I don't know what to say .....

i see no wrong in the hate crime being dropped. especially with the added counts. this makes sense.

I'm just happy these guys got pinched. At this point, that in itself is a triumph.

I think hate crime legislation is stupid.

Why should it matter your motivation for beating someone? Isn't the fact that you beat someone the crime itself?

An absurd example: if SDM set fire to IHOP, should be be charged with both arson and a hate crime?

No, he should get a medal for making the world a better place.

If it was the other way around it would be labeled a hate crime .

Do you mean if IHOP had set fire to sdm?

That just doesn't make any sense.

Whoa is the plight of the white man.

You do realize that the victim of this assault, a Penn student, actually wrote a piece in the school newspaper in which he said that even he (the actual VICTIM) didn't think this was a hate crime?

and haven't we all fantasized about doing that?

i can't find the article, but wasn't there a discrepancy over whether racial slurs were used? the penn kid said he hadn't hear any, but the can driver had?

Have you had their Flaming Chili Omelet?

I like the idea of calling Philadelphia's taxis "cans".

Strangely it does. It wouldn't be the first time my anti-pancake views have elicited threats of violence.

You MUST watch this video:

Actually, that video sucked. But you had to watch it was because it led to this:

And THAT is why the internet was invented.

Same here. They certainly get hostile over it, Sheesh, it's not like we said "your baby is ugly" or "use some deodorant." It's just that we don't like pancakes.

I'll start a support group. "Pancake Haters Anonymous," "Flapjack Resistance Front," "Occupy Batter," whatever. You are not alone!

Well, ok...point taken. The word still suffers from its association with those things, though.

I did.

And I'm glad I don't have any 'zany' friends like this. I'll bet he goes on a shooting rampage in a Sam's Club someday.

The Penn student also said he "jogged" down the block. If he merely jogged down the block while the assault was happening, he wouldnt have gotten away. The cabbie came to his aid and he ran away, leaving the cabbie by himself. He is a coward. He also complained that no one came to his assistance. He was a white person being beaten by a group of black teens, of course the other (black) people around the area werent going to come to his defense. They probably had their camera phones out recording a video of it so they could post it to worldstarhiphop.com so they could all get a good laugh about it. Lets just call these "flash mobs" what they are, groups of blacks robbing and assaulting white people.

a) Yes, because the thing to do would have been to stay there while outnumbered by people beating on him and try to do something. Ah, the tough guy rhetoric never dies in good ol' Fishtown.

b) He also said that he turned back to make sure the cabby was okay and that he saw him get in his cab and drive away.

c) Racism racism racism...blah blah blah...racism racism.

d) When did three people constitute a flash mob?

He got out of dodge as fast as possible. He couldnt have cared less about the cabbie. He claims to have seem him drive away, but the article makes no mention of the cab driving away, just that the cabbie hailed down a cop. He didnt bother to call the cops because he personally wasnt bleeding and the cabbie drove away. Did he know the condition of the cabbie? He ran because he was punched and he thought they had a weapon, but didnt call the cops because he got away? Seems like a real stand up guy.

I call things as I see them. The mayor and police commissioner both stated that it was young black teens committing these "mob attacks". Is it a coincidence that the vast majority of the victims are white? I certainly do not think so. Perhaps if, God forbid, something similar happens to you or someone close to you, your opinion may change.

Not too long after moving to Fishtown, my partner was viciously beaten and kicked by four white teens in an act of senseless, pointless violence. He wasn't even robbed. Apparently, they did this simply as 'sport.'

Should it have permanently altered my view of white people, especially those in Fishtown?

i personally know multiple people with very similar stories.

if this ever happens to any one else, you can let them know that we have extra baseballs, gloves, soccer balls, etc etc... i mean, if they are looking for a new "sport," that is.

I am sorry that happened. I believe those in this cab attack should have been charged with a hate crime. I do not think it is coincidental that the victim was white and the accused are black. It does not change my opinion of a whole race of people because of this incident.

Were those that attacked your partner ever caught? Were they charged with a hate crime? Do you think they should have been when/if caught? Do you think his sexual orientation played a role in the attack? You do not have to answer, I am just curious.

They were never caught (at least for that specific incident). I can't say there was ANY defining 'reason' for any of it, aside from baseline stupidity and their desire to get a sick thrill from beating a random stranger senseless. As such, I can't classify it a 'hate crime' in my understanding of the term. It could have been anyone at that moment---and I'm sure they did the same to others who may not have fit the same profile.

Had it been ONE of them, Hector was more than capable of sending them home with something broken or even to the hospital. But of course cowards travel in packs.

In any regard, my point was simply that I think it's a slippery slope to attach broad racial implications to isolated incidents. Some folks are just violent, moronic cretins regardless of their color or where they grew up. As true in Fishtown as it is in Juniata.

I think I would have done the same, despite knowing the "sensible" thing to do. We can't just bury that part of us---the instinct to help---without something essential dying inside, I believe.

Good for you. And glad you were ok!