zlacker

>>pseudo+(OP)
Hah. East Germans know exactly what this sort of thing will lead to: selective enforcement against those that the police wish to target anyway. Nothing like a bit of good old snitching to the authorities. Too bad if you're not lily white and walking around in a posh - or not so posh - neighborhood past what others think should be your curfew.

Of course, if you are witness to a serious crime you should report it. But if someone waters their lawn, sleeps in their car, or pees in their garden then that's their business and usually not yours so as long as you are not inconvenienced you should mind your own business lest one day the tables are turned and you forget to bring in your garbage container. And that's before we get into reporting people 'walking while black', those things might actually be against a law.

If you're breaking N laws per day think about what the effect would be if those were all enforced. Do not do unto others... And don't give racists even more tools for harassment.

>>jacque+Yn
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that many people perceive:

- themselves as perfect but making the odd honest mistake every now and then

- others as fundamentally flawed, persistent rule-breakers who Need To Be Punished

Even if they’re broadly the same or worse. This is true on the road, in college or writing code. A lot of people will be unable to look at their own tiny little infractions and see them as equivalent to the flagrant disregard for the rules that they observe in others.

>>smcl+br
I doubt this.

When people see others in the neighbourhood that fit a 'pattern they might associate with criminality' this has nothing to do with viewing 'others that need to be punished' rather just a fearful view of difference, and probably lack of exposure to people that creates some low-key bigotry. Throw in some neuroticism and too much free time, possibly some mental health issues and it's a problem.