The Coffee Hole

As I sit here week after week and present my point of view, I most often feel as if I am standing alone. I am not sure why because the point of views that I hold are not so radical and not so extreme that no others would share them with me. Yet when I post them, typically the only responses I see are those who oppose my point of view. Perhaps this is the way it is and the way it should be. The silent majority simply nod their heads in assent while the vocal minority post their opposing points of view. Or the other option is, and one I find discomforting, is that hardly anyone agrees with me and I am one voice, standing alone, on my own little cloud of insanity. To that I can only reply “Hey You, get off my cloud”.

For those readers who are not part of the Law Enforcement community I am going to share a few well-kept secrets. People who engage in the profession of Law Enforcement are human beings. They have thoughts, feelings, and aspirations the same as the rest of humanity. Surprised? Yes, it is true. Another well-kept secret is that Police Officers will occasionally take a break, enjoy a cup of coffee, and discuss matters and issues that are current and important to them, issues they have in common with one another. Typically, when doing this, they will go to a prearranged place known in law enforcement circles as “the coffee hole”. While there they may discuss a new supervisor on the shift, a recent court case, how law enforcement used to be in the “old days” and even sometimes something that had absolutely nothing to do with police work (because they are human). I hope my brothers and sisters in the law enforcement community do not feel that divulging this information to the public is a breach of the Thin Blue Line. If so, allow me to apologize in advance.

The reason I told you this is because today’s law Enforcement Facebook groups are akin to an electronic coffee hole. Or so I thought. Unfortunately, it seems as if the sharing of opinions falls way short in this new, electronic version. Whereas in the real life version an opinion would be expressed, many would agree, some may disagree, a discussion would ensue and the outcome would be that all involved would have a better understanding of the issue as well as a better understanding of one another. But today, in the electronic coffee hole, those very same people who I used to share coffee with are now members of the silent majority. They are people who I believe would have and opinion and would be vocal about their opinion. So, my question is, why are they lurking, quietly in the shadows, remaining silent?

So, just to clarify, I, as the author of the Townehouse Phoenix Blog, will continue to express my opinion and my commentary. I have talked myself out of my first impulse to step back in the shadows and remain silent. I will not do that, even if it means drinking my coffee alone on my cloud.

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?

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