An Garda Siochana - Do you respect them?

MagicSean · 17-11-2010 05:34PM

Ush1 wrote: »

Kind of strange this idea of respect.....applied to ANY profession really.

Is it elitism? The Gardai are not the most intelligent or gifted amongst us.

Should we have a thread asking McDonalds employees - Do you respect them?

But Gardaí are given more power than any other profession.

blackbird98 · 17-11-2010 05:37PM

for the majority of them yes, as with any job, ther are a few ass*oles.

They have a tough job to do, and without respect from the public, it would be a lot tougher, after all, they are there for our benefit

Ush1 · 17-11-2010 05:41PM

k_mac wrote: »

But Gardaí are given more power than any other profession.

Why should you respect someone any more or less because of the supposed power they wield?

MagicSean · 17-11-2010 05:46PM

Ush1 wrote: »

Why should you respect someone any more or less because of the supposed power they wield?

I'm not saying you should. I'm suggesting the difference between them and a McDonalds worker.

Ush1 · 17-11-2010 05:51PM

k_mac wrote: »

I'm not saying you should. I'm suggesting the difference between them and a McDonalds worker.

Umm, okay? I respect the McDonalds worker as much as I respect a Garda. It's just a profession, with individuals therein.

ToxicPaddy · 17-11-2010 05:57PM

A tough job to do, unfortunately the number of them who are developing attitude problems seems to be growing..

Still have respect for them majority of the force, its a tough thankless job and I will always be courteous, mannerly and respectful when dealing with any member of an Garda Siochana unless they give me reason not to be.

Tox

travelguru · 17-11-2010 06:10PM

lyndonjones wrote: »

Yep my brother had a break-in

Called the Gardai and they arrived - 3 hours later

Took details

and then

Nothing!!

If we could take the law into our own hands, we would not need to call the thick ****s!

seamus · 17-11-2010 06:19PM

Ush1 wrote: »

Umm, okay? I respect the McDonalds worker as much as I respect a Garda. It's just a profession, with individuals therein.

I see.

How many McDonalds workers would be willing to chase down two armed criminals, without any weapons, body armour or backup, in the name of their "profession"?

How many of them would have the mental strength to knock on a parents' door, telling them that their child has been killed in a road accident, and then walk off again and finish the rest of their shift?

It's a profession, sure. It's a job, absolutely. But it's not a cushy one. They put up with ridiculous amounts of abuse, physical and verbal from the dirtiest of the dirt, people who see no shame in taking a ****e in their own hands and flinging it at Gardai. People who would stab you in the neck, piss on you while you bleed on the ground and then walk away laughing and joking. The Gardai deal with this stuff all day, every day, so you don't have to.

If you're under the impression that Gardai are just your common everyday workers in a different uniform, then clearly the Gardai have been doing their jobs fantastically by shielding you from the harsh reality that is the every day world. Without the Gardai present, by Christ you would know exactly what it is to have to deal with lawless animals.

Jaysus, if I had some privileged little student hippie giving out that, "I know my roysh, roysh, you're no better than a burger-flipper", then fnck it, I would treat them like a jumped-up little prick too and stand there quizzing them at the side of the road for an hour, just to piss them off.

Ush1 · 17-11-2010 06:29PM

seamus wrote: »

I see.

How many McDonalds workers would be willing to chase down two armed criminals, without any weapons, body armour or backup, in the name of their "profession"?

How many of them would have the mental strength to knock on a parents' door, telling them that their child has been killed in a road accident, and then walk off again and finish the rest of their shift?

It's a profession, sure. It's a job, absolutely. But it's not a cushy one. They put up with ridiculous amounts of abuse, physical and verbal from the dirtiest of the dirt, people who see no shame in taking a ****e in their own hands and flinging it at Gardai. People who would stab you in the neck, piss on you while you bleed on the ground and then walk away laughing and joking. The Gardai deal with this stuff all day, every day, so you don't have to.

If you're under the impression that Gardai are just your common everyday workers in a different uniform, then clearly the Gardai have been doing their jobs fantastically by shielding you from the harsh reality that is the every day world. Without the Gardai present, by Christ you would know exactly what it is to have to deal with lawless animals.

Jaysus, if I had some privileged little student hippie giving out that, "I know my roysh, roysh, you're no better than a burger-flipper", then fnck it, I would treat them like a jumped-up little prick too and stand there quizzing them at the side of the road for an hour, just to piss them off.

The Gardai choose to do this job, some take their job very seriously and take pride in it, others don't. I can guarantee this. The problem is you are seeing it as just an organisation and not individuals.

I'm not a student, not that's anyway relevant at all and "you're no better than a burger flipper". I see you have great respect for people who take alot of sh*t in thier job.

Look, I can do this aswell.

If I had some jumped up little twat in a suit telling me you're just a burger flipper, so are entitled to less respect, I'd probably want to spit in your burger.

K-9 · 17-11-2010 06:37PM

Haters goin ta Hate.

seamus · 17-11-2010 06:40PM

Ush1 wrote: »

The Gardai choose to do this job, some take their job very seriously and take pride in it, others don't. I can guarantee this. The problem is you are seeing it as just an organisation and not individuals.

I don't doubt it at all. But I treat people with a level of respect appropriate to what they deserve.

Your McDonalds worker, he's a human being. So he deserves a base level of respect, as does anyone else who has otherwise not done anything to lose my respect. If he's had a crap day, well how bad could it be - someone shouted at him, maybe threw a coke over him (at worst). So regardless, I would still expect him to smile at me like he's never seen a person before, ask me what I would like and be nice about it.

But the Garda (and EMT and Fireman) puts up with things, for money, that most of us wouldn't tolerate for all the money in the world. Things which most of us will never have to do, the Gardai do on a weekly or even daily basis. So I'm not going to have a fit when I don't get a smile, when he's curt or otherwise seems to be pissed off and angry. Why? Because he has a genuine, justifiable reason to be so, half of the time. Instead, *I'm* the one who's going to make the effort to smile, be nice and make his day that tiny bit easier because he's the one who takes all the ****e so that I don't have to.
To put it another way - society would survive without the McDonalds workers, without the suits and dancers and the economists and the builders and the passport office workers.

But we would be completely screwed without our emergency services.

I used to think like you - "Sure, I could be a Garda if I wanted to, why do they deserve any more respect for doing something that I can do?". The key here is that I *don't* do it. And until you are actually that person who stands in the firing line for your fellow citizens, then you should hold those who do in the utmost respect possible.

You can lose your respect for an individual Garda, sure. They're not all rosy. But you shouldn't treat them all as plebs and uniformed monkeys just because of the actions of a few idiots.

Ush1 · 17-11-2010 06:57PM

seamus wrote: »

I don't doubt it at all. But I treat people with a level of respect appropriate to what they deserve.

Your McDonalds worker, he's a human being. So he deserves a base level of respect, as does anyone else who has otherwise not done anything to lose my respect. If he's had a crap day, well how bad could it be - someone shouted at him, maybe threw a coke over him (at worst). So regardless, I would still expect him to smile at me like he's never seen a person before, ask me what I would like and be nice about it.

But the Garda (and EMT and Fireman) puts up with things, for money, that most of us wouldn't tolerate for all the money in the world. Things which most of us will never have to do, the Gardai do on a weekly or even daily basis. So I'm not going to have a fit when I don't get a smile, when he's curt or otherwise seems to be pissed off and angry. Why? Because he has a genuine, justifiable reason to be so, half of the time. Instead, *I'm* the one who's going to make the effort to smile, be nice and make his day that tiny bit easier because he's the one who takes all the ****e so that I don't have to.
To put it another way - society would survive without the McDonalds workers, without the suits and dancers and the economists and the builders and the passport office workers.

But we would be completely screwed without our emergency services.

I used to think like you - "Sure, I could be a Garda if I wanted to, why do they deserve any more respect for doing something that I can do?". The key here is that I *don't* do it. And until you are actually that person who stands in the firing line for your fellow citizens, then you should hold those who do in the utmost respect possible.

You can lose your respect for an individual Garda, sure. They're not all rosy. But you shouldn't treat them all as plebs and uniformed monkeys just because of the actions of a few idiots.

Listen, you're throwing in too many straw men that the arguement doesn't need.

You didn't used to think like me because I never thought like that.

You inadvertantly hit the nail on the head. Everyone deserves a base level of respect regardless, then you go on a person by person basis.

Dressing up the Gardai as all superheroes will only get you laughed at. Gardai who do their jobs outstandingly are totally to be admired. They actually needed my help before with a case and I was with a few detectives and I can tell you they were excellent at their job. Very dedicated and by the way, spent about 90 percent of their time behind a desk. That's what most of the VERY best Gardai do.

On the flip side, I know one Garda who joined for the paycheck, tries to avoid hard work and is a total racist to boot.

And about the McDonalds worker getting a drink thrown at him, that's probably not the end of his bad day. He might go home to his house owned by the council which he'll never own, to his brothers and sisters with heroin problems, etc...

Respect should be covered across the board, that applies to the people with their noses up and down.

El Horseboxo · 17-11-2010 07:21PM

Why do a lot of people think that you only deal with the guards when breaking the law?

In the Finglas station even asking for a passport form is a fúcking effort and they look quite pissed off that they had to get up and walk to the hatch and then pick up a piece of paper.

stevejr · 17-11-2010 07:25PM

I think this thread seems to have mixed up 2 totally different things- Respect and Courtesy.

I have 100% respect for the JOB the Garda Siochana do, but the GUARD, like everyone else i encounter would not have my automatic respect, just my courtesy. Respect is something that is earned. Courtesy should be a given in dealing with anyone of the human race be they Gardai or not.

RESPECT must be earned.

COURTESY should be given.

Mr Jinx · 17-11-2010 07:32PM

El Horseboxo wrote: »

Why do a lot of people think that you only deal with the guards when breaking the law?

In the Finglas station even asking for a passport form is a fúcking effort and they look quite pissed off that they had to get up and walk to the hatch and then pick up a piece of paper.

did you ask politely? Its not a Garda's job to supply you with Passport forms, but they do. Perhaps you should just be thankful.

Son Of A Vidic · 17-11-2010 07:37PM

They need to earn my respect first, in order to have it first.

Johnny Favourite · 17-11-2010 07:41PM

I respect the garda but have absolutely no respect for your mother

Lab_Mouse · 17-11-2010 07:45PM

yarwood wrote: »

I live mostly in England and the gardai are a disgrace in comparison to the Police Force here. But Ireland deserves a force such as they have, the whole 22 counties are a disgrace so in fact they compliment the country.

Ireland in general has become a disgraceful country in the past 10-15 years so instead of focusing on section of the populace take a look at the picture in general
NOT PRETTY is it

Lol.Stoopid troll.:D

El Horseboxo · 17-11-2010 07:52PM

Mr Jinx wrote: »

did you ask politely? Its not a Garda's job to supply you with Passport forms, but they do. Perhaps you should just be thankful.

No i just shouted, hey you freestate cúnt give me a fúcking passport form you useless wánker.

They have passport forms in their office and yes it is the job of the guard on the desk to hand out a passport form if asked. In conjunction with the passport office they agree to distribute them.

sdanseo · 17-11-2010 07:53PM

Gardaí do a fantastic but difficult job and do it well. Sure there's the odd power hungry prick - but my old manager was a power hungry prick too and he caused me a lot more anguish that a Garda throwing a speeding ticket at me.

Everything in perspective, if someone has a problem with Gardaí, it's usally because they have a problem with authority - meaning the problem is with the hater, not the hated.

Mike 1972 · 17-11-2010 08:09PM

Stupid question.

Like asking do I respect Doctors

kincsem · 17-11-2010 08:19PM

If you live in the third world for a while you will gain an appreciation for our Garda.

MagicSean · 17-11-2010 08:22PM

El Horseboxo wrote: »

No i just shouted, hey you freestate cúnt give me a fúcking passport form you useless wánker.

They have passport forms in their office and yes it is the job of the guard on the desk to hand out a passport form if asked. In conjunction with the passport office they agree to distribute them.

No its not. They don't even have to sign them.

Sporty_Kate · 17-11-2010 08:32PM

seamus wrote: »

I see.

How many McDonalds workers would be willing to chase down two armed criminals, without any weapons, body armour or backup, in the name of their "profession"?

How many of them would have the mental strength to knock on a parents' door, telling them that their child has been killed in a road accident, and then walk off again and finish the rest of their shift?

It's a profession, sure. It's a job, absolutely. But it's not a cushy one. They put up with ridiculous amounts of abuse, physical and verbal from the dirtiest of the dirt, people who see no shame in taking a ****e in their own hands and flinging it at Gardai. People who would stab you in the neck, piss on you while you bleed on the ground and then walk away laughing and joking. The Gardai deal with this stuff all day, every day, so you don't have to.

If you're under the impression that Gardai are just your common everyday workers in a different uniform, then clearly the Gardai have been doing their jobs fantastically by shielding you from the harsh reality that is the every day world. Without the Gardai present, by Christ you would know exactly what it is to have to deal with lawless animals.

Jaysus, if I had some privileged little student hippie giving out that, "I know my roysh, roysh, you're no better than a burger-flipper", then fnck it, I would treat them like a jumped-up little prick too and stand there quizzing them at the side of the road for an hour, just to piss them off.

I totally Agree.... How do i give u a point or somethin like that?

Noone really knows how much work they have to do! What other jobs do you have to go and see car crashs and dead bodys and then go knock on there relatives door and tell them that they are dead! These incidents can be soul destroying for some very senstive people!

thankswhore · 17-11-2010 08:33PM

I respect them but to be honest i think they are ruffians. they attacked me once and i shan't trust them again

amacachi · 17-11-2010 09:06PM

I have no respect for the organisation or for the corruption within it and the special branch right from the base level.
Aside from the corruption, any experience I've had with law enforcement in this country has been an encounter with some or more of semi-literacy, rudeness, ignorance of the rules of the road, incompetence and complete disregard for protocols.

I'm sure there are a few who give a **** and/or are sound, it would be a statistical miracle if there aren't.

almostnever · 17-11-2010 09:10PM

In general I don't really trust them. I've read wayyyy too many cases where they planted evidence or there was some other corruption, and too many of them were disturbingly recent. And bear in mind the cases are obviously only where it's caught. Makes me ever so slightly paranoid.

Obviously there are some good ones and everything but, yeah. I'm a tad skeptical, for the moment anyway.

ETA: Also, in general, it's hard to earn my respect. And impossible for me to respect or disrespect such a large group of people.

El Horseboxo · 17-11-2010 09:14PM

k_mac wrote: »

No its not. They don't even have to sign them.

While they no longer have to certify copies of passports they still have to issue passport forms and sign them. As they are the only authorized authority that can do so. (sign and stamp, not issue forms). I deal with the guards a good few times a month in my job and i asked that before. Sure it even says it on the department of foreign affairs site.

HavingCrack · 17-11-2010 09:30PM

There's lot of good guards out there and I've respect for those ones but there seems to be a very noticeable minority that brings down the whole force through bullying and incompetency (I've experienced the latter 3 times myself, actually the stupidity is far more annoying than any actual bullying). Maybe it's just because of the nature of their job that the bad apples are so noticeable but...I'm not so sure. I've had dealings with civil servants of all stripes and the guards just seem to have a lot more bad ones than other sections.

Bosco boy · 17-11-2010 09:37PM

bonerm wrote: »

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.

I'm sure your a pillar of the community!

An Garda Siochana - Do you respect them?

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