Disturbing video

[Norm]

Okay, now that we’re over the anger phase, let us look at this in a pragmatic manner.

In the 60s, I was stopped by the police over 100 times in a one-year period simply walking to or from work, because of the length of my hair. I was felt up a few times, pulled into the station a few times, twice on dates, and questioned for no reason. Somewhere there is a huge file detailing my comings and goings during that year. I was never charged with a crime. I was ‘arrested’ in the dictionary sense because I was halted by the police and could not leave. In one single night, walking to work, I was stopped by three different patrol cars. When the third stopped me, I told him this was my third time tonight. He said he was sorry, but it was orders. I asked for a ride the rest of the way to work – and he obliged. We had a pleasant chat on the way. I owe a debt of gratitude to the ACLU for suing the city of Philadelphia and putting an end to this constant harassment. I put up no fuss because it would have been pointless. Decades later, a NY judge, during voir dire, apologized to me for the treatment from the bench.

Look, I applaud those that stand up for their rights, and I make noise when I think it is truly useful. I have been doing this lately over copyright infringements, extortion, bullying and slander. But, let’s get serious. What the fuck is a 23 year old card counter purposely putting his face on the Internet for? And, it’s not even a great case. YES, the way he was treated pisses me off, and I’d love to see the casino pay a price. But, he wasn’t bruised and we have no evidence that they didn’t eventually pay him. And there are people stopped and frisked in vast numbers solely due to the way they dress and the color of their skin. There are better cases.

If he sues, I hope he wins, and I hope he wins big. I just don’t think this is the best case to hang our hats on. One must pick one’s battles.

Just my silly opinion.

[Aslan]

Okay, now that we’re over the anger phase, let us look at this in a pragmatic manner.

In the 60s, I was stopped by the police over 100 times in a one-year period simply walking to or from work, because of the length of my hair. I was felt up a few times, pulled into the station a few times, twice on dates, and questioned for no reason. Somewhere there is a huge file detailing my comings and goings during that year. I was never charged with a crime. I was ‘arrested’ in the dictionary sense because I was halted by the police and could not leave. In one single night, walking to work, I was stopped by three different patrol cars. When the third stopped me, I told him this was my third time tonight. He said he was sorry, but it was orders. I asked for a ride the rest of the way to work – and he obliged. We had a pleasant chat on the way. I owe a debt of gratitude to the ACLU for suing the city of Philadelphia and putting an end to this constant harassment. I put up no fuss because it would have been pointless. Decades later, a NY judge, during voir dire, apologized to me for the treatment from the bench.

Look, I applaud those that stand up for their rights, and I make noise when I think it is truly useful. I have been doing this lately over copyright infringements, extortion, bullying and slander. But, let’s get serious. What the fuck is a 23 year old card counter purposely putting his face on the Internet for? And, it’s not even a great case. YES, the way he was treated pisses me off, and I’d love to see the casino pay a price. But, he wasn’t bruised and we have no evidence that they didn’t eventually pay him. And there are people stopped and frisked in vast numbers solely due to the way they dress and the color of their skin. There are better cases.

If he sues, I hope he wins, and I hope he wins big. I just don’t think this is the best case to hang our hats on. One must pick one’s battles.

Just my silly opinion.

It's not silly. Why would a card counter deliberately put his mug all over the Internet so that he is effectively outing himself in every casino across the nation. He must either think he's in for a big payday, which I seriously doubt since there was no glaring defamation of character as in the Grosjean/Griffin case, or he just wants his 15 minutes of fame. Or perhaps, he was just shortsighted, not giving sufficient reflection to what he was doing. Card counting comes so easy nowadays with "how to" books everywhere and systems that require only a modicum of skill, that maybe he under values what he has. I don't think he'll be making much of a living at card counting from now on, if that was ever in his game plan, unless he is a veritable master of disguise.