Cokehead Mother wrote: » This thread is way off topic. It's not about gardaí, it was never about gardaí. This is about the OP's relationship with their friend. Alex (OP) and Melvin (Their friend - and wtf @ the name) have known each other since they were 5, and carnally since they were 14. Recently, the relationship is being strained by Melvin's career and the OP is using this thread as a means to call Melvin a bastard. My advice to the OP is to move on, gurl. He AIN'T gonna change.
Kernel wrote: » Do you have any evidence for this ridiculous claim?
Kernel wrote: » You've ignored all the points raised here and are still proceeding with your clearly biased view on the subject.
Mutz wrote: » Whats the fuss? Its a bit of water and coffe granules. COFFEE! OMFG its a BRIBE! Who's got their camera phone!
Mutz wrote: » LMFAO! You guys have little to be moaning about! Isn't great that all we have to give out about is getting into discos free and getting the odd free cup of coffee!
Mutz wrote: » Whats the fuss? Its a bit of water and coffe granules. COFFEE! OMFG its a BRIBE! Who's got their camera phone! LMFAO! You guys have little to be moaning about! Isn't great that all we have to give out about is getting into discos free and getting the odd free cup of coffee! Imagine living in Russia or the Ukraine where if you look at a cop sideways you get a full blown beating! Off to the ombudsman with you and see what reaction you get! :rolleyes:
colliegG wrote: » Where I work I'm entitled to : A 10% discount in a gift shop across the road. (On production of ID) A cheap haircut in a barber nearby. (On production of ID) Cheaper taxis if called from work. Very cheap parking in a nearby car park. (On production of ID) A 10% discount on sandwiches in a place on Dame St. (On production of ID) A varying discount from a local bakery. Cheap dinner in a place in Temple Bar. (On production of ID) Cheaper access to certain swimming pools, gyms etc. (On production of ID) A well known computer firm is apparently introducing a discount for staff home PCs. Several pubs and niteclubs around here run promotions specifically aimed at the people working for my company. These can involve free entrance or cheaper drinks. I'm not a Garda. Not one of these perks is authorised or funded by our management. They are completely unsolicited and are usually passed around by word of mouth. They're all very real and used by lots of my colleagues every day. They're perks that clever local company's employ to attract people from my company to their business. It probably has something to do with the numbers of us flooding onto the street during the working day. Professionally I have never felt obliged to do anything in return for these businesses except use them more frequently. In fact a sandwich shop beside us used to close when our office was shut at weekends. That's how much our business was worth to them. A good service industry needs to adapt to it's surroundings. If that involves perks for local businesses then that's what will happen. Anyone who'd begrudge a Garda a cup of coffee must never have heard of corporate gifts!
Lola123 wrote: » QFT.... In russia the cops will take get you to pay up or they'll take your passport off you. And the funny thing is.... legally you have to carry yur passport around with you.
GreeBo wrote: » So what you are saying is that these shops give you all these "perks" because they want something from you, i.e your money. Hmmm I wonder what the niteclubs, etc want from the Gards that they are not already getting? Also, (unless Im terribly mistaken) these shops are not: 1) paying your wages 2) organsed by the state and you are not 1) a public body 2) in a position of power
colliegG wrote: » Em actually you'd be mistaken about most of your assumptions but that's not the point.
colliegG wrote: » The point is if I get a discount from a service provider I'm more likely to use that service provider again. I'm also more likely to mention my good experience with that service provider to other people such as friends or family. They will go there and if their experience is also positive, albiet without the discount, they too will mention it to other people and on and on. Thats what is happening with the gardai. It's positive reinforcement to advertise through word of mouth. It really is very basic marketing. If you increase the pool that you offer "perks" to you increase the chance of other non-discounted business arriving.
colliegG wrote: » The fact that the Gardai repeatedly use the same service providers to buy non discounted items shows how effective this tactic is.
If I was arrested after an incident like above and found out that the cops had a "relationship" with the shop Id use it to get any case thrown out of court, same as if the Judge was best mates with the shop keeper.
GreeBo wrote: » I dunno what these Russians are complaining about, in Nigeria the cops cut your arms off. See how pointless that argument is?:rolleyes:
Lola123 wrote: » No, I fail to see how my argument was pointless. I was pointing out that there is a difference between corrupt cops (such as in Russia and Nigeria....thanks for the other example!) and the gardai getting a free sandwich. Have you even gotten anything for free or discounted because of your job? I know I most certainly have.
Sonnenblumen wrote: » What's the big deal about gardai getting little perks, I mean its not uncommon for lots of others, as another poster pointed out. Anyways I'm sure it's an effective way of building closer links, which might be beneficial if assistance was required.
Sonnenblumen wrote: » The whingers will disagree but they're probably most likely peripheral and therefore not relevant.
Sonnenblumen wrote: » More Garda and fewer whingers would make this place a better place.
GreeBo wrote: » Actually it would probably put more companies out of business as fewer people would actually be paying customers.
GreeBo wrote: » Good luck getting all that tar of your brush.
An Citeog wrote: » Em, pot kettle black etc! So it's ok for you and other posters to tar over 10,000 people with the same brush based on anecdotal evidence then?
An Citeog wrote: » As regards prioritising calls, it depends on the seriousness of the incident and the amount of Gardaí available to respond. If it's a simple choice of one over the other, Gardaí will respond to the one that's closest.
GreeBo wrote: » well it is actually, so which am I wrong on? Yes I understand how marketing works thanks. There are far more IT people that Gards, why dont these shops give discounts to IT professionals? But you are still missing the point. In your instance the shop is getting custom from you, if a Gard is let into a nite club for free what is the club getting that they are not getting from me? Why can I not go in for free? I will be buying drinks whereas the guard (as mentioned several times earlier, will not as they are bound to step in during any trouble) You have facts to back this up? Personally I would say they reason they go back is the fact that they keep getting stuff for free... How impartial do you reckon the Gards are towards these "Perk Shops"? If there is in incident between shop A and person B and the Gards are called do you not think there is a slight chance that the guards will be influenced by the fact that shop A gives them their coffee for free everyday? Cant you see how this is wrong? If I was arrested after an incident like above and found out that the cops had a "relationship" with the shop Id use it to get any case thrown out of court, same as if the Judge was best mates with the shop keeper.
GreeBo wrote: » And as part of your job are you supposed to be providing an unbiased, state controlled service to the public? Are you in a position of power over >95% of the public? The reason your argument is pointless is that you are saying it doesnt matter that our cops take back handers because other cops are worse. Im pointing out the small mindedness of that argument as following that logic only the "worst" cops should be dealt with.
GreeBo wrote: » erm yes, I am tarring all the Gards who take backhanders with the same brush, not ALL gards though. Spot the Difference?
GreeBo wrote: So you are honestly telling me that if the Spar and the Centra on Westmoreland St are being attacked and there is only 1 unit available they wont go to the one that doles out the freebies first?
An Citeog wrote: » If you don't like the current situation though, here's where to go: http://www.gardaombudsman.ie/.
An Citeog wrote: » I see what you're saying but I completely disagree. You're questioning the integrity and impartiality of quite a number of Gardaí based on any discounts they may receive. Quite a statement to make without any proof whatsoever to back it up. Can you refer to any previous cases or even any stories you may have heard about such incidents occurring? Btw, referring to free coffee with purchases or discounted meals in restaurants/take-aways close to the station as backhanders is laughable. Obviously I can't tell you definitively because it's a purely hypothetical situation. I don't see how you can make a definitive statement on the matter either. If you don't like the current situation though, here's where to go: http://www.gardaombudsman.ie/.
colliegG wrote: » Oh don't encourage him Citeog
Rob_l wrote: » garda ombudsman has been forwarded a link to this thread FTW
