People Do Things To Be Things

[Kaienne]

So, the other day I was there with my friends, in a park. Being homeless, I had slept in this particular park before, and in that instance had been awoken by police officers the next morning who had taken down my information and warned me that I was not allowed to sleep in that park.
One day I was in the local market, selling copies of my artwork. One person who was very interested in picking up a set of all the ones I had on me confessed that he didn't have any money, but asked me if I'd like to trade him for some Acid. Being the loveable psychonaut that I am, I happily agreed, and gave him four photocopied peices of paper for two chemical-soaked peices of paper.
(I won't go into the details of the trip, but it was damned good Acid. We're talking real LSD here, none of this 2c-* stuff. Not that I dislike phenylethylmines.)
As the night went, though, granted that I was up and awake and flying all night, people kept asking me if I'd be sticking around long enough for me to watch their things. I didn't really have any plans except to chill in the park and dance, so I happily agreed. As time went on, things kept piling up and up, and people would go... But not come back.
By the time 5am rolled around, I was surrounded by three sleeping bodies (one of which had also been asked to watch things, two who didn't care if they got caught sleeping in the park) and a slew of bags, trinkets, and even a bicycle. Having spend hours and hours taxing my body, I started to grow weary, and, with the LSD beginning to wear off, I began giving more and more contemplation to sleeping in the park with my companion, the one who had also been asked to watch things. Just as the first hints of pre-sunrise blue started to breach the horizon, I propped up my bag to use as a pillow, and passed out.
In what seemed like mere moments later, I was awoken by a soft kick to the boot. I opened my eyes, and much to my chagrin, there was a police officer standing over me. I sat up, and was shocked to find four of them! They had come in three cars!
Each of the four of us who had slept in the park was being taken care of by a different officer. Mine pulled me aside and asked for my identification. I gave him my health card and offered my birth certificate, to which he declined. I referred to him as "Sir" and "Officer". When he asked me a question, I politely and dutifully answered in full detail; he asked me my name, and I offered both my legal name and my alias, and even offered to spell it for him. I showed him all my tattoos and identifying markings, et cetera, et cetera. He apologized for the hassle, to which I told him I understood, that he was just doing his job.
The four officers went back to the cars with our respective IDs. During this time I was informed by my friends that we were getting ticketed; a $125 fine! Just for sleeping in the park!
After a moment passed, the officers came back, each with a peice of idenfication and a peice of paper. The officer assigned to me waved his hand away from the others, and handed me both. I opened the ticket, and the first thing I noticed was that my last name had been spelled wrong. He then said to me, "Sorry about all this, but I've got to go through all the procedures and everything." I went to absolve him again, but he continued, "But if you'll look there, you'll see your last name is spelled wrong. You don't have to worry about it."
The others all recieved $125 fines. I got off scott free.

Why?

People do things to be things. In this particular instance, this officer went to college and law school to get a job with the police. He wanted respect, he wanted authority... He wanted to be treated like an Officer. I treated him like an officer, and he treated me like I wanted to be treated; a good, honest, under-the-radar punk kid.
People do what it takes to be doctors or firefighters 'cos they want to be treated like lifesavers. People act like gangsta thugs 'cos they want to be treated like they have power and personal freedom (and in this society, having money does mean having power and personal freedom). People become soldiers because they value unity and they want to feel like they are a part of something big.
Nature and Nurture arise together to form in a person's mind what they think is Really Cool, and then the more enterprising of us go off and do whatever it takes to be Really Cool. When you disrupt a person's fantasy-life by treating them how they don't want to be treated, animosity quickly builds up and said person will (in the instance where they have the option) take effective measures to remove you from their life, or (in the instance where they don't have that option, or don't realize they have that option), seek to force you to empathize with their position by treating you in a way that you don't like to be treated.
It doesn't feel good, does it? Then why are you doing it?
However, when you act in a way that is congruent with someone's fantasy, you have nothing but all to gain. You stand not only to inherit the benefits of what someone in their particular position and disposition has to offer (in my case, an 'accidental' misspelling), but also, they will be more likely to indulge you in your fantasies.

Mahatma Ghandi once said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Be fantastic, and the world will be fantastic to you.

[Lies]

Can't wait to see what TGRR has to say about this one

And as I had discussed some place else with Kaienne but to share my thoughts on this piece...

While I totally dig and respect how you handled the situation, and getting off scott free being your reward for the respect and understanding you showed towards the mentality of those who are simply doing their jobs, my approach to dealing with those who threaten me with fines (well, in my case it has always been the public transport "authorities") that I feel are total BS is to question them with things that force them to become introspective about what it is they are doing, but always in a polite manner with the guise that I'm an idiot who's curious about how great their job must be.

I ask them, are they proud of the job they are doing? Is it what they imagined they would be doing with their lives when they were leaving school and taking charge of their life? is their family proud? How does it feel to know that they are making society a better and safer place by issuing me the fine they are trying to push on me? Does the actual reasoning as to why I'm getting a fine really make sense them and are they are giving it to me because its "just", or are they just doing their jobs trying to get by like everyone else? Weren't the nazis just doing their jobs as well, and if so did that excuse them from what we all know was wrong? (Ok, thats usually where I stop sounding like a curious idiot and definitely do come across as a bit of a smart arse).

The answers I get back always manage to get me smiling with a secret knowing, because regardless of what they say, the look on their faces and body language always tells me they were uncomfortable with having to think introspectively about their life, because they really don't like the answers they know they would have to say if they were going to be honest with themselves and me.

And yes, I do the cop the fine sweet in the end. But in mind it is a small price to pay knowing that I've planted the seeds of doubt and change, and I have a lot of faith in the butterfly effect, so really the only thing I personally get out of my approach is the knowing that with a little luck, maybe, just maybe, I may have helped someone else get an invitation to the prison break. (Not to mention the fact I end up disputing the fine in court and play them at their own game and have so far managed to win my cases, which pretty much affirms to me I was right to begin with...)

But yeah, I don't recommend my method if you are trying to stop yourself from getting a fine, but it works for me and I find there is a personal reward in it.

[LMNO]

Hold on... If you're homeless and broke, how are you posting this?

[Lies]

From a friends place zhes been residing at the last day or two

[hunter s.durden]

 

Possibly the first useful thing Iv'e read by you.

Cops piss me off, but the fact is you've gotta play the game. Acting like a little twerp won't get you off.


"Hey, you fucking pigs, I just wanted to sleep!!!"
"Oh, well, I never thought of it that way. Go in peace friend!"

That conversation is unlikely.

[Cain]

Of course, the problem comes when you profile the person in charge wrong, and play according to the stereotype, not the person.  For example, my friend's dad became a cop after someone in his town was killed it was suspected body was dumped in the sea.  He ran boats out, doing diving trips for tourists.  Because of the time it would take to get divers down from London, he volunteered to help.  Afterwards, he signed up to the force, because of a lack of experienced divers.  Never planned to be a cop, not that interested in the power of the position. 

Just a little caveat.  For the most part, you'll be fine, but generalization can screw anything up.

[hunter s.durden]

So I shouldn't be polite and submissive to him?

[LMNO]

So I shouldn't be polite and submissive to him?

When I read this, my worldveiw twisted inside out.





Hunter?  Polite and submissive?

[Cain]

So I shouldn't be polite and submissive to him?

Depends if he thinks you're doing it simply to try and appease him or not.

[hunter s.durden]

Playin' the game, baby, just playin' the game.

When the option is tuck the tail and walk away, or stand up and go to jail, I know where I stand.

Usually.

Protest is a different animal...

[Kaienne]

Of course, the problem comes when you profile the person in charge wrong, and play according to the stereotype, not the person.  For example, my friend's dad became a cop after someone in his town was killed it was suspected body was dumped in the sea.  He ran boats out, doing diving trips for tourists.  Because of the time it would take to get divers down from London, he volunteered to help.  Afterwards, he signed up to the force, because of a lack of experienced divers.  Never planned to be a cop, not that interested in the power of the position. 

Just a little caveat.  For the most part, you'll be fine, but generalization can screw anything up.

Even in such an instance, it probably doesn't hurt to refer to him as "Sir". Although naturally every encounter with every person you meet should be dealt with on a one-for-one basis; even positive predjudice is still predjudice.

[Cain]

Oh yeah, definitely.  Politeness is good and all, but overly subservient may make some wonder.  Fine lines, distinctions and all that.

[Kaienne]

Well, like, for instance, I was talking to one guy who read it, and he gave me his interpretation of how to act upon that sort of situation, with a police officer; his list of politenesses included not making eye contact, and I said noooo. The officer may be in a position of authority, but simmer everything off, and what you're left with is one human being talking to another human being. Giving them power- not authority or respect, but power- they don't need only gives them the allowance to abuse it. Not necessarily saying they will, but they now have the option. The walkable fine line is one where you establish, through mannerisms and body language, that you will politely allow them to be anything they want to be, as long as they let you be anything you want to be, 'an ye harm none.

[Payne]

tl;dr

[LMNO]

NEEDS MOAR STEAMPUNK.