I've been shooting this around in the cbox a lot, thought I should bring it up here for discussion before dropping it IC.

I don't really think that police brutality against visible mutants should be anything new.

I mean, Gina's situation definitely brings a lot of new things to the table. Police brutality against mutants definitely won't have been a viral video before, for instance. And I'm thinking all past instances of "brutality" would have been close to justifiable, where Gina's case clearly isn't.

IRL, police harassment/brutality is already an issue in the poorer parts of the US, but you don't see it discussed very often. That's because it's usually pretty close to being justifiable. The police will often stop somebody, usually a member of a minority in a poor area (i.e. "likely gang member" in the cops' minds) and start questioning them, searching them, et cetera. Thanks to a few nuances in the law, this is usually a legal (barely legal, but still legal) kind of search. But the people getting harassed don't appreciate it, and if they make a sudden move or respond too aggressively, the police can do a lot to 'keep them under control.' And we tend not to hear about these situations very often because it's usually a lawful use of force in the eyes of the law, and the people on the receiving end were being fairly belligerent, and definitely not following the 10 rules for dealing with police. (incidentally that video gave me a load of muse for this plot. And the Sanctuary should totally hold a class like that~)

In the Brooklyn of the MROverse, visible mutants are a numerous minority, and they're likely to be part of a gang that deals with M, statistically speaking. So the NYPD would probably harass them a lot, especially considering the past relationship between mutants and law enforcement. And the RL NYPD has a history of overreacting to sudden moves, especially from members of minorities typically associated with gangs.

So it's fairly likely that this won't be the first time the police have harassed or even attacked a mutant. It's also likely that these situations wouldn't have made a big splash in the news.

This all said, do you think it would be acceptable for me to make references to police harassing or even assaulting mutants before Gina, without getting her level of news coverage?

Personally I think it would be fine. I think Gina's should definitely overshadow any other (past) incidences. That's probably obvious though since it is such a strong reaction due to what happened and how much coverage it has gotten. As from past incidences, if they're relatively small or 'justifiable'/fuzzy, then I don't see a problem with it myself and it wouldn't change how much impact Gina's assault has on the plot and the MRO verse.

I personally know how police can be more...aggressive....than necessary. I've had it happen to me for no reason. I have a Native American friend who broke up a fight between two others (without violence), was roughly dropped the ground, handcuffed, then pulled up by the cuffs, similar treatment to the two who did fight. Witnesses told the police he wasn't involved, he said to the officer, 'Stop being an ass.' because the other two were also being very roughly handled. He got his head slammed into the trunk of the squad car, and he was charged with 3rd degree assault against the officer, just for calling him an ass.

We've all heard of it happening, we know it does happen IRL, we've seen the few videos that have gotten out or were bad enough to get a small bit of coverage. So for it to not have happened in MRO's past is strange. And with the history between the NYPD and Mutants, it would be even more strange if it never happened, or if no stories (whether proved true or not) were known.

hymn is open for suggestions in this plot. She probably wouldn't see the video

Howdy party people!

So's I got some scenarios for y'all city slickers to pop yer characters in to, hope you don't mind.

Scenario 1: A couples scenario~ You and your date are about to go to a nice family owned restaurant; you've heard it's very good, but when you walk in, everyone looks at your funny. Why, pray tell? The waiter points to a "no mutants" sign on the door. They're polite, but insistent you leave; how do you respond? Note: This needs either a visible mutant, or an open display of ability.

Scenario 2: You are walking down the street, when you see a group of mutants harassing what appears to be a human; it doesn't seem as if he's done anything to provoke it. Do you help him? Do you join in and turn simple harassment into assault?

Scenario 3: For this one we need a human, or human looking mutant: The order wants to play whack the pinata with someone, and put the video on the internet: I know some people were interested, and your characters would not be harmed permanently; though if you'd like they can be hospitalized for a few days; the police will break it up, or if and good guy wants to step in, yay! The internet thing is an important note, though you may have your character's face blacked out in the video if you don't want a spectacle made of them.

Scenario 4: One of the police men has been identified, and his home address leaked on an obscure blog. Do you go and investigate? If you do you'll end up with a nasty surprise. (Read: ITS A TRAP!)

Scenario 5: This is for X-men or NYPD officers: A mutant in the form of gigantic cat is blocking an intersection in the middle of the city: People are getting mad; You don't want to hurt the mutant, but you have to find a way to move him. Good luck with that(unless you're a seven foot tall red guy.. HAX!).

Scenario 6: Order members, we don't want this attack to fade into obscurity... a good way to make sure it doesn't? How does a covert mission to make the video run in all of the screens at time square sound?

Other ideas: If you're an X-man, or an NYPD officer... try making threads in which you help mutants(NYPD) , or humans (X-men). This might work to help mend the wounds between the two.

Order members: Do what you do, you're very good at it.

Remember, these are just suggestions! I'll be C-box promoting them as well~ Also, post in this thread if you are looking to jump to the next phase! Once it looks like people want to step forward, we can progress~

Dec 15, 2012 4:51:25 GMT -6 Doc said:

Scenario 3: For this one we need a human, or human looking mutant: The order wants to play whack the pinata with someone, and put the video on the internet: I know some people were interested, and your characters would not be harmed permanently; though if you'd like they can be hospitalized for a few days; the police will break it up, or if and good guy wants to step in, yay! The internet thing is an important note, though you may have your character's face blacked out in the video if you don't want a spectacle made of them.

I think that this scenario is an extremely bad idea for the Order, actually. Beating the crap out of humans is all well and good when they deserve it (and they usually do), but posting the video online? What could the Order possibly hope to gain by making a video of a bunch of mutants beating up a human? If anything, such a video would only serve to demoralize all the rioters they have on their side, and give the media ammunition against them.

I'm not saying such a video shouldn't exist, but it should be created by either A) some psychopath / idiot whom the Order should promptly try to eliminate for ruining their movement, or B) somebody clever who's trying to destroy any legitimacy the Order's movement might have. And when the Order eliminates them, they should do it publicly, as a way of making it clear that "these people are not us."

ALSO, I started learning a lot about activism this semester, by being a part of it. And when I read about no-mutants-allowed restaurants in scenario 1, I came up with an awesome idea that incorporates some of what I learned in the activist community. So I'm going to make a request thread about that right now.

Also also, you're awesome, Roach.

But isn't that also assuming everyone in the Order is on the same page? It doesn't seem farfetched that a member of the order could think a show of force would be the right idea and do such independently and in the name of the movement as a whole. Not everyone involved might be as conscious of what is a good or bad idea and see this as an assertion of dominance.

Ok, hope I'm not slapping the NEWB card on my forehead with this, but I did have a question about just the overall dynamics of the city during this time. There is police and mutant tension, but how do the police themselves handle this? There is obviously some problems that have developed trying to control mutants and protect citizens, does the Riots increase this at all?

For example, there are quite a few characters who cause just basic 'mischief' and have pretty much gotten away with it up to this point. ((such as my own...)) Do you think the police would try to buckle down on this behavior more, and blow things out of proportion? *For instance, the reason Gina got so injured started with a misunderstanding as they tried to capture a mutant criminal.* Are the police actively pursuing mutants? *do we have a mutants most wanted? o.O*

In response to Chrys:
You're right, and I'm raising my hand up for Aurion since that is pretty much exactly what he would/will do. But he would not, has not, told anyone he's Order, except other Order members (dur, haha), and he would not record it to put it online. I think that is those are the differences that matter.

Tses:
I don't think that's a newb question at all. While I think of of our NYPD characters/players would know better than I, I would think they'd tighten down on their people and their actions. The whole of the NYPD could be looking to the MRC (Mutant Related Crimes) for some tips and pointers, maybe they are actually following what the MRC says to do.

For myself:
Going off the largest estimate, in the canon universe, before M-Day, there were 500,000 mutants worldwide. Compared to the 8billion humans that is 1/16000 or 0.0000625. I'm guessing the number in the MRO verse is similar. Of course mutants have beaten and killed humans. But when has the mutant race put humans into concentration camps? Taken them from their homes forcibly, destroyed their lives, beaten them on a daily basis, starved them, locked collars on them that caused them pain, sometimes on a constant level?

I know the Registration Plot was over years ago, but some of that video could surface now. With how low the mutant population is compared to humans, beating a mutant is like beating up a member of an endangered species. If a video pops up of a mutant beating up a human, I think the counter to that would be to post a video reminding humans what they have done to mutant kind.

I was just thinking that would be another interesting element to add. While there is quite a bit of violence it would be interesting to see if police activity included arrests as well and how other mutants respond.

@aurion: Can't say Aurion's plan of action surprises me And I did think of him almost immediately, though not as the one who would think of taping/posting it. (If anything, I could think of a member or two who I could see tacking that idea on, but for Aurion himself, I don't think the idea would enter his head. I really expected "anger beating" rather than "send a message.")

Haha yes. Definitely anger beatings/killings, but in his subconscious it would also be a message, 'Hurt a mutant I will kill you'. So not very wide reaching or for the betterment of mutant-kind, just revenge, hehe.

Saph, you're awesome. <3

Is anyone interested in playing out Scenario Two? I think Alice would (reluctantly) help the human after some moral questioning, as she still has issues with being a mutant. If anyone wants to help her, or perhaps help the other mutants, or something else that would fit in the scenario, please let me know~

@tses, I actually quite like the idea of the NYPD freaking out and tightening their reins. Perhaps there is a sudden spike in mutant crime in reaction to the video? And the police start becoming agitated, arresting anyone for anything, especially if they are a mutant... And maybe some conflict within the NYPD? I could see human cops and the MRC division clashing over right and wrong, possible discrimination, etc. And we do have a "Most Wanted" list if you click on the NYPD tab.

I think the Order would be best served if the situation got worse; as is, tension is high on the mutant side of things, yes, but the humans would be relatively the same in viewpoint. Most humans might even support the mutants.

That's not ideal. With things leaning on the mutant's side, this could all blow over... But, if everyone is divided, it can become something much bigger. That will, at least, be Roach's thought process as he orders people to, while in disguise, assault an innocent bystander and places it online.

I think this plot served best if the populace is split down the middle, and that particular scenario would be a great vehicle for that. That said, whether or not it happens depends on you guys~ These are only suggested scenarios.

Shammy's Reaction to the video Fears Confirmed!

A Time For Syn Syn views the video from her room and decides something WILL be done.