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Post by Oxynia on Mar 29, 2015 11:40:47 GMT -4
Would most people even assume there was information to gather beyond speaking with the person who was stopped? Speaking as someone whose had to wade through FOIA waters with the NYPD, I can say that even if you do know that there are steps one could take to gather more info, it's still an arduous process that doesn't always yield results. New York is considered one of the worst places for FOIA requests, but it took two months just to get word that they were considering the request. Yes, I would assume there was more to the story than what my 20-year-old kid told me, especially when he was caught in possession of illegal narcotics. If that kid's mixed up with drugs, lying wouldn't be beyond him and any parent would recognize that. It's one thing to believe something privately, but you don't go to the press making damaging public accusations unless you have all the facts. That's irresponsible, and makes all of her other claims hugely suspect now.
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Post by deeconsistent on Mar 29, 2015 12:39:29 GMT -4
Yes, I would assume there was more to the story than what my 20-year-old kid told me, especially when he was caught in possession of illegal narcotics. If that kid's mixed up with drugs, lying wouldn't be beyond him and any parent would recognize that. It's one thing to believe something privately, but you don't go to the press making damaging public accusations unless you have all the facts. That's irresponsible, and makes all of her other claims hugely suspect now. In all fairness, I didn't ask whether or not you would ASSUME your 20-year old was telling the complete truth, I asked if most people would be realistically capable of gathering facts beyond speaking with the person who was stopped. Honestly, I can see how this is one of those situations where we only have the rough outline of the facts and everyone will fill in the details based on their own experiences.There are other aspects of your post that I'm tempted to play the devil's advocate in response to, but it would really just be me speculating. Everyone's experiences are different and I can see how some would feel she was foolish for believing her son. I don't necessarily agree nor do I think everyone should agree with me, but my reply to your previous comment had more to do with how she could have realistically gathered more facts. But maybe I misunderstood what you meant.
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Post by sugarhigh on Mar 29, 2015 13:50:03 GMT -4
Sorry, I am laughing at the notion that being accused of racial profiling would somehow ruin a cop's career, in a world where they don't get punished for killing unarmed black people.
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Post by discoprincess on Mar 29, 2015 17:43:01 GMT -4
Would most people even assume there was information to gather beyond speaking with the person who was stopped? Speaking as someone whose had to wade through FOIA waters with the NYPD, I can say that even if you do know that there are steps one could take to gather more info, it's still an arduous process that doesn't always yield results. New York is considered one of the worst places for FOIA requests, but it took two months just to get word that they were considering the request. Of course YMMV, but for me it was just a case of her believing her son's not totally far-fetched sounding tale. Co-signed. 1. The media recently reported that New York State government has a policy of automatically deleting e-mails after 90 days (which could have a negative impact on FOIA requests). Legislation is being proposed to changed the policy (ha, good luck on seeing change any time soon). 2. An NYPD cruiser fatally hit a pedestrian on the way to answer a call. The pedestrian's parents sought answers, but the NYPD wasn't forthcoming with answers. It took about two years for the officer who was driving to admit finally that the sirens were not on when he had hit the pedestrian (which was the opposite of what he had initially claimed). So, I could understand if Taraji were to 1. take her son at her word and 2. not expect the police to be forthcoming with information if the police were truly in the wrong. I bet she's pissed at her son though. He's too old to be fudging the truth like this and with his mother as a public figure he should know better and this had to be humiliating for her.
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Post by Hamatron on Mar 29, 2015 18:06:27 GMT -4
Yep. Her kid did what kids do. He got in trouble, and didn't give the full story. You love your kids, and if he's a good one that is mostly together, it makes sense that she believed him. It just sucks that it came back to bite her. When she went public with that story... of course the press is going to go looking for the actual details. Regardless of what they find, it's a scoop. As a public figure speaking on record, she has to be careful about accusations like that. I feel for her though.
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Post by Ninja Bunny on Mar 29, 2015 20:57:29 GMT -4
I had never even heard of her until I binged on Empire this weekend. I LOVE her portrayal of Cookie, she and Howard are great together.
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Post by LurkerNan on Mar 30, 2015 13:24:06 GMT -4
I'm going to put on my old lady hat here and ask why no one seems to be side-eyeing the fact that her 20 year old son has a prescription for medical weed. I want to know what's wrong with his health that weed is a necessity... or is this a situation where she doesn't mind that her kid is on drugs?
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Post by sardonictart on Mar 30, 2015 15:38:48 GMT -4
I'm much more concerned about the unprescribed Ritalin. That's pharmaceutical grade speed and nothing to mess with, if you don't actually need it to treat ADD.
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Post by Neurochick on Mar 30, 2015 15:46:20 GMT -4
Sorry, I am laughing at the notion that being accused of racial profiling would somehow ruin a cop's career, in a world where they don't get punished for killing unarmed black people. Yeah, how many police officers have gone to jail or lost their jobs when they killed unarmed black people? Most of them go back to their jobs, no problem.
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Post by Oxynia on Mar 30, 2015 17:16:19 GMT -4
Unprescribed Ritalin is nothing to sneeze at. That's serious business and doesn't speak well of that kid.
I still maintain that going to press with half a story is irresponsible. It doesn't matter how hard the other half is to get, the fact that you only have part of it is not enough to make a public declaration. She should have known better and I'm glad it blew up in her face. Maybe she'll think twice before doing it again.
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