I hesitate to even consider it, but if I decide to put ads on my blog, how much traffic is required to make it worthwhile?
Thanks...
PC
I hesitate to even consider it, but if I decide to put ads on my blog, how much traffic is required to make it worthwhile?
Thanks...
PC
Hey all...
I wrote about this on my blog as well, but I thought you might like to check out this site: True Cop Stories. As I have said here many times, I am on a mission to open up the police world and show people the REAL cops.
These folks seem to be on board, and the stories seem pretty authentic as far as I can tell. See ya~!
Good call...
I think I'll go for 500 by years end. Then I need some way to get the message out to the media. I am on a mission with my blog -- better understanding of the officers that patrol our streets. That will be my big hit...
PC
I suppose most of you get thousands of comments per day. I don't. Yesterday I got over 100 visitors for the first time!
It seems like police work is not what people in the blog world are interested in. I don't mind; I will keep plugging along.
Small victories!
Philosophical Cop
Gnorb,
Great thoughts all. I need to learn to do those great quotes!
I guess we just disagree. I think it is clear that a teenager who burns down a Hummer dealer is very different than an ELF member who does so.
1. The ELF member has a larger agenda they are "feeding" by this one act. It is a piece of a puzzle. It needs to be punished more severely because it is more important to stop them than the local thug.
2. There is no rehabilitating the ELF guy, whereas the little rebel with a match we can try and help.
Anyhow, I think we are all thinking more about this issue than the politicians ever will...
PC
Hang on there, everyone. I have been a cop about 12 years now, and some of that in counterterrorsim. You all need to chill for a moment.
Did you know that we used to catch folks for things like burning down car dealerships and entire construction projects and they were charged with simple felony vandalism?
Do you think it is the same thing when a teenager breaks a window on halloween as it is when ELF terrorists burn a car dealership to the ground?
Until someone crafted this common sense law, they were the same crime.
I have been hanging in the blog world for about 4 months, and until now I had flatly rejected the criticism that the blogosphere was so "left" leaning. Please don't prove me wrong. This is a good law.
The Good Guys Aren't That Good, and The Bad Guys Are Getting Worse...
Good point. Can't blame them for favoring themselves. I will delete that one as soon as I am sure everyone is over with me at the new digs. Thanks.
I have a low, but steady number of people coming to my blog each day. A few friends tried some "likely" google searches, and my blog does not show up.
Interestingly, some older (now idle) blogs by cops and police officers do show up.
Any ideas on how I can change that?
Thanks all...
Jsmart...
I will not judge you (I think you have plenty of that here!). I think a shotgun is an excellent choice. As law enforcement officers have known for years, the handgun is primarily a DEFENSIVE weapon. Really its only useful feature is that it is small and concealable. That's why cops carry them on their hip.
However, if my officers know they are entering a hostile situation, I prefer a shotgun. More stopping power, and easier to hit the bad guy. Once someone has broken into your house (god forbid) you will be terrified and stressed out. That makes it difficult to shoot any weapon, much less a pistol.
Did you know that trained police officers are about 60% on hits? That is because it is hard to shoot when the sights are shaking!!!
Whatever choice you make, practice with it many times with an unloaded weapon. If you can't get to the shotgun in time, it is useless.
Remember my training mantra: Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.
PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE.
PC
In ten years plus as a street cop, I have SELDOM seen a violent crime comitted with a LEGAL firearm. That means, listen carefully, that gun control does not work.
AK47 assault rifles are unlawful. They kill dozens in gang shootings every year.
No one under 18 is allowed to carry a firearm (in most states). License or not. Yet most gang violence is committed by these children.
By the way, even if the gun is lawfully obtained, it is probably pawned or stolen by the time it commits a crime.
I have a better idea. Let law abiding citizens carry guns to protect themselves. In each state that has tried this method, gun-related violence has gone down. Period.
Hello again. Thanks for all the assistance. I keep hearing people talk about the great plugins for WP. I am at WP.com with my blog, www.philosophicalcop.com. I have no plugins available, and no upgrade that seems to allow them.
Can you let me know what I am missing?
PC
Thank you all for the advice...I have some research to do!
I know, I know, you all told me why wordpress was better. The problem is that your thoughtful responses included the use of plugins.
So I learned how to use plugins. Then, come to find out, I CANNOT USE PLUGINS because wordpress is hosting my blog.
Even though I paid extra to get a cool URL, they tricked me into assuming that if I get the URL from them, I would have full functionality. AARRGH!
Anyone have a way out of this? Do I have to dump them as a host, re-purchase the URL elsewhere, and then export?
HELP!
Thank you all. The philosophical cop stays! I look forward to the future...
You have definitely cleared up my problem. I have not found all the features yet! Some of you mentioned the plugins, and "thousands" of themes.
How can I find those? I have been restricted to the few wordpress offered at the outset.
Any favorite sources for additions?
Thanks again.
Hi all! I currently blog at www.philosophicalcop.com. I am afraid that one of the reasons I have so few readers might be the title. Is it too "HIGH FALUTIN?"
I was considering a change to www.aviewfromthecop.com. What do you think?
PC
Thanks for the feedback. I always figure, even if the cops screw up, just sue them later. It beats being hurt...or worse.
It never ceases to amaze me. I was watching the police officers who work for me attempt to arrest someone last night. Keep in mind this was an upper middle class "normal" guy. Normal except that he beat up his wife.
He has 3 guns pointed at him and a police dog barking in the background. His response to the command "FREEZE POLICE!" is to start a long constitutional debate about our right (or lack there of) to stop him. ARRGGHHHH.
Why do people have so crucially little common sense?
Hello all. I recently moved my blog from blogger to worpress, at www.philosophicalcop.com. I did this on the advice of a "guru" who said that it would improve my blogging situation. Have you had any experience with that?
I suppose I am giving away my amateur nature, but frankly Blogger was easier to use and considerably more intuitive.
Thanks
PC
Thank you all. I appreciate the feedback. One other question. I received compliments from one blog "expert" but he strongly suggested I move from blogger to another platform like Type Pad. The problem is, I need the anonymity (there are lots of folks out there that don't like cops!)
Are there any more "legit" places that I can use but remain anonymous? Do you even agree that blogger is not the right place?
My blog is currently at www.philosophicalcop.blogspot.com.
Thanks
PC
I am an amateur here, but how does placing comments on other blogs help mine? Sorry for the rookie question!
Hi all. I am just a humble cop and part time philosopher. To that end, I started a blog. But the funniest thing has transpired: no one reads it! That doesn't really hurt my feelings, but it does make me wonder:
Should cops blog?
I figured a look at the police issues of the day from a cop's perspective might be refreshing. Maybe I was wrong. What do you think?
Interesting responses all. I think the thing to remember is that the TASER is a non-deadly weapon.
Carmodyarc, I would be interested in seeing your numbers, in the event I am mistaken (which does happen!) I have been familiar with tactical training at the four largest police forces in the nation, and all of them consider the TASER to be BELOW deadly force. Since that covers more than 3/4 of all sworn police officers in the nation, I am curious how you arrive at the idea that most officers use a TASER as deadly force.
As for the number of people killed with TASERS, I am afraid you have exaggerated the situations a bit. Of those who have died when a TASER was used, a substantial number have turned out to have pre-existing heart or nerve issues. Just as when a police officer uses a martial arts move, they cannot predict if someone has a brittle bone disease (causing a broken arm) they similarly cannot know what a heart is doing prior to using electricity to subdue someone.
I would propose the following hypothetical: What would the critics be saying if he had eventually produced a handgun, or other weapon, and used it against Kerry? Then the headline would be "COPS HAD A TASER AND DIDN'T USE IT...WHY?"
This is what I mean when I say we cannot possibly win for losing.
I know, I know, it did not look good at all. In fact, it seemed foolish to the lay observer. I would ask you to consider the cops' point of view.
They have most likely been trained that the TASER is for "aggressive and/or combative individuals." That means people who do more than disobey verbal orders, but not so much that they are a threat to life.
SO, this genius refuses to leave when his time is up. No big deal. Then they attempt to escort him out, one cop on each side. Fine. Then he decides to physically struggle, and that struggle lands on the ground.
Every cop knows that once you are on the ground, the threat to your safety has gone up exponentially. The TASER, while hated throughout the anti-cop world, is a humane and quick way to dispense with an aggressive suspect. There are no long-lasting effects in the VAST majority of cases, and its effectiveness is untouchable.
So before we hang those cops out to dry, remember that before we had the TASER, the only choice would have been to beat him silly in front of all those cameras with a wooden baton. Then what would people say?
I say follow the officers' directions in the first place and you won't get hurt. Why doesn't anyone ever blame the suspect for these situations? Why is it always the cops fault? What are your thoughts?
Auburn, I think it is a wonderful idea to have the cops live in the city they police. There tend to be two problems that come up time after time when that concept gets to the elected officials.
First, the police generally have trouble affording a house in a decent neighborhood in their city (this is usually in the large cities like NY, LA, etc.)
Second, there is the issue of running into someone I arrested last night while shopping at the local store. Then I have my kids there, no backup, no bulletproof vest, etc.
Theoretically I support the concept, though. No one cares more for a town or city than the people who live there.
I would like to read that story. My experience is that there is almost always something else going on. What was "left out" of the media short that we got fed?
Thanks for the replies. I see your point johnbaker. I guess it is my hope that if 100 bits of negativity are going to be posted, than 100 bits of good news should follow. That might not sell newspapers, but nonetheless the good news is out there if you look for it.
It's our own fault. Cops' bad reputation that is. We don't share information, and the resulting void is filled by rumor, inuendo, and assumption. Well after 12 years on the street, I figured it was time to change that. This note is one way I hope to start the conversation. My blog, the philosophical cop, attempts to do the same thing.
I don't have all the answers, and certainly police work can be ugly. Some people will never shake their animosity towards any authority figure, and for those folks, police officers are too convenient a target. But the vast majority of cops do a heroic, tragic, funny, and difficult job extraordinarily well in the vast majority of situations. I think we should talk about that.
» Cool Police Stories ... Last Reply: 10 months ago by philosophicalcop.
I thought of that too Scrivs.