An Garda Siochana - Do you respect them?

dangerousdavem

Im sure this will ruffle a few feathers but what the hell. I've seen a good few posts on boards about the guards and problems people have with them. I have had nothing but unpleasant experiences with them. Anytime I am stopped in my car they are rude and seem to have some sort of attitude problem. Don't get me wrong I have met a few guards that are sound but in my opinion alot of them just seem to get off on abusing their powers and acting like a twat. The recent student protest is an example of this. My question is who respects the guards these days?

Biggins

I do and proud of it! There is this attitude that in respecting them, one must/might be stuck-up/a prick/a holier than thou saint, etc... I'm far from perfect but I respect a group of people that are striding to give much needed aid in the midst of sometimes gunfire, deaths, pain and dismembered bodies to say the least.

That neighbour, relative or friend that has signed up to join, has simply said that they are willing to stand up, be counted upon and do/face what most of us would understandably shy away from sometimes.

Just because there is few rotten apples in every barrel - doesn't mean I intend to tarnish the whole barrel.

Ush1

Like any job, good ones and bad ones.

Shield

Not a good way to start your second post on boards.

Just saying...

dangerousdavem wrote: »

Im sure this will ruffle a few feathers but what the hell.

Turtyturd

As someone pointed out in another thread. I respect the Laws, not so much those that enforce them.

Duggy747

I'm not their biggest fan but respect has to be there for them. 2 of my cousins are Gardaì and it's interesting hearing the amount of shìte that they have to put up with.

That being said, I know a lot of wasters / weirdos who've joined the force and i find it quite un-nerving that they've been given power.

tempura

Only if they're taller and older then me.

All the new guards are little and about 12 so its hard to take them seriously.

And some, dare i say it, are a little overweight, ar'nt they supposed to be fit as a fiddle ?

Elevator

yes, they have a terrible job at the best of times, I have to laugh at some people I know who "hate" the Garda and I always ask hem what is the first thing they would do if they got knocked down crossig the road??

I have so much respect for the Gardai of this country for the job they drag themselves out of bed for every day I wish I had trained myself!!

bonerm

dangerousdavem wrote: »

Im sure this will ruffle a few feathers but what the hell. I've seen a good few posts on boards about the guards and problems people have with them. I have had nothing but unpleasant experiences with them. Anytime I am stopped in my car they are rude and seem to have some sort of attitude problem. Don't get me wrong I have met a few guards that are sound but in my opinion alot of them just seem to get off on abusing their powers and acting like a twat. The recent student protest is an example of this. My question is who respects the guards these days?

Small price to pay for the job they do. I've always felt one great way of keeping scumbags out of trouble was employing them as Garda.

dmac1989

Major respect for them and also think if people are acting the Bol*x they should have more power. a few slaps would go a miss. Ive seen plenty of people starting fights and smashing up bars, niteclubs...etc and then a guard gives them a sly dig while arresting them and they cry like babies. awh a guard assalted me. There is cleary one or two who abbuse power but if you show respect you will get it back!

FatherLen

i think you started this just to get view and comments but i will entertain the idea. yes i respect the gardai. event though some have given them a bad rep the vast majority are pretty good.

How Soon Is Now

Hard to answer this with a yes or no i find. You will get some cops who are decent people just doing there job doing there best i would respect them as they respect me and other people they deal with.

Then theres the other ones who use there position as a way to just take the piss and abuse there powers. I have seen and been in many position like this in both cases so my answer would be no and yes it depends on the man/woman them selfs cause there not all the same.

starbelgrade

I've never had any problems with the Gardai on the street. I did get arrested a few times, but I was young & dumb & there was good cause for it.

Had a serious problem with a superintendent a few years ago, but as Biggins said, a few rotten apples don't always spoil the barrel.

Balfie

In a Job/company.. That has near 20,000 members, obviously there will be some that have the odd attitude problem, have a bad day, and take it out on somebody.

Tell me any other job that will have so many employees, or "members" as they like to be called, that doesn't have at least one person that everyone knows is a right arsehole.

The first sign of trouble most people get, be it they had their home broken into, car stolen, assaulted, robbed, in an accident. First port of call is normally the Gardaí, so how someone can not respect a body that they call upon in their time of need just makes no sense.

I respect them and have no problem saying it, any dealings that I have needed the Gardaí be it with the job that I do or anything else, if you treat them with respect, You will get respect in return. The men and women of the Gardaí are only human after all.

Pace2008

Gardaí are alright for the most part.

Thing is, their job is essentially to be a professional killbuzz, so they're never really going to be that well-liked.

biko

I've never had any issues with them. Caught for speeding and a few traffic offences but they've always been courteous and civil.
Might be some bad apples, in fact I'm sure of it, but in my experience they do a hard job and don't get enough credit for it (same goes for hospital staff and firemen).

In essence, respect them and they will respect you.

prinz

If you have no respect for the Gardaí just take a second and think about who it was had to go into those two houses yesterday. Who it was had to go to inform the mother in Cork. Who it is everytime there is someone killed on the road who has to go break the news... and that's before you get around to dealing with the scummiest elements of our society.

Mint Sauce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16u0wwCfoJ4

Kotek Besar

Mainly, they're simpletons.

e.g.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YwQ9mRyBjc

RedXIV

My dad is retiring next month from 30 years in the guards so of course I'll have respect. Having known ALOT of guards in my life, the VAST majority are dead on, really nice people. I did meet one guard on a power trip as she made me and 12 other guys stand at a wall in the city centre to give out about someone kicking a bottle when it was none of us

But as said, not every guard will be good but the 99% I've dealt with, i'd happily deal with again

Pace2008

Turtyturd wrote: »

As someone pointed out in another thread. I respect the Laws, not so much those that enforce them.

I'd be kinda the opposite. I disagree with many aspects of the law but appreciate the guards are just doing their duty in enforcing them.

We had a lovely half ounce of weed taken off us by a plain-clothes Garda at a festival last summer. I think the law in this instance is retarded, but the copper was just doing his job by being a party pooper.

MagicSean

Kotek Besar wrote: »

Mainly, they're simpletons.

Don't confuse being simple with keeping things simple.

TouchingVirus

prinz wrote: »

If you have no respect for the Gardaí just take a second and think about who it was had to go into those two houses yesterday. Who it was had to go to inform the mother in Cork. Who it is everytime there is someone killed on the road who has to go break the news... and that's before you get around to dealing with the scummiest elements of our society.

This.

I have nothing but the utmost respect for them and the job they do. I wouldn't do it, even if the wages were doubled (probably :pac:). I feel pretty much the same for all the frontline staff - ambulance operators, nurses, firemen etc

Wompa1

Respect for the most part but have had a few unpleasent experiences. Most notably finding a guy passed out drunk, bringing him into the Gardai and getting told it's not a party and physically shoved out the door, followed by getting threatend with arrest if I didn't leave.

dangerousdavem

tempura wrote: »

Only if they're taller and older then me.

All the new guards are little and about 12 so its hard to take them seriously.

And some, dare i say it, are a little overweight, ar'nt they supposed to be fit as a fiddle ?

A little overweight? Some of them are obese!

I was in abrakebabra one evening and i saw two guards come in and order food and sign for it. They had an account there! How can you respect overweight guards that are meant to be fit and healthy?

MagicSean

Wompa1 wrote: »

Respect for the most part but have had a few unpleasent experiences. Most notably finding a guy passed out drunk, bringing him into the Gardai and getting told it's not a party and physically shoved out the door, followed by getting threatend with arrest if I didn't leave.

Why did you bring him to the Garda station? To have him arrested?

MagicSean

dangerousdavem wrote: »

A little overweight? Some of them are obese!

I was in abrakebabra one evening and i saw two guards come in and order food and sign for it. They had an account there! How can you respect overweight guards that are meant to be fit and healthy?

The accounts are for prisoner meals.

Denerick

The only people who don't are intellectual dwarfs incapable of looking beyond their own silly radical fantasies.

ejmaztec

I've got more respect for Guards than I have for journalists, but not much more.

Pyr0

For the people that don't respect the Guards, who is it you call if someone was to break into your home and steal your possessions and threaten your family or attack a loved one on the street? The A Team?

ejmaztec

Pyr0 wrote: »

For the people that don't respect the Guards, who is it you call if someone was to break into your home and steal your possessions and threaten your family or attack a loved one on the street? The A Team?

I'd call the insurance man, at least I'd get a result.

Lab_Mouse

Mainly yes.

Have met more a$$hole guards than not,but the nice ones and the ones that do there job right and manage to be polite about it make up for the muppets.

bladespin

Certainly do, haven't met a bad one yet, the attitude I can understand and it usually disappears after the first exchange of words.

Lupine

I know quite a few guards and they vary from nice to unpleasant, smart to stupid and street wise to sesame street smart. I feel the sesame street Gardaì cause more problems than they fix.
I respect them even though some of them are idiots. My respect comes from the crap they have to put with and I won’t be able to do their job.

paky

i use to respect the guards but not anymore. there heavy handedness at the student protests, the shell to sea and the corrupt government they back are all reasons why i dislike them.

SeaFields

If you're acting the bollocks you'll be treated as such but if your the victim or in need of a service they are, by and large with some exceptions, grand to deal with.

biko

I don't think they "back" the government. They are civil servants and must do what ordered.

lyndonjones

Pyr0 wrote: »

For the people that don't respect the Guards, who is it you call if someone was to break into your home and steal your possessions and threaten your family or attack a loved one on the street? The A Team?

Yep my brother had a break-in

Called the Gardai and they arrived - 3 hours later

Took details

and then








Nothing!!

Cookie_Monster

Its hard to respect them in the fact that they seem to be happy to simply do the job despite knowing the entire system is broken in so many ways. Yes, its not the fault of the Gardai but of the Gov / Dept of Justice, courts systems, but they seem happier to plod along within an obviously broken system and not get vocal about it at all unless it affect their pay and perks.

This is further reflected in the complete un-willingness of the Gardai to deal with the likes of all the junkies on the quays & Luas & petty criminals as they are simply released back on the street an hour later anyway. Low impact but highly visible crime that everyone can see not being dealt with, not a good reflection on the members.

biko

If you don't like the guards call a hippie next time you're in trouble

Keith186

I respect them if they respect me. If they're ego power tripping pricks then no.
Thankfully most of them are ok.

Don Juan DeMagoo

Respect does not imply that you have to like them. I respect them.....
That is all

Don Juan DeMagoo

biko wrote: »

I don't think they "back" the government. They are civil servants and must do what ordered.

They tried to use that excuse in Nuremberg as well, did not work as well as expected:D

jimthemental

Can't respect them, I know that some don't pay car tax etc because they can get away with it by flashing the badge, same with a lot of off duty speeding. They can often get friends and family off.

One local cop we had conned and intimidated my gran out of a fortune when she was a young widow and my dad was starting to take over the family pub. Bastard nearly bankrupted the family. He was still at it when I was a kid but my uncle wouldn't listen to a word out of him.

Other than this anytime there I have come into contact with them I have found them utterly useless and very arrogant and unhelpful. I am a law abiding citizen but I do not have respect for the force in general, but of course I know there are an exceptional few, especially in the sdu and cab.

Rabidlamb

Guards that spend their time doing good community policing, actively deterring crime & anti-social behavior are good.

Unfortunately some seem to think the greatest danger to society is someone not having tax on there car.

Biggins

paky wrote: »

i use to respect the guards but not anymore. there heavy handedness at the student protests, the shell to sea and the corrupt government they back are all reasons why i dislike them.

Now that I don't get.

I can understand (but still respectfully, disagree) those dis-liking the Gardi because they have had the unfortunate occurrence to have a bad experience with them - even if it is at a student protest - fair enough, I can understand that

However to say one dislikes them because "...the corrupt government they back..." shows a complete misunderstanding of their situation.

They are NOT showing a backing of the government.
* They are show a backing of the constitution, your constitution and the laws pertaining to it.
* They are showing they are willing to stand up for those laws that say you get a trial - and not be just thrown into a prison without one at the behest of a sitting power in state.
* They, as they separate you from those you oppose across protesting lines, are showing "Yes, you can still stand there, shout and protest" - do so peacefully according to the laws you, your parents and ancestors occasionally voted for by referendum and/or person who also supports them.

The Gardi in general are an all too easy target for some with chips on their shoulder, personal agendas or the down-right crooked.
They are a bunch of people who are under appreciated, another group of citizens who are treated like political cards to be thrown about, abused and played with by those across the Dail. They are over-burdened with paperwork - instead of being allowed the time to actually do more which they know is necessary - they are under resourced and we hear only of their failings by those baying about them, than we do of their many successes.

I'm proud of our Irish Gardi in the whole, they do a thankless job and even if I was a scumbag, they would still come to the assistance of my brother, sister and parents with a phone call to them by others for the most part.

People may say they do "this" or "that" but they fail to sometimes see, they do things because they are following orders (which they are equally forced to do by constitutional law!) at the request/order of political masters who equally are using state laws to do what we (well some of us that bother our arse to vote) originally voted them in to do!
Blame the right people, not those abusing them and then us!

They might not be perfect - but would the first person that is - please stand up!

Krusader

If the gardaí show me respect, I'll show them respect, it's give and take on both sides

hinault

They've become the revenue collecting division of the Revenue Commissioners, in recent years.

El Horseboxo

I can respect the job that they have to do such as dealing with out and out scum bags daily and being involved with crime scenes etc. But i have had too many bad experiences with the Gardaí and witnessed their complete lack of respect at times to respect them on a whole. I've lived in the US and been all over the world and deal with law enforcement around the world in my line of work. And i must say most have been a joy to be involved with or need in times of emergency. But a lot of the Gardaí i have come across appear unable to handle the stress of the job. They take it out on the next person which is wrong. They actually appear as a bunch of under trained amatuers in comparison to other countries i work with. Obviously not all but from the ones i have needed to be involved with.

strobe

I decide my level of respect on a Garda by Garda basis. There is nothing about having a C3 in foundation level Irish and an ugly uniform that should grant someone instant respect. That's just silly. Stop being silly.

flyton5

*Garda voice*


What's all this lads?