Riot police beating up firefighters in France

France: Riot Police Beat up Striking Firefighters as Media Looks the Other Way

Not a good look. Why are the media (in other countries) virtually ignoring what's going on in France? Is it perhaps because the object of protest is the neoliberal reforms that Macron is trying to make? Can't be giving other people ideas, can we?

404?

It's not 'Murca, that's why. No one cares what's going on in Yurp.

There is only so much room in the news cycle. France will have to wait.

I'm citing MR Online here. They're pretty good, but mostly I'm posting it because they have video:

Source: https://mronline.org/2020/01/31/rio...ng-firefighters-as-media-looks-the-other-way/

Source Tweet Video:


Also, Firefighters Setting Themselves on Fire:


Nobody protests like the French. Holy shit!

It's like this guy:

but with health and safety regulations.

Spot, old bean, would you mind putting that gentleman's self immolation under spoiler tags. Not sure what your point is, but I doubt this had anything to do with it.

In case you're curious.

France really brings it come protest/riot time! Torching cars is so they raised the bar to torching themselves! BTw wearing a flame retardant suit only makes it safer...not safe!

Don’t know what media you are following but the French firefighters SETTING THEMSELVES ON FIRE* to fight back against riot police is definitely news here.

*they are wearing protective gear so not really self immolation

This raises a question. Here our biggest local NPR station’s daily radio schedule includes four hours from the BBC and one from CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). Do our international folks have similar access to international broadcasts?

Beating up firefighters just seems like a bad idea practically speaking. Like most cops I could take one on one in a fight because they're either fat or short or both, but I would be absolutely destroyed by most firefighters.

Yep.

Based on my experience, cop vs. firefighter in a brawl is probably gonna end badly for the cop.

But the cop brings a gun.

yeah I think this local firefighter might be a handful in a fight!

https://www.army.mil/article/157247/Gordon_firefighter_moves_onto_world_championship/

as for cops it depends on the location - cities pretty much set their own physical standards. In my county the fitness/weight standards are similar to the military. In the adjacent county their fitness standards are quite a bit lower, because they struggle to meet recruiting goals as it is so beggars can't be choosers.

Yeah, but in France??

In all honesty, how often does Murica ever focus on news outside of 'Murica? Apart froma terrorist bombing to drump up anti Muslim sentiments, that is?

it'd be interesting based on the cops in my area. Our local patrol cops are frequently the bike brigade, so they're in pretty excellent shape. One of our guys has worked as a self defense CI, so I know the level of fight training many of them have.
Overall, I think the average cop has a size and practice advantage.
On the flip side, the FD guys and girls have negative body fat... like your own self descriptor, they're "light and lethal". Individually, there's a good chance that a firefighter has sufficient recreational training and core strength/endurance to remain competitive.

firefighting training is very physically demanding, or should be in they have good leadership. The only fat ones are the higher ranking ones in management with more desk duty at that point in their careers.
All I know is it would drive me nuts having to wear all that heavy gear - it would wear you down fast.

My cousin.

Would you argue with the police?

They seem to be beating everyone up.

I would fight your cousin and end it in two hits! He hits me, and I hit the floor.

Yes, we all know that you’d hit anything that moves.

Maybe the firemen need to bring their high pressure water cannons.

maybe not in that way in this situation!

that exact phrase must be in a gay adult movie or two!

oh wait - military memory! In the air force it used to be (maybe still is) a tradition to get "wet down" when you leave a base to get stationed somewhere else. You never know where or how, but you know it's coming. When I was leaving Eileson AFB they used bomb straps to secure me to a pole and wet me down with a semi-high pressure hose. It was one of those white flat ones that fold up that you see in department stores, hospitals, warehouses and other places that need industrial strength fire fighting capability in a hurry. I do have a pic of it! Sadly I have no scanner.

Also on your birthday at Fort Rucker since our office was adjacent to a fire station my unit would sometimes get the fire-fighters to wet people down with professional finesse and style!

Was this a general strike? Regardless of conditions, a general strike is never an option for Emergency Personnel.

I've policed in some crappy situations. I've been involved in two lawsuits against agencies I worked for. We won one and the other was settled out of court. But, striking (aka Blue Flu) was not and is not ever an option. Never.

Yeah but it's France.

They can't help it.

remember this is Europe! I know a lot of European countries have strong unions. I think in Holland (maybe Belgium) the military has a union! They actually have arbitration/collective bargaining between soldiers and the actual military. Could have been a rumor or misunderstanding on my part. But my point is it may actually be a situation where emergency workers go on strike.

I remember when air traffic controllers went on strike. It opened up a lot of job opportunities for younger people (new blood) in the ATC field that's for sure.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/reagan-fires-11359-air-traffic-controllers

I interupt this thread to bring you important breaking news!

It would appear that @oldfella1962 has finally learned to use the quote function!

don't get your hopes up! It could have been by accident. You know the drill - you'll get something right with a computer but then you can't retrace your steps to replicate it! Hey, I do the best I can with the caveman brain I was born with!