Vancouver police looking for men spotted filming inside Pacific Centre mall

[nivlek604]

10 minutes ago, Tortorella's Rant said:

John Maguire..

Anyway, go away please. Getting annoying.

I bet in another time, youd probably just kill me to get me to go away huh. 

[PhillipBlunt]

13 minutes ago, gurn said:

Call the local architecture schools and ask that in future they let the mall know before sending out students on research trips?

Call the local film and TV studious and ask them to do the same?

Ask that future tenants of the mall refrain from doing foot traffic studies ?

So many things this could have been, and yes it could have been scouting for a robbery or a terrorists attack.

But it could have, might have, may have been just about anything.

 

And if was anyone of the things you've listed above, Cadillac Fairview, the company that manages these buildings would have had their names and company on file, and most likely escorted them during their visit to assist them. That's the drill.

But clearly the video raised enough suspicion that it was passed on to the VPD.

[DonLever]

47 minutes ago, MovesLikeDatsyuk said:

What else are they to call them?.. And yes they would if it was anyone else. if they suspected an attack or plot. 

The police could have just called them suspicious men instead of Middle Eastern men.  That fact they used that description means they are targeting them based on a stereotype about their race.

[PhillipBlunt]

2 minutes ago, nivlek604 said:

I bet in another time, youd probably just kill me to get me to go away huh. 

You said it. No one else did.

[DonLever]

26 minutes ago, PhillipBlunt said:

I'm sure they would. Suspicious activity is suspicious regardless of race.

Taking pictures and videos are not suspicious activity.  Everyone does it.  I've done it everywhere including the airport. 

Have we come so paranoid that even taking pictures can be construed as possible terrorist activity?

[CANUCK-EXPRESS]

Better be safe than sorry.

[slickjim23]

8 minutes ago, DonLever said:

The police could have just called them suspicious men instead of Middle Eastern men.  That fact they used that description means they are targeting them based on a stereotype about their race.

This political correctness in today's society is absolutely getting out of hand, and you are one of its flag bearers.... Come on, man. It's such a minor thing. Are "Middle Eastern" people ashamed of where they're from now so they get offended if you say it like it is? Lol.

[Gurn]

11 minutes ago, PhillipBlunt said:

And if was anyone of the things you've listed above, Cadillac Fairview, the company that manages these buildings would have had their names and company on file, and most likely escorted them during their visit to assist them. That's the drill.

But clearly the video raised enough suspicion that it was passed on to the VPD.

Is it the drill? See me, I did not know that.

[Alflives]

20 minutes ago, elvis15 said:

Or the public blows things out of hand as we've seen here with just a suggestive title (and probably without, since the discussion is still in full swing even with the title edited) so they might keep a relatively minor issue internal rather than cause panic.

Allowing the public access to this information will most likely bring attention to these people in their neighbourhoods and families.  Keeping this private only allows these "new style" guerrillas to sneak about.  IMHAO.   

[Stanky Legs]

11 minutes ago, DonLever said:

The police could have just called them suspicious men instead of Middle Eastern men.  That fact they used that description means they are targeting them based on a stereotype about their race.

According to VPD they do it with whites and everyone else in this morning's press conference. 

I personally won't get offended if they describe someone they're looking for as South East Asian, which I am. I think it makes it easier.

[Jägermeister]

What happens when you get a bunch of overly PC people and a bunch of discriminatory people in one place?

This thread!

[PhillipBlunt]

7 minutes ago, DonLever said:

Taking pictures and videos are not suspicious activity.  Everyone does it.  I've done it everywhere including the airport. 

Have we come so paranoid that even taking pictures can be construed as possible terrorist activity?

Of exits and entrances in extremely high traffic areas, in a highly populated urban centre, at the base of a fairly large building. You may want to pass that off as nothing, but those who work in positions of security are privy to information that we aren't, and considering the somewhat unstable nature of the world right now, it's better to air on the side of caution.

But feel free to pass it off as nothing. The laissez faire PC world is far too busy ensuring that everyone's feelings aren't hurt.

[elvis15]

20 minutes ago, gurn said:

Is it the drill? See me, I did not know that.

I'm sure you could be forgiven, I'm sure any number of people wouldn't know they needed an escort if they wanted to do anything similar to what you described so it's not that far fetched to think someone just showed up and did it.

[Alflives]

17 minutes ago, Stanky Legs said:

According to VPD they do it with whites and everyone else in this morning's press conference. 

I personally won't get offended if they describe someone they're looking for as South East Asian, which I am. I think it makes it easier.

I support your view 100%.  If people have distinguishing features, that certainly should be included in a description.  Fat, bald, ethnicity, and anything that helps those who know them to watch more closely.  we are at war here, and we need to accept it.  

[D'Angelo Russell]

35 minutes ago, DonLever said:

The police could have just called them suspicious men instead of Middle Eastern men.  That fact they used that description means they are targeting them based on a stereotype about their race.

Maybe they police shouldn't call them men either, that's sexist. 

[PhillipBlunt]

1 minute ago, Alflives said:

I support your view 100%.  If people have distinguishing features, that certainly should be included in a description.  Fat, bald, ethnicity, and anything that helps those who know them to watch more closely.  we are at war here, and we need to accept it.  

Exactly. It's only the politically correct, bleeding hearts that get up in arms about people's rights to be defined by their self worth and emotional makeup rather than defining physical characteristics.

[PhillipBlunt]

1 hour ago, Tortorella's Rant said:

You're entirely welcome to go live in the woods or the mountains if you think society is that unjust.

They wouldn't last a night before calling someone to save them. I wonder how they would feel if the person saving them was white? Heaven forfend!

[Jägermeister]

4 minutes ago, D'Angelo Russell said:

Maybe they police shouldn't call them men either, that's sexist. 

Exactly.  And what if they identify as female? 

The VPD is disgusting labelling people like that.

[Alflives]

6 minutes ago, PhillipBlunt said:

Exactly. It's only the politically correct, bleeding hearts that get up in arms about people's rights to be defined by their self worth and emotional makeup rather than defining physical characteristics.

I think we need the bleeding hearts and politically correct people too though.  We need our system of natural checks and balances, which makes our democracy strong.  IMHAO.  Hopefully there comes a time when people don't attach negative stigma to any human trait.  Then, there will be no need for political correctness.

[elvis15]

14 minutes ago, Alflives said:

I support your view 100%.  If people have distinguishing features, that certainly should be included in a description.  Fat, bald, ethnicity, and anything that helps those who know them to watch more closely.  we are at war here, and we need to accept it.  

I'm all for that, but as you mentioned if they included the video/pictures along with the communication, why do they need to say anything about their physical description? Why just mention one attribute?

As I said it was meant as an internal communication so it isn't a big deal, but of course it got out and it's just good practice to write something the way you would if everyone could see it.