*** Official Politics Shitposting Thread ***

[Jack Sawyer]

Why is it not? I'm not breaking a law following someone.

Following someone is generally a bad idea unless you're a licensed private investigator, but it doesn't hurt to be aware of how it's done so you can protect yourself where possible.

It's worth pointing out that, while laws vary from state to state, following someone is not only a gross invasion of privacy, but can also be illegal if it can be interpreted either as stalking or harassment in your area. You can read more about the legality of stalking in each state here, however, in general, it is a very bad idea to follow someone without their permission.

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-follow...ght-1454091062

Do I need a uniform on to go for a walk?

Are you going for a walk or are you following someone?

In the former, no. In the latter, goddamn yes.

These are attorneys answering this very question:

When you observed potentially illegal conduct simply stop, telephone 911 and report the actions you observe as suspicious. Leave the "following" or investigation to the police.

The criminal law underwent a metamorphosis twent years ago with domestic violence legislation. Merely following someone is now the crime of "stalking". The perpetrator can be arrested and order of protection issued for the complainant.

This scheme can be abused by the complainant to mask her own criminal misconduct because of the emphasis to make examples of violent individuals. These days, any interpersonal violence is criminally sanctionable. You'll need an attorney every time you make friends.

I did not write the law.

Depending on the particulars of the situation, it might constitute a crime or a violation or nothing. A physical "attack" however, is usually criminal in nature.

https://www.avvo.com/legal-answers/i...o-1337955.html

Or you are a concerned resident who decides to go for a walk to make sure that guy isn't doing anything he shouldn't be doing. This is not illegal.

You are actively looking for a confrontation. That's why. Particularly if you do not know the person you decided to play Magnum PI on. What exactly do you think will result from this action?

I'm not arguin it is. I'm arguing that there's nothing wrong with going for a walk, and that I am perfectly entitled to go that way, in the same direction as that dodgy looking guy.

See what lawyers above think about you going for a walk and just "happen" to follow a person around.

Right. So you're being very specific with the definition of "neighbourhood watch" while being very loose with the word "stalking".

Yes. Do you like being followed around by some random person for no reason you can think of?

Going for a walk is not illegal. Walking the same route as someone else is not illegal. Thinking you can differentiate between "following someone" and "walking in the same direction as someone" is nonsense.

US Lawyers disagree. Probably most other countries as well. There is a reason why cop cars in britain have such brash coloring.

I'm glad you're finally getting yo an important question.

Would I feel threatened? It depends.
How closely am I being followed? Are they maintaining distance or getting closer? What if I walk faster? And one more very, very important question... do I have anything to hide? I mean, is calling the police an option if I am truly afriad of this person's intentions?

So you are just about your business, and you notice someone is following you. Quite intently. I assume of course you have not done anything wrong, it's not like you just robbed another person at gunpoint or something. I cannot see how the question in that moment is anything but: why the fuck are you following me?

I have walked late at night in town centre many, many times. I have lost count of the times I have kept an eye on someone walking the same route as me to ensure they're not gaining on me.

Mmmmm. So you think following a person is not a bad thing to do, yet you too keep an eye out for this exact thing. So, if you do not think it is a wrong thing to do, why do you care?

Is that fear? I call it caution. If you're out and about alone, late at night, you have a responsibility to protect yourself.

Which is my point to begin with. The only reason you'd be following me is to do me harm. There is no other proper reason for you to do so. Why are you arguing with me?

eep an eye on who's around, make sure you know where you are and where you're going. If you feel threatened, fucking run, or call the police.

In such situations, you do not know how you will react. Not everyone remains cool as a cucumber here.

I mean sure you can easily argue a man should have the right to walk around any time without fear. Sure. A man also has a right to take a walk without fear of being accused of stalking What's the difference between going for a walk and folloing someone?

You just said it above.

You need to be very clear, legal clarity is needed to further this debate.

I have been quite clear on my stance on this IMO.

Wait, you think you're being followed, are in fear, and you stop? Then you're an idiot.

Is that fear? I call it caution. If you're out and about alone, late at night, you have a responsibility to protect yourself.

In such situations, you do not know how you will react. Not everyone remains cool as a cucumber here.

Right, well if you're going to stop and have a confrontation, I don't think you can use the word "fear" to describe your emotions at this moment in time. Furthermore, you're doing someone wrong now.

And that is my point about the situation and the escalation of said situations. He did me wrong by following me. Now I do him wrong by confronting him. How can this end well?

You're turning a walk into a conversation.

Me? Who turned my walk into a stalkfest?

You might be harassing him now, I mean he was doing nothing illegal,

And yet you feel the need to protect yourself in that situation, right? But it's not a wrong thing for him to do, right? It's not illegal either?

Then why do you feel the need to protect yourself from that situation?

and now your are confronting him, demanding an explanation.

Would be my way of protecting myself from that situation. Remember, people are different

aYou're infinging on his right to go for a walk,

And he infringed on my right for privacy

while he was no infringing any of your right,

He infringed on my right for privacy

unless you're going to argue you have the right to not be "followed", in which case you're going to need to clarify legally what that means.

Do not follow me around. Do I have to clarify what I mean by that? Isn't the "Don't follow me around" part clear?

So you're escalating this situation. This is highly irresponsible.

Again, not everyone is the same. People react differently in different situations. I'm sure a few of the carry guys would be salivating at the chance of the follower saying anything to them and then they would shoot said person in a millisecond because "they felt threatened".

Now I would also feel threatened by someone following me, and my response would probably be as I described above. And this situation could have been perfectly avoided by simply respecting each other's privacy.

See something suspicious? Call it in. That's all you have to do.

"coward"

Would he not have gone after him had he not had the warm feels provided by the piece he was carrying?

"no reason"

Again. See something suspicious? Call it in. That's all you have to do. This is what a lawyer says:

When you observed potentially illegal conduct simply stop, telephone 911 and report the actions you observe as suspicious. Leave the "following" or investigation to the police.

This is just rhetoric, but you know nothing about this stranger. How do you know he's not simply going for a walk?

How do you know he's not some kind neighbourhood watch type keeping an eye on the streets?

My point about the uniforms/indication as to who you are. Identify yourself, and your intentions. That is why cop cars in the UK have battenburg markings.

Why is that a problem for you?

See my whole response above.

What gives you the right to interrupt his walk with confrontation,

What gives him the right to invade my privacy in minding my business and follow me?

while he doesn't have the right to walk the same way you're going?

He ABSOLUTELY CAN go where I'm going. That's the reason for the movement stops. If he is actually going where I'm going, he would continue moving, no problems with that, right?

How do you think you're in the right when you stop someone you don't know and challenge them?

Only if they are following me.

So are you. You stopped.

And that's the thing. What was he expecting by following me?

All of this hypothetical could have been avoided had he just NOT FOLLOWED me.