consideration: imagine you're in your in a place where you're legally driving your vehicle. A crowd gathers around your car. Images of violent protestors saturate the news. Do you wait around to see if they're offering hugs?

So is that it? You're living in Imaginationland while I'm watching a video of what really happened? I don't get it.

Why argue for pages and then come here and essentially say we agree but chastise me because I'm not hard enough on the protesters?
 
Please, show me that.

Sure thing oh he of selective vision:

Ah but if you think the actions of the crowd is irrelevant to a jury, well it's not and in this case, it's very relevant. I think a lot of people (not completely hellbent on defending the protestors at all cost) could put themselves in a situation like that and think "I wouldn't stick around either given everything that had gone on prior to that point". In fact, a jury would be instructed to view the situation from the shoes of the defendant (in this case the driver).

I will say that I would have no trouble if this went to a jury trial, no matter the outcome. This is exactly what trials are for.


Show me where I said that. I don't know if they had a permit - and if not they probably shouldn't have been in the streets. But again, illegal protests - if it was illegal - are not on the same level to me as reckless driving.

That's the first time you suggested that the crowd might actually have done something, anything, wrong.

Could you make up your mind about whether you think it was reckless or intentional?

But why wouldn't you just say what you just said in the thread instead of this:





That's the X Factor I got. Not, "well maybe it could go to a jury trial". For what reason?

I meant what I said, I'm in that situation and, yes, I could see myself wanting to get out of it, especially if I have family in the car. Illegally put yourself in front of my vehicle to keep me some place I don't want to be at your own risk.
 
Last edited:
Thank you for keeping the thread on topic.

You're welcome. I think you should have made the votes public and leave the 'lean' stuff off. You've been here quite a while and you should know a person lean by now.
 
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