Wednesday
May132009
Too Much Bling? Give Us a Ring!- Yes, The Brits Are Serious
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 8:21AM The Blogmother
Courtesy of Sandra Rose. Her countrymen have begun a campaign to convince people to turn in their neighbors who display their ill-gotten gains. Police have started a crime stoppers program called "Too Much Bling, Give Us a Ring."
Now just how you are supposed to determine who has too much is the question, but I thought this poster was hilarious.
In the latest example of innovative policing in Britain, the Gloucestershire force is encouraging members of the public to report people wearing too much ‘bling’ during the recession.
They are also urging people to shop anyone who drives flashy cars or buys expensive items without the apparent means to afford them during the credit crunch.
Gloucestershire’s Chief constable Dr Timothy Brain said: ‘In the current time of financial uncertainty, those who live a lavish lifestyle with no discernable, legitimate income become even more apparent. Daily Mail via Sandra Rose
Now just how you are supposed to determine who has too much is the question, but I thought this poster was hilarious.
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Reader Comments (13)
That poster is hilarious!
"Bling"? Hmm, sounds like code word for, "if you see some negro's w/ expensive stuff you know they can't afford, they must be criminals". I know bling has worked it's way into everyones lexicon, but I find that to be an interesting choice of words.
This kind of "policing" is no different then the nice police car pull over's I've had the pleasure of experiencing while riding in a nice care and just being black. Ineffective police departments rely on profiling and assumptions instead of doing actual investigative police work. I don't know what's worse, simple minded cops or nosey neighbors. Nothing's worse than having neighbors who are always "up in your business", now empowered to call the cops, when they determine you have too much. That sounds like a recipe for disaster.
I can't imagine this working in America anyway, since most people are living outside their means to begin with. Hell, most people can't even afford the houses they're living in to begin with.
I wish this policy was put in place when CEO's were giving themselves million dollar bonuses while their companies were in the tank: "Know any body flying off on a golden parachute while they're company is left in ruins, give us a ring?"
unfortunately..
There are many campaigns in the UK based around 'shopping your neighbour' and they are highly unsuccessful and poorly targeted.
- They have one for benefit (welfare) cheats
- One for fare dodgers on public transportation
What they do not have is one for reporting politicians who this week alone have been exposed for stealing tax payers money in order to buy things like horse manure, clean their swimming pools or have their moats cleaned.
I mean who in the UK has a moat?. lol
One thing to bear in mind, quoting the daily mail is like quoting one of the most virulently racist, myopic and completely unobjective tabloids ever.
People do not admit to reading the daily mail in public and it's nickname is 'the daily hate'. (figured you'd like to know)
just one more thing..
The govt is encouraging people to buy new cars in order to stimulate the economy and the motor industry.
How?.
Well if you have an old car (10 years old or more) the govt will give you £2000 towards buying a new car and car makers are bending over backwards to sell their cars.
So if I buy a new car, which of my neighbours gets to decide that I'm just bling blinging negro spending stolen money.
And what happens when the govt use the 'terrorism act' to start to investigate my private affairs?
This is not a positive step for us, it's another one of those invasive, scare mongering, fear and suspicion generating policies, which institutions put on when they can't be bothered to do proper investigative work. Just ask neighbours to point the finger at each other and harrass innocent people to death.
Iman wrote:
"That poster is hilarious!
“Bling”? Hmm, sounds like code word for, “if you see some negro’s w/ expensive stuff you know they can’t afford, they must be criminals”. I know bling has worked it’s way into everyones lexicon, but I find that to be an interesting choice of words. "
I had the same reaction.
It's one thing when you have PROOF that your neighbor's a thief. It's another to assume he is because of a newly bought car, black skin, or some other silly reason.
Isn't it possible that your neighbor could have a legal online business that would account for the new bling?
The UK really is becoming a fascist nation, where "Innocent until proven guilty" no longer applies.
"The UK really is becoming a fascist nation, where “Innocent until proven guilty” no longer applies."
True, true.
This campaign banks on the jealousy and covetousness of fellow neighbors in order for government to sink their hooks into and eventually knock down those who are "above their station". Look at how drab and run down the two houses beside the "blinged-out" house are. I bet the occupants are just stewing in a saucepan filled with Haterade.
The authorities have time for this and other silly "social justice" schemes, but can't be bothered to help someone whose house is being robbed.
It's just another milestone on the road to realizing "1984".
I wonder if they will come and get all of these white men with the hummers around here. When I see them I just wish I had a dozen eggs to throw at them.
I think that if the shoe fit's wear it!... I work full time, I have 2 minor children living with me, 2 graduates of college, 1 in college. I'm divorced after 20+ years and I struggle financially. I get little child support for my younger two, cause I make 'too much' money. I don't qualify for social service assistance for the same reason. Now I know how hard I work, sacrifice and still struggle. I don't know what some people are doing that don't work, don't provide for their children and still dress fine and use their money for overpriced rims on their tinted cars, but I know for a fact many in my neighborhood are not doing anything legit!
@cinco
cool tha you do all that, but what if your neighbour randomly decides that your 5 year old car, which you bought legally (even if you had to spread the cost on multiple cards/loans) is above your station and beyond what you 'should' be driving?
This is all based on suposition and spying on your neighbour.
I live in a neighbourhood which is far beneath my means. It means I can afford a bigger apartment, it means can afford to buy new gadgets and gizmo's and afford what some would class as an expensive bike.
If my neighbour decides that this is above my means and 'dobs' me in, then the police can begin to monitor and record my movements without me being aware. (that's a violation of my civil liberties based simply on suspicion).
Do I trust the police to determine my innocence.
erm no.
This would be the same UK police who shot dead John Charles de Menezes after putting him under surveilence. He was a completely innocent man on his way to work. The 'popo' had watched and tailed him on to the tube (subway) where they shot him at point blank range.
The UK is indeed fast reverting to fascism, from DNA of innocent people being potentially stored for 12years, to the introduction of an ID card system which we the taxpayers can't afford to govt which seems to randomly decide which of our data to carelessly discard on public transportation and anti-terror laws used to disproportionately stop any form of protest/gathering or just average black folk going about their business.
This, my friends is not a positive step.
Oh man! When I saw this title, I thought this was the new BW slogan for getting married...
Meaning: not so keen in excess material gains, but would be happy w/ a ring.
wow, let's point out the haters? lmao.
What if I get legit money but I don't talk to my neighbors? As far as my neighbors are concerned, I'm just another young, black, drug dealer with cars, rims, jewelry and women going in and out of my apartment. I don't have to go to work, so I guess they should call the police.
For once I have to say......I'm thankful I live in the US.
Yes, there are some people with the lavish lifestyle that have obtained their money legitimately...but let's cut through the bs...they are more than likely the exceptions...not the norm.
The average hard working, non goverment recepient is not 'wasting' their hard earned dollars on foolishness.
This campaign is going on in Gloucestershire, which is not exactly bling central anyway! It has two large towns, Cheltenham and Gloucester. Its only big city - Bristol - was excised from it in the 1960s. Cheltenham is famous for horse racing and a ladies' finishing school; the only place with any working class is Gloucester itself and there were very few black people there when I briefly lived there in 2000. Quite a few Asians (mainly Gujarati) though. So, the likelihood of this having much of an ill-effect on the local Black population is remote; the point about all these campaigns getting neighbours to snoop on each other is a good one though.