Comments on: Bread and Circus

By: Gritsforbreakfast

Gritsforbreakfast — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:56:11 +0000

It’s the COPS who’ve hit rock bottom. They’re actually making extra work for themselves (and correspondingly wasting the taxpayers’ money) just so they can mock some penny ante offender on TV. Pitiful. Bread and circuses, indeed!

By: OneByTheCee

OneByTheCee — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:02:11 +0000

Mr. Blair (#15)

Your “joke” alluding to rape in prison is disturbing. I see a lot of similar comments posted on various boards and I find it absolutely appalling that anyone could think ANY rape is humorous and is an acceptable punishment to have to endure while incarcerated. Google Prison Rape, read the stories. I’ve
yet to find one that was funny. Not even a chuckle. Sadly, your post was given 7 thumbs up.

By: Jim Collins

Jim Collins — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:54:55 +0000

OneByTheCee
I don’t like that they are making a television show out of this, but I don’t believe that this is humiliating to the people being arrested. They have to give their permission before they can be shown on television. Those who are stupid enough to give that permission, deserve everything that they get.

As I said previously I do like the idea of stings like this. Get the people that you are after to come to you is a great idea. Add in that these people are likely to be unarmed and oblivious to the situation is a plus. Besides things like this have been shown to be very cost effective.

By: OneByTheCee

OneByTheCee — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:36:14 +0000

Mr. Collins (#34)

I don’t understand why you think we should be grateful and/or relieved that the police trade one bad tactic (violent raids) for another (cruel, humiliating sting operations).

Some years ago, I think it was the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. or LAPD (or a multi-agency effort) used a similiar but more humane ruse to bring in suspects on outstanding warrants.

They sent a letter telling the suspects they had won money and to come to such and such address to “claim their prize” and were promptly arrested.

No long drawn out humiliation of the suspects and no cameras to record it for “our amusement”.

It was simple and effective.

By: Jim Collins

Jim Collins — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:37:26 +0000

Uhhhh! Do you people want to make up your minds? While this might no make a good television show, do you realize what is happening here? After reading story after story here about the cops raiding the wrong address, killing dogs and scaring kids, they finally do something different and you are all complaining about it. They get the person they are after to leave their home, come to a place where the cops totally control the situation and make an arrest. No kicking in doors, no problem with a wrong address and no dogs to shoot, what’s wrong with this? I think people here just like bitching about cops, no matter what they do.

By: OneByTheCee

OneByTheCee — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:17:21 +0000

Mark (#28)

Went to the link you provided and guess what?

It’s that bastion of compassion for prisoners-Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s territory!

“…. at least for the Maricopa County Sheriffs Department in Arizona, the police agency working with Fox on the program.”

Cruelty, degradation, humiliation-yep that’s Sheriff Arpaio’s MO alright.

Well it all makes perfect sense now-doesn’t it?

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:30:17 +0000

Sorry, no time to read the comments: they have a show about Parking Meter people. That’s the lowest and most unreasonable. Unless, I suppose, they did a reality show about the DMV. That might be worse.

By: Andrew Williams

Andrew Williams — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:33:41 +0000

TV hit bottom the day the first “reality” show aired. Y’all are so LATE to the party.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:19:03 +0000

Never challenge worse. It can always get worse.

By: Mean Gene

Mean Gene — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:21:54 +0000

Can’t wait for the first punk’d perp to realize he’s going to jail and, heh heh, pulls out a gun and slaughters a half-dozen people. People do act differently when they’re placed under extreme duress.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:35:34 +0000

Set your Tivos: Dec. 27
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6614056.html
There’s actually a whole channel for this BS, Fox Reality Channel

How sad.

By: Nick T

Nick T — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:54:48 +0000

#13

Umm, yeah I know that. I watched the Running Man during my 11th birthday party. :)

By: Comrade Dread

Comrade Dread — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:18:34 +0000

[Wanted by the law = not a regular person that you don’t need to feel bad for = TV show]

Worse, there is a presumption in his statement that all of these ‘wanted’ people are guilty of something.

So much for innocent until proven guilty.

By: B

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:19:17 +0000

Simpsons did it! Simpsons did it!

By: MacGregory

MacGregory — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:30:26 +0000

After years of research I have finally found the ultimate in TV:
It is the OFF network. No upgrade to digital necessary.

By: Zeb

Zeb — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:53:40 +0000

Wait a minute! COPS isn’t a comedy?

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:52:46 +0000

Sorry, didn’t mean to post that comment twice.

By: Radley Balko

Radley Balko — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:51:30 +0000

PJ — It’s more the bit about drawing it out to make it as embarrassing as possible, then televising the whole bit that I find objectionable.

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:51:18 +0000

-”Finally, all the participants are revealed as officers of the law, and the criminal is apprehended (before signing waivers to let the footage be used in the show).”
They sign the waivers before they’re apprehended? Is that a part of the show as well? You know, Fox probably offers to pay for all fines associated with their warrant, in exchange for signing this waiver. I can’t imagine how else this could work. Though it’s still tasteless and awful.

By: Marty

Marty — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:50:45 +0000

I envision the host being just like Richard Dawson in ‘The Running Man’ saying, ‘Hello, this is Killian. Give me the Justice Department, Entertainment Division…’