I don’t want to imply that older systems were superior, just wanted to point out historical alternatives. Saying this beforehand because I noticed that the way I talk makes people think I’m endorsing stuff I’m not.

For most of human history there was no such thing as an institutionalized state police force, and yet law and order existed for millennia. To over simplify, you would have multiple powers that would try to mediate (or fight). As an example, in medieval Europe you’d have a local lord, guilds and the church, all with some form of guards to represent their interests. And you as an individual would likely belong to such a community. Also specifically the church would go out of its way to mediate problems of other people and prevent issues before they arise, both as community building and power projection (obviously).

The police of today are mainly here to protect property and maintain the status quo, they try to act like mediators, but in such conflicts they mainly come to pacify you so someone else can handle you. Personally my main issue is that we pretend like they’re much more than a civil suppression force. Like for some reason cops are still the main way states handle suicidal people, like jesus christ…

The UK police has me pretty freaked out lately too.

I feel your frustration. I especially hate the needlessly confrontational ones. I recently started trying to be less confrontational my self, because I finally realized that it’s fruitless and only leaves me distressed, but somehow tankies still blow up at me.

Recently in a comment under a youtube video I dared to vaguely imply that china is flawed and I got people telling me that “china isn’t a dictatorship” and that I should read “neutral news sources” (as if such a thing exists). I didn’t even say anything! Like bloody hell… I barely mentioned it in passing. But I guess implying any flaw is triggering…

My roommate once came up with a similar idea of a horrific monster always ironing your shirts against your will. You cannot stop it, your shirts will be perfectly ironed and everyone will be in awe at your perfectly ironed shirts. You don’t know where this creature comes from or why it does this, but it’s far too strong to be stopped. IT WILL IRON YOUR SHIRTS!

Aww… You can’t just tease like that and then not say what story it is. Tell us more!

Absolutely perfect! We need more whimsy in life.