Video Game Parody of Polish Man's Taser Death Causes Outrage
Video Game Parody of Polish Man's Taser Death Causes Outrage
January 3, 2008
While it remains unclear what caused Robert Dziekanski's death in October, there's no disputing that the Polish immigrant was tasered several times by RCMP officers who responded to a disturbance created by Dziekanski at Vancouver International Airport.
Video of the fatal incident was widely broadcast and is available online.
Canada.com reports on a recent YouTube video which parodies the incident using an early version of the Mega Man video game series.
Mega Man vs. Polish immigrant shows Mega Man confronting Dziekanski in the airport. Mega Man is offered three choices of action, including "Use restraint," "Call a translator," or "Tazer mercilessly." A description uploaded with the video reads:
The creator of the parody, Vancouver resident Mike Greenway, said:
Aga Magdolen, a spokeswoman with the Canadian Polish Congress, found the YouTube video offensive:
RCMP Staff Sgt. John Ward was also offended:
However, Marta Grywalska, a spokeswoman for Polish Ambassador Piotr Ogrodzinski, seemed less condemnatory:
Video of the fatal incident was widely broadcast and is available online.
Canada.com reports on a recent YouTube video which parodies the incident using an early version of the Mega Man video game series.
Mega Man vs. Polish immigrant shows Mega Man confronting Dziekanski in the airport. Mega Man is offered three choices of action, including "Use restraint," "Call a translator," or "Tazer mercilessly." A description uploaded with the video reads:
Megaman helps a lost and confused Polish immigrant at Vancouver International Airport; RCMP-style
The creator of the parody, Vancouver resident Mike Greenway, said:
The video was really more of a statement on police Taser use than anything. The video that I made is a tongue-in-cheek parody about the incompetence of everyone involved, not police brutality.
Aga Magdolen, a spokeswoman with the Canadian Polish Congress, found the YouTube video offensive:
This tragedy should not have been portrayed as a game. It is disrespectful to the victim, his family and the Polish community.
RCMP Staff Sgt. John Ward was also offended:
Any right-thinking person who would look at the video would be offended by that. A gentlemen lost his life and it is in extremely poor taste.
However, Marta Grywalska, a spokeswoman for Polish Ambassador Piotr Ogrodzinski, seemed less condemnatory:
The public was disturbed by the event. This is how the subculture reacted to it.
Comments
Perhaps those authority figures complaining would rather shift attention to the form of expression rather than the actual event. As the creator of the game said, it was "...about the incompetence of everyone involved,..".
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
I am sure that I have seen actual editorial comics on this same event, but I have yet to hear any outrage on that means of expression.
Perhaps people should focus more on preventing these types of events from happening in the futrue rather than shift focus now. After all, those who fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.
The public was disturbed by the event. This is how the subculture reacted to it."
Truth.
Perhaps I am immune to shcok because of my ... name, but I saw hundreds of parodies of WTC. "Too soon?" Yeah, it's always the same old story.
Sorry for double post and spelling mistakes.
A Canadian friend of mine told me that after this event, public disdain for authority was so high that people were EGGING RCMPs in some areas. As he put it, that's something "Canadians just don't do." That level of disrespect for authority figures is rare in Canada, he tells me. If I recall correctly, when the public tried to raise the issue with the government, the government was more interested in trying to continue "dealing" with some irrelevant scandal--by which I mean the kind that really IS irrelevant. I should see if I can get said Canadian friend to post; he'd remember the aftermath of the tragedy better than I would.
It is a tragedy that the man was killed, but this should not be seen as an offensive parody. If I die in some ridiculous fashion, I can only hope to be immortalized in a youtube parody!
You're offended on behalf of the man the RCMP killed? Yeah, sure.
A "right-thinking person" wouldn't have tasered someone to death either. But apparently, such "right-thinking" people are hired all the time.
Nightwng2000
NW2K Software
ZX Advent came out just a couple of months ago.
Dziekanski, a 40 year old polish immigrant, came to Canada to visit his mother for her birthday, who came to meet him at the airport. His mother was turned away saying her son had missed his flight despite being in baggage claim where the staff failed to call a translator causing him to be stuck there for 10 hours. His mother left thinking her son HAD missed his flight as Dziekanski after being put in the waiting room wasn't allowed to call her. Logically he was agitated further more it was later revealed he'd recently quit smoking only adding to his agitation. This is when he began to really lose it and went to a separate room and started screaming. Airport security called the RCMP while others in the waiting room tried to calm down Dziekanski including a person learned in several languages unfortunately, she didn't Polish. In the time it took the RCMP to arrive no other attempts were made to calm him nor were translators called. The RCMP arrived and within 30 seconds of arrival tasered an unarmed Dziekanski, he ran and was tasered at least once more. Once on the ground two more bolts at most have reported to have been heard but there's controversy. The RCMP proceeded to check his pulse to check if his pulse, which there was none of. The RCMP called the paramedics and made no attempt to revive Dziekanski nor did the airport medical staff which have the capability to be anywhere in an airport within 2-3 minutes rather the 12 minutes reportedly waited for the city's paramedics. The RCMP collected all cell phones with video capabilities saying videos could compromise the investigation and the cell phones would be returned, which they were but without memory cards. The now (in)famous video was reclaimed with a threat to go to court for its return one month later its release caused the media and public backlash particularly since the video revealed the police's official story, which witnesses cried false to from the start, was a lie.
@AM
Are you talking about the Schreiber thing in which the German immigrant who lobbied for Mulroney sued due to some type of falling out with money? If so you're right that was a pathetic farce of a scandal Schreiber was using to stay in Canada so he couldn't be returned to Germany where he committed political crimes and had a dark fate. I would call this irrelevant nothing was found to be illegal, at the time, and it involves MULRONEY our 18th Prime minister whose time in office ran from 1984-1993. Come to think of it, because of the investigations and stalling by Schreiber it did slow the investigation of the tasering incident...thats it I'm egging some RCMP which, as AM's friend said, is something "Canadians just don't do."
Welcome to the real world. Not everyone kows English. Besides, French is also an official language in Canada, why can't they know a little bit of that too.
The point made here is that some people in authority are too quick on the trigger finger. Either with a gun or taser it is the same. You should never "shoot first ask questions later". That is not how it should be. Just as the video shows, they had at least three options:
“Use restraint,” “Call a translator,” or “Tazer mercilessly.”
Why did they choose the last one, when the other two were more effective and safe.
I would also like to point out part of the Wiki article:
How a video shows only one person's view is beyond me. A video is subjective and without bias. Where did they get the idea that it held a single point of view?
Perhaps you would like to be tasered 2 to four times in succession without provocation? Would you hold the same opinion afterwards?
Maybe Megaman killed Mounty Man to acquire the Tazer. Did he get a new weapon from killing Polish Man?
"Get equipped with: Polka!"
I laughed.. sue me.
"How a video shows only one person’s view is beyond me. A video is subjective and without bias. Where did they get the idea that it held a single point of view?"
I think you mean that it's an objective point of view.
Well, I really hope you go visit a relative in a country where the predominant language is not English, so the police there have a justifiable reason to taser you to death too...
@Jormungand
An addendum to the story. Customs HAD a translator on hand, and he had helped to process Mr Dziekanski through normal customs. But nobody escorted him to immigration to finish his processing until he had been wandering around for 6 hours. This translator of course was not told by the agents on the other side of the wall that the woman that Dziekanski was trying to phone (his mother) was there and looking for him. The agents she was talking to denied he was there at all. The translator was not informed of the incident until after Mr Dziekanski was dead, so obviously nobody bothered to fetch him.
As for the RCMP showing up, Dziekanski appeared relieved that someone had shown up, almost like he was looking for a policeman to help him. And then, they shot him. Twice. Some "rescue"...
---
Yeah, it's a tasteless video. But so was the incident. I believe the whole idea of Megaman is to suggest that to the RCMP, tazers are just a game, a toy. Something you pull out when someone is misbehaving. Instead of their real purpose, which is as a last resort before you use deadly force, ie the 9mm... The RCMP have no right to bitch.
Yeah I noticed that after I posted. (how do you do embarassed smileys here?)
Whilst they are infinitely better than guns, officers need to have it drummed into them that these are NOT toys, there are coppers out there who are just itching for a chance to shoot something with their taser because they think its' safe to do.
Police Officers need to be disavowed of that impression very quickly, a taser is not for shooting someone with because they are loud, or even panicked or jittery, there are 4 years of training on how to deal with those situations, it's to be used to protect yourself and the public, and should only be used when either are at real risk, it's a weapon, it's not spidey-silk.
That would help reduce the number of incedents like this one.
I believe that most law enforcement officers are tased and tear gassed as a part of normal training.
Everyone,
Normally, I'm one to stand on the side of law enforcement whenever possible, becaause they do have one of the most difficult jobs. But, in this instance, there is no recourse for repeatedly tasing, at least twice (and up to 4 depending on what reports) a man that was, by all accounts, just upset for being stuck at the airport for half a day. And how was he a danger to the public? He's at an airport! He had no weapons and was through the security there.
There's enough blame to go around, for sure: lazy, incompetant airport staff (no suprise for those familiar with air travel), the overwhelming force used by responding officers (who didn't asses the situation, they just went in shooting), and the inability (or lack of will to) attempt CPR/first aid.
To the larger issue, I'm glad taser use is on the rise, because accidental deaths by tasers are far, far more rare than firearms, but whoever said "Tasers are weapons, too" is dead nuts on target. Too many officers are of the attitude, "Take a ride on the taser, buddy!" Instead of using similar restraint to using a firearm.
Also, this video game video is a very relevant piece of satire - it's message is quite clear - tasers use isn't a game.
It's the current procedure in France. (I think Sarkozy made a point of bieng hit by one but I can't confirm that yet, the guy is too mediatical to check that, too much fluff.)
Anyway, I laughed.
As far as the video, I wasn't offended. I suppose I'm not a "right-thinking" person. I found the video an excellent reproduction of a classic Megaman game. I was impressed to see that the level looked like a pixcelled airport. You can tell it took some time to produce. The "boss's fighting style" seemed similar to Mr. Dziekanski's reaction to the RCMP officers. In the end, it made a statement about unnecessary force. It’s the kind of video you should find unpleasant.
@ GoodRobotUs
Too true. Nothing is 100% safe. Airbags and seatbelts can kill you under the right circumstances. In my school, I always made the point that pencils and pens can be used as a weapon just as easily as a knife (not to mention the scattered pay phones).
"Non-lethal" force can be lethal, but it’s better than lethal force. A taser can kill you if it’s abused, a gun will kill you if it’s used properly. I'll take my chances with the taser.
@ EZK
My friend works in law enforcement. I know its policy that all officers are hit with pepper spray after training for it's use, and I'm pretty sure that runs true with tasers as well (at least in the states). The general policy of police training is to make sure the officers know what's happening when they use such tools. What better way than experiencing it first hand?
Any right-thinking person who would look at the video would be offended by that. A gentlemen lost his life and it is in extremely poor taste.
What about the REAL guy who died? Why does there seem to be more of an outrage on the video game than the REAL death? I guess it's ok for cops to Taze people, just try not to bring it to anyone's attention...
As reported at Game Politics , a Vancouver man has created a video based on the popular Mega Man series that comments on the tragic taser killing of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekánski at the Vancouver airport.
...For one, despite both the Canad...
It's true, a person lost their life. Now, if we just sweep it under the rug, more people will lose their lives. Let's bring it out, stick it in the light, and show it for what it really is. Then, maybe through the embarrasment caused by everyone seeing how you reacted, you can begen to make changes so that it doesn't happen again.
Well, to bring it out into the light, we can make a realistic reenactment, with a serious, somber note. Most people will ignore that. Or you can make an embarrasing parody. I didn't even hear of this incident until this came out. Maybe it's point IS to be ofensive, especially to the people who were wrong.
Amazing the difference eight months makes, eh? It's nice that we can cherry-pick our level of indignation based on the quality of someone's work, rather than the actual subject matter. We went from "using controversy to get people's attention is wrong! What a tasteless idea!" to "Oh, shucks, it's just an expression of how people feel about this incident, specifically their feeling that cops are fascists," and as near as I can tell, it's because the former was "stupid" whereas the latter is "funny."
The only difference I can see between these two examples is that Greenway explains himself as "making a statement," whereas Lambourn was up-front about wanting to kick up dust clouds. To me, that means we're also making judgments based on PR statements. But the ultimate impact on the public is the same: the permanent attachment of the terms "video games" and "offensive" in the mind. Yes, I'm angry at the RCMP for the way they handled the situation, but this isn't the way to express that anger.
GTFO. Racist bastard. My parents don't know any English either, wanna tazer them too?
I've had it with people like you, "wah wah wah, multiculturalism is destroying the Canadian identity... wah...". Fuck off. I'll celebrate whatever holidays I want, and speak whatever language I want. You and your xenophobia can blow me, asshat.
Moving on...
The taser is clearly NOT a safe weapon, at least as currently employed in Canada. According to the CBC, there have been 17 deaths resulting from the use of tasers (all at the hands of the police) since they began using them in 1999.
"Amazing the difference eight months makes, eh? It’s nice that we can cherry-pick our level of indignation based on the quality of someone’s work, rather than the actual subject matter. We went from “using controversy to get people’s attention is wrong! What a tasteless idea!” to “Oh, shucks, it’s just an expression of how people feel about this incident, specifically their feeling that cops are fascists,” and as near as I can tell, it’s because the former was “stupid” whereas the latter is “funny.”"
That's not why I cherry-pick my level of indignation. VA-Tech was a "game" where you walk around shooting people. It wasn't parodying ANYTHING. This, on the other hand, is making the statement that the police were treating tasers as toys, instead of the "less than lethal but still potentially lethal" tools that they are. In effect, they were treating it like in a video game, where choosing the extreme option really has no consequences. MegaMan never thinks twice about pulling out the big guns, so as a metaphor for the RCMP, it works.
We have spent years trying to drum into Police Officers that 'Just because they are complete bastards, doesn't mean you can put the boot in', trial by jury has been the cornerstone the US system, and it is one of the very few things that survive from the Magna Carta here in the UK, all of a sudden officers have been given 'pain-bringers', basically, permission to put the 'boot in' and hurt people without serious come-back, and believe me, those things [i]hurt[/i], I've never received a shock, but I'm been present one someone has.
Giving an officer the ability to basically try, convict and punish by pain is a dangerous move, and needs to be monitored very very carefully.
Yes we certainly want to have street judges. (Judge Dred reference there)
@ Simon Roberts
VA Tech Rampage was a tastless game made to cause a stir and offend. It had no redeming qualities what so ever.
This video was made to be a political/social commentary on the use of tasers by police officers. The message that it portrays far out weighs any "offending" animations.
Had the VA Tech game had some redeming qualities, such as touching on the lack of medical help, the lack of thorough documentation and research done before he got his guns, them it would have been a better social commentary. But it had none of that. It was simply Cho runnign around gunning down people.
I think that you do not understand what political/social commentary and parody is. I recommend that you do some research on the subject and then come back and tell us what your opinion of the VA Tech game and this video are.
I agree with Overcast. Those crying foul on this should shift their outrage to the fact that officers resorted to tasers first and killing an innocent man who couldn't understand the language instead of getting a translator.
I really hate the fact that the original video was posted on youtube. The video has crappy audio, doesn't give you a good idea on what Dziekanski’s deal is, or show decent detail. You can't properly judge the actions of the RCMP based on the video. This game is just the result of someone posting a polarizing video.
But no, this really isn't much about the video, is it? Because the people getting upset have political reasons to do so.
Ken Said: "Oh boo hoo. When you come to a country like Canada, you should know at least a little bit of English in order to get by. Maybe if he wasn’t acting insane, he wouldn’t have been tased. Besides, he probably had a heart condition nobody knew about, not even him."
Yes, because if you don't speak the predominant language of Canada...you're likely to get killed by law enforcement. While you're in a secure building with good access to translators and medical staff.
Gameboy Said: "Why would the immediate reaction of the RCMP officers’ first reaction be to taser someone? Was it because of the location and some misguided attempt at protecting national security? There’s no excuse for attempting to taser or even restrain a person immediately, unless they are fleeing or violent."
Well, if the event took place in any of the states I have lived in, I'd say, "racism" or "nationalism"--kissin' cousins, those two. Can't comment on that situation in Canada.
How dare they portray Mega Man as a fascist..
;p
He was Polish though, so it should be
"Robi nie taze ja bro!"
I should've thought about this before I made my first post because it's exactly the kind of thing that could sneak up on me and turn me into a hypocrite, but it's obviously just as bad to totally denounce offensive content as it is to accept all of it out of hand. At the furthest extreme, if there was a zero tolerance rule in effect, Resistance: Fall of Man would've gone under the second the Manchester Cathedral controversy broke out. I wouldn't suggest that anyone go that far, but there has to be a ratio of how much we're willing to let by versus the impact its statements can make. I guess I draw the line a little closer to the chest than most, because I'm extremely concerned about the public reaction becoming "Mega Man shoots immigrants." I'm all for games and gaming-related media that puts commentary before contention. This video just seems to have them the other way around.
"I’m extremely concerned about the public reaction becoming “Mega Man shoots immigrants.”"
Would it have been better if it had been Judge Dred doing a "Welcome to Canada" type thing?
I'm guessing the MegaMan choice was likely because MegaMan uses energy weapons. So if you're going with the parody character, MegaMan is a good choice. Easily recognizable, you certainly wouldn't mistake his weapon for something else. And plus it allows the use of things like the energy cost comparison, where it's made clear he's going for the "highest cost per use" weapon without any second thought...
The object of Political commentary and parody is to take a political figure (in this case the RCMP) when they are most vulnerable and express that weakness in its entirity and glory.
This creator chose to represent them with Megaman He could have done the same thing with a characature of a mounty, but he chose Megaman to more closely bring out the point of the "tasers are toy/games" that many of the police have.
Had he not shown the weapon select screen with the other options that were available to the police, it would have lost all of its redeaming qualities. That menu was the most important part of the video.
It was not the tasing or the characters. It was who t he characters represent and the message about alternatives to tasing.
If you are having a problem seeing this, I am sorry.
I like Jabrwock's point. You do seem more concerned about how games are going to be perceived after this video. It is not about the game, no matter how much the RCMP wants it to be.
One of the main differences between this video and Va Tech Rampage is the fact that one is an actual playable game and the other is just a video.
It looks like he hacked an nes rom and added some additional video effects. I doubt you can download and play this game.
I think not, no hack there (no exactly true), he just had the sprites. Not exactly true because he needed to rip the sprites first.
That's exactly the issue here, the RCMP WEREN'T doing their jobs correctly.
I was just reading through the comments in an effort to be the 1st to MAKE THAT VERY STATEMENT!!! I'm so slow...
========================================
Hey, root cause here: If he didn't cause a disturbance this wouldn't have happened, right?
So, before we lambaste the cop and investigate and sue and protest, lets remind people to avoid creating disturbances and remain calm.
Then, we can make sure law enforcement is properly trained to use tasers. Even though he was killed, which was a horrible tragedy, I'd rather be tased than shot. Now, if the cop acted outside his training, or out of anger or hatred, he needs to be punished. Hopefully by being tazed 2 to 4 times by his own taser. If he lives, he's lucky. If he doesn't, Hammurabi can rest easy tonight.
DON'T TAZE ME BRO!!!
"However, Marta Grywalska, a spokeswoman for Polish Ambassador Piotr Ogrodzinski, seemed less condemnatory:
'The public was disturbed by the event. This is how the subculture reacted to it.'"
Good to see that the polish ambassador's spokesperson recognizes this for what it is. Specifically a gamer's way of expressing outrage. It simultaneously depicts the RCMP treating the incident as inconsequential like it was a game, ignoring less harmful options, and using overkill.
Contrary to what Sgt. John Ward says, "any right-thinking person who would look at the video" should realize that it'd a criticism of the RCMP's actions in the incident, and their use of tasers in general.
I don't think anyone does have a problem with police when they are doing their job properly. The criticism arises when the police make extremely bad choices that undermine the credibility of all cops. I respect the profession, and I do appreciate the difficulty, but I'm also concerned that the current culture is shoot first and ask questions later.
When the police repeatedly taser an unarmed man, I think this is exactly the time to examine the police force to ensure they are acting in the best interest of the community. When they are not acting in the best interests of the community, don't expect our support.
I wasn't an officer, but I have worked as civil staff in a Police Station for a few years, so I do know what officers go through, but it's not a new phenomenon, Police have had to put up with abuse throughout history, I don't agree with it any more than you, but it is a fact of the job.
Back in history, an officer of the law was a soldier, if a peasant annoyed him, he could do anything from ignore them to kill them without word. America had a revolution to stop that kind of treatment, installed the Right to Trial by Jury by peers, gave the person unequivocal right to express their opinion in a non-violent manner, (unfortunately non-violent seems to be open to interpretation), installed rules for maintaining the peace that stated you only hurt someone if you were protecting yourself or the public from immediate threat of harm, or to prevent a suspect from escaping the scene, and even then, it is expected to be done with the minimum possible damage and pain.
That is the problem with Tasers, the officers have been told it is for 'incapacitating' suspects, but are not really made aware of the real danger that incapacitation can pose, like a handgun, the officer really needs to be certain he needs to use it before doing so.
In essence, 'less dangerous' does not mean you can use it more often, if a Taser is only 5% as deadly as a gun, but used 20 times as often, you've completely defeated the point of their invention.
"There’s a man in an Airport from a foreign country who speaks no English, has not obeyed Airport security, and is acting aggressively. Police don’t have time to sit there and wait for someone who speaks Polish to come along, they must diffuse the situation asap."
I'll assume from your comment you haven't seen the original video. He speaks no English, but there was a translator available, but airport staff never bother to fetch him. He's acting aggressively, but calms down and even obeys their directions when the RCMP confront him. Up until then, Security was just standing there, watching him. And instead of merely surrounding him and keeping him from harming anyone (by the way, he was in a large room alone, so really the only danger was to himself), they go from arriving to zapping in the course of 25 seconds. Within that 25 seconds, he has thrown up his hands in the international sign of submission, he has moved towards the desk as the officers motioned for him to do, and they have tased him. Twenty-five seconds....
They diffused the situation the moment they showed up. Because as soon as they came into view, he stopped trying to blockade the door, he stopped throwing things, and he backed away and just stood there. And then he obeyed them when they told him to move. For this he gets not one, but two shots of taser... And no CPR...
Just because your job is stressful, does not give your the right to abuse whatever authority you have. Just because your job is stressful, does not give your the right to come in guns ablazing without properly assesing the situation.
I will second what Jabrwock has said. They did not assess the situation. They chose to shoot first and ask questions later. The man showed no signes of aggression when they showed up. He may have acted aggressively at the time the police were called, but when his calms down the moment the police arrive, they should have reassessed the situation.
Again, I will say it. Just because your job is stressful, does not give you the right to perform it poorly. Especially when people's lives are at stake.
Megaman deserves more respect than that.
It doesn't portray the victim really nicely, either. Yeah, they're trying to emphasize the fact that he was helpless and unarmed, but there's just something demeaning about it.
The weapon name "Tazer Mercilessly" was a laugh, so was the video, and it still got the message across that this was a goddamn stupid thing to ever happen.
DID YOU KNOW: The TAZER company is coming out with a shotgun? No Joke - now you can taze groups or people, or one person dozens of times! Don't believe me? Look it up. Its for real.
Maybe they wanted him to say "pretty please" before getting him his translator...
The airport had a POLISH SPEAKING EMPLOYEE WORKING AT THE TIME but he was never called in to help.
FUCKING DISGUSTING behavior by the RCMP. Those pathetic "men" who did this are pieces of shit. I am ashamed to be Canadian at a time like this.
and I suppose all you hippies would like the cops to go back to just billy-clubbing people or shooting them then? Maybe they can hit criminals with big fluffy pillows? or deploy the cottonball cannon.
Do they not realize what an 'international' flight is?
You are sure to see some people who do not speak the language. If he had been directed to his family, he would still be alive today.
There is a line and it was crossed when they murdered this man.
The Polish traveler could NOT understand English and law enforcement got trigger happy with their tasers instead of getting a translator, who was in the airport.
@Tenshigami
Sure it may have been in bad taste, but that is not the point of the clip. The point was that the RCMP could've used restraint or a translator instead of putting the last resort first.
On a side note, if I were a member of the RCMP (I'm not, I live in Arkansas), I would not be offended by the video. Hell, I would welcome it.
You sir are what is wrong with the world today. You will blindly follow authority when it is appearent that they are abusing their authority.
There would not be this discussion or these complaints had proper procedure been followed by the airport staff first. If not by them, proper procedure should have been followed by the police.
We are not complaining that a threatening individual was subdued, we are complaining that an innocent and upset man was killed by policemen who ignored all other options.
"Now, I've watched the video and, frankly, don't see how it in any way parodies the real-life incident. If anything, I would think the author is commenting on how irresponsible were the actions of the Vancouver policemen. And, while I understand that using an image from a tragedy in a video mash-up might not be the most sensitive way to make a statement, I would encourage "greenRiverThriller," whoever you are, to keep your video online."
ok, yeah i laughed my ass off when MM kept blasting the dead guy, it was funny. but it's just the digital equivalent of a political cartoon.
the mounties were way the hell out of line and the airport is culpable due to extreme negligence. honestly, i expect a hell of a lot better from Canada than this. and to lie and cover up what happened? inexcusable.
two happen in short succession while the victim is still standing.
then the RCMP get him to the ground and begin to beat him you'll hear the shouts of "hit him again" multiple times and towards the end of the clip, after he has STOPPED RESISTING, a third shot is heard clearly.
I hate it when people declare that since X depicts something negative happening to a member of Y, X is somehow anti-Y. Replaces X with anything and Y with any community, race, country, religion, organization, etc.
Im whats wrong with the world? Why do I get the feeling you over-react to trifles. Everyone of those mounties has been shoot and shocked with a taser and knows exactly what it does. Do you call a doctor a murderer when a patient dies from an allergic reaction to widely used and safe medication? Well, you probaly do, but by your own statements, your priorities are pretty out of whack.
The Mega Man video was funny!
We, the public, have EVERY RIGHT to criticize the police WHENEVER THE HELL WE WANT. You're given authority and you need to use that authority responsibly. It's a hard job - but you know that going in. You CAN NOT say that people aren't "allowed" to criticize authority because the poor guys have it tough. Saying that people shouldn't be allowed to criticize cops is bullshit.
The video was a genius work that clearly represented how poorly the RCMP acted and shows how those poor actions led to the death of an innocent man.
There are plenty of good cops - I've dealt with them in official and unofficial capacities - and there are also plenty of bad cops. It's funny, the numbers sort of reflect how there are plenty of good and bad PEOPLE.
Oh yeah, brilliant idea. Then when a dangerous situation arises where you take a non-lethal in about 99.9% of cases, which could end a situation (in a vast majority of the time) without harm they will have to, wisely, rely on their other standby, a gun. If I'm not mistaken guns have a higher fatality rate than stun guns.
I do if the doctor administers the medication less than 30 seconds after meeting the patient.
Andrew Eisen
What, check the medical records? There's no time for that, man, this patient is dangerous!
@Mnementh2230
I heard they were coming out with tasers to put on key chains.
@Grapefruit Juice
“Do you call a doctor a murderer when a patient dies from an allergic reaction to widely used and safe medication?”
Yeah, you do. And then you sue them for malpractice.
"Why do I get the feeling you over-react to trifles."
Trifles? Cops killed an innocent man on camera. You've got some messed up priorities there, man.
Also the police walk right in there and after being told the man dosent speak english almost immediatley tazer him. Now im not saying police shouldnt be armed with tazers as i wish the police here in the Uk were given them too but i do think they should be less happy to whip them out just to get the job done faster.
John ward feels the parody video is in poor taste, i think the eagerness of his men to resort to tazering is in poor taste.
At the very least he could include somekind of caption on youtube,,,, he probably would not get as many bad comments (on youtube atleast) if the commentors realized his intentions... not to mention they could point out how the video could be made so that it works as commentary and doesn't come off as a mockery (even though, because of the medium, there will still be those that see it as a mockery)
[i]The public was disturbed by the event. This is how the subculture reacted to it.[/i][/quote]
That's perhaps the most insightful quote I have ever heard from a politician.
With great power comes great responsibility.
So if your going to take a position of power better take the responsibility that comes with it. If you make a mistake be prepared to accept the consequences. Police, politicians and other people in power should be held in similar manner.
other notable quotes.
Look at the pause/weapon select screen and you should get its message.
Yes if a doctor causes a death by giving an improper medication he will be sued for malpractice at the least, may face a wrongful death suit if his actions were grossly improper and also may lose his medical license.
Blinkered following of authority is a not a virtue. Just because your a cop doesn't give you the freedom to do as you please with not questioning of your actions. A person in a position of authority ha s aresponsibility to use that authority justly and not abuse it.
Yes I do when the doctor does not ask the patient if they have any known allergies or the medicine has nothing to do with the treatment of the disease.
My problem here, that you seem to be ignoring is that the police did not assess the situation at all. They went in guns ablazing. It does not take a genius to realize that a person cannot run away in a room with only one entrance blocked by police. They could have tried talking to the guy.
I mean, being tasered myself, I know that it's painful, but, how did it kill him?
I think it was Peter Sellers who said "To label any subject unsuitable for comedy is to admit defeat."
I'm sorry, but I do have to disagree with you on tasers. Sorry, but I'd rather the cops use tasers before guns. If they use tasers more frequently than guns, then I'd say they agree with me. You can say that tasers are unsafe, but they are a far better alternative to lethal force.
And of course the more frequently used tool will have more recorded problems. That comes with use. More people are killed by coconuts each year than Great White Sharks. Which are you more worried about?
@ jonwanker
Tasers aren't safe? Neither is a butter knife. Even if 17 people have died from tasers since '99, that doesn't bother me. How many people were tasered? Now, how many people were shot in that time? How many of them died?
Most cases of taser deaths I've heard are the results of some other medical problem that was enflamed by being tasered (like a heart murmur). You can't hold the officer responsible for not knowing that a violent or threatening suspect has a medical history. For the officer, protecting himself and the community is the priority. Sometimes they are forced to act with lethal force and other times with non-lethal force (like tasers or pepper spray). I don't think we need to ban a potentially life saving tool because some people abuse it.
@ grapefruit juice
The officers in this situation exceeded the call of duty. They only had to restrain him or call a translator to disarm him. They didn't even attempt to talk to him. In such situation's conversation should be an officer's first tool. Instead, they hit him multiple times with a tasers. One taser should be enough to stop a single person. Beyond that is cruelty for the sake of cruelty. If this isn't against police procedure, it should be.
Don't want to question authority? Fine, but you should know that America was founded by questioning authority. It's probably our oldest tradition.
@ Arkly
Apparently he was tasered multiple times. It's possible that you can die from one taser, but not likely. However, being shocked multiple times by multiple guns can not be good and seems completely unnecessary.
Reminds me of the Steve Irwin parody with Mario Brothers water level
I did, but i think it may have been much too subtle... i mean looking at some of the comments the video got on youtube (where it lacks a clear explaination like the one we get here) i would say there are plenty of poeple who did not realize his intentions and thought that he was making a mockery or even being racist... i might even question if some poeple realized that this was a parody of a real event; as in they thought he was just being racist against polish immigrants in general instead of realizing it was based off the taser incident (afterall, not all of the commentors will be very familar with the event)
THIS THREAD LEVELED UP!
Everybody is agreeing now, execpt on the fine detail... That means everybody is trying to nail the limit between black and white. In a grey area.
You know, this was covered on the local news, but I haven't seen it talked about here on GP yet. (I'm sure there'll be a headline about it tomorrow, though.)
What irks me the most, though is how everyone keeps calling it a 'video game' as if you could buy/download it on PS3/Wii/360. (Much like many of the others that've gotten controversial attention, these would most likely only be seen on Wiiware/XBLA/PSN after a cold day in hell.)
totally agree its not a video game its a video based on an event with a game twist on things
I dont find it offensive but thats mainly because i dont see things the way those idiots do
they see this as a game to be played and...enjoyed?(which is why their pissed)
I see it as a message about how poorly things were handled and how police brutality is a bitch
basicly it all comes down to if your an idiot and think this is an actual game or if you relize its ment to inform ,not insult
The problem about Tasers is that they were designed as an alternative to handguns, an officer was supposed to use a Taser in situations that would normally need a handgun, thus reducing risk. Had an officer simply pulled out his gun in the airport and shot the Polish guy, there'd be no question whatsoever that they over-reacted the the situation.
Tasers are an excellent way of reducing risk to the public, the police and even the suspects if used correctly, but it still needs to be viewed as a potential killer, far higher than, say, the risk from using CS Gas or even physically restraining someone, it should be respected as such.
The whole reason coconuts are more dangerous than sharks is because there are a hell of a lot more coconuts, which answers the question for me.
QTF, really. Especially the last paragraph.
I understand that tasers can be dangerous, but like you said they are intended as a less dangerous alternative to handguns. As long as they as used when needed, they can help reduce deaths. I'm not defending using a taser to stop a shoplifter or a loiterer, but only in situations where the suspect is dangerous or threatening. For example brandishing a gun, fighting the officers, or reaching into their jacket without being told. I know that last one seems tame, but the officer has to assume they are reaching for a gun, especially if they are a more prominent offender (like drug dealer).
Perhaps we'd both be happy, if they behaved with a taser a little more like it was a gun. Drawing it and yelling freeze to give the suspect a chance to stop before firing the taser. No matter what though, I think the taser is a good tool for law enforcement.
I think you missed the point of the coconut vs. the shark reference. Yes, coconuts are more dangerous because there are more and people are exposed to them more. That's the point. I'd still rather take my chances with a coconut then a shark though.
*Final Fantasy Victory Theme*
As for the whole Coconut/Shark analogy, I suppose the thing is, that's the whole irony of the situation, no-one would consider a coconut more dangerous than a Shark, because it's only a coconut, it's not nearly as 'scary', just like a Taser gun isn't as scary as a hand-gun, but it doesn't change the fact that every year more people are killed by coconuts than by sharks, so regardless of appearances, the sheer amount of coconuts means that more people are killed by them than by sharks. Same with Tasers, the more often someone is shot by a Taser, the more likelihood there is of a death, so, per unit, a handgun is far more dangerous, but numerically, it's a Shark, Police shoot someone only in extreme situations. I'm just hoping the Taser doesn't