Self Policing - What does it mean?
Tue, 08/02/2011 - 13:09
There is a lot of talk about self policing, but I think it may have several meanings.
I think if self-policing as a combination of:
1) Educaton - beach rules, courtesy etc. should be available online, and via pamphlets, signage
2) Field Judgement - I think kiters should take the burden of knowing and interpreting the rules
3) Warnings - I think kiters should take the burden of approaching any offenders and educating them politely, and let them know that we will turn them in
4) Enforcement - when an offender won't listen, I think we should ask authorities to remove them, if there are authorities that will take that job.
The Vermont kiters on Lake Champlain have a deal where any kiter can complain about any other kiter, and the ranger can and usually does remove them under a vague statute about safe behaviour. Usaully a group of kiters complain about a single kiter. Abuse of this loose arrangement has not been a problem for them.
I suspect there are those who think self-policing means no authorities, ever.
Phil pointed out that there are those among us who will not follow the rules no matter how many times they are approached by a fellow kiter with no authority. Read any forum, and you will find the same thing-those who feel entitled by their seniority in the sport, those who question the authority of the person approaching them, and those who are just immature.
So I am asking, what does self policing mean to you? What do you recommend to minimize our burden on the authorities while making sure the bad actors are identified and encouraged to conform?
Please refrain from the obvious immature answers; I am looking for actionable answers to help support JimmyC in his efforts to help restore and maintain access to Hardings. Suggestions of vigilantism will not help.
W
Tue, 08/02/2011 - 20:44
#1
My thoughts
Waller,
What does kiting self-policing mean to me?
For me this means being prepared to act and then acting when I observe kiting behavior that I think should change.
By being prepared I mean:
Educating my self on the rules and regulations kiting is subject to in general and at a specific location.
Educating my self on what and how dangerous kiting situations can develop.
Educating my self on what kiters generally consider acceptable behavior.
By action I mean:
Speaking to others on the beach or on the water to see if they are as uncomfortable with the behavior as I am. (I subscribe to the notion that groups make better judgments than individuals).
Speaking to people whose behavior I think should change.
Escalting to other ways of stopping the behavior and/or involving authorities if there is a collective judgement that there is a high risk of innocent people getting injured if the behavior continues.
What do you recommend to minimize our burden on the authorities while making sure the bad actors are identified and encouraged to conform?
I think threat of exclusion from the kiting community may be the best motivator to change behavior. I suspect kiting is not a lot of fun if you believe the kiters on the beach don't want to socialize with you and don't want you there.
PS: I Googled "self-policing". The search results made me twitch