The Off Topic Topic

[jimmy olsen]

It's tired because it is what home owners say all the time. OMG, you pay how much to rent a 1-bedroom, where? My mortgage isn't even that much?

Well, it's counter-intuitive, people expect to pay more to buy then to rent.

[DGuller]

It's tired because it is what home owners say all the time. OMG, you pay how much to rent a 1-bedroom, where? My mortgage isn't even that much?

Well, it's counter-intuitive, people expect to pay more to buy then to rent.

It's counter-intuitive partly because it's always apples to oranges comparison.  There are many financial differences between renting and buying, not just your monthly payments, and you typically rent in nicer places than you buy in.

[garbon]

It's tired because it is what home owners say all the time. OMG, you pay how much to rent a 1-bedroom, where? My mortgage isn't even that much?

Well, it's counter-intuitive, people expect to pay more to buy then to rent.

It's counter-intuitive partly because it's always apples to oranges comparison.  There are many financial differences between renting and buying, not just your monthly payments, and you typically rent in nicer places than you buy in.

[derspiess]

How do you die of asphyxiation while "resisting arrest"?

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Disabled-mans-death-in-custody-ruled-homicide--191499911.html

He was morbidly obese and had Down's Syndrome.  From what I read last week (?) the cops had him cuffed and lying face down on the floor for a few minutes (don't recall what they were waiting for), apparently not aware that he was struggling to breathe.  By the time they realized something was wrong it was too late. 

Very sad, unfortunate incident but I'm not sure I understand how it can be called a homicide.

[Grey Fox]

Because they cuffed him.

[Syt]

Read the background to the story when it originally broke. Seems he was a big fan of cops and law enforcement, being a well known figure at his local PD for his interest in their work.

[derspiess]

Because they cuffed him.

Not sufficient.

[Grey Fox]

Because they cuffed him.

Not sufficient.

I disagree, dieing after the cops cuffed you makes it their fault.

[Barrister]

How do you die of asphyxiation while "resisting arrest"?

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Disabled-mans-death-in-custody-ruled-homicide--191499911.html

He was morbidly obese and had Down's Syndrome.  From what I read last week (?) the cops had him cuffed and lying face down on the floor for a few minutes (don't recall what they were waiting for), apparently not aware that he was struggling to breathe.  By the time they realized something was wrong it was too late. 

Very sad, unfortunate incident but I'm not sure I understand how it can be called a homicide.

Homicide is defined (in Canada, but I think it's fairly standard) as "A person commits homicide when, directly or indirectly, by any means, he causes the death of a human being".

So calling it a homicide is correct, and not a big deal.

The bigger question is whether it is a culpable homicide or not.  and this doesn't sound like a culpable homicide.

[derspiess]

Fine, whatever.

[Barrister]

Fine, whatever.

Words matter.

[derspiess]

I just have a problem with how it sounds.  To me, homicide normally implies a bit more than what happened here. 

[PDH]

Well what would you call it, just a "cide" ?

[derspiess]

[Barrister]

I just have a problem with how it sounds.  To me, homicide normally implies a bit more than what happened here.

That's because you're not a lawyer.   

The term "homicide" implies exactly what happened here.  The actions of the cop led to this man's death.  The question is then one of culpability.