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Monday, July 30, 2012

Crime Some Angry People Don't Want a Hug

Posted by Unpaid Intern on Mon, Jul 30, 2012 at 5:06 PM

Posted by news intern Mike Gore

Last Tuesday, a musician had just finished a few beers after performing at a bar on lower Queen Anne when a woman he didn't know began to "pester" him, according to a Seattle Police Department incident report. She then followed him outside onto the sidewalk and asked him for a cigarette, but he refused.

At that time, an unknown man reportedly approached them and "confronted him about flirting with his girlfriend," the musician told officer Brett Willet. The musician insisted he wasn't flirting and attempted to diffuse the situation by attempting to give the man a hug. The assailant then threw the musician down before another man joined in. Those two threw the musician against a building before hitting, punching, and kicking him in the head and body, says Officer Willet's report.

After taking a cab home, the victim's wife drove him to the ER at Ballard Swedish to treat a separated shoulder, a bruised abdomen, a bruised face, and mild concussion.

In reporting the crime to police, the musician "stated that he gets friendly when he has been drinking."

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"Friendly", but not "share my cigarettes friendly."

Posted by Dougsf on July 30, 2012 at 5:05 PM

Before this goes any farther, could we get an EDITOR in here to EDIT this piece by Unpaid Intern Mr. Mike Gore. You introduce "a musician," "a woman," and "an unknown man." The you switch to terms like "assailant" and "victim." Nowhere do you draw a straight, unambiguous line identifying whom is whom.

If you don't take this as constructive criticism and edit this for clarity, you don't deserve the term "journalist" or the term "newspaper." Just draw the straight line to "hack" and "rag."

Posted by OverSight on July 30, 2012 at 5:52 PM

This be better writing than NBC Olympic tweets, that furry dang sure.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on July 30, 2012 at 5:59 PM

enjoy your assault conviction, tough guys.

Posted by Max Solomon on July 30, 2012 at 6:59 PM

Musician in question is a grade A loser who most likely doesnt remember the incident

Posted by chocolatecherry on July 30, 2012 at 9:22 PM

classic patriarchal bullshit... SHE's flirting with the musician, he's refusing her advances, yet the "boyfriend" beats up the musician anyway. Lame.

Generally, tho, with patriarchal/macho douchebags like that, hugs or any physical contact is strongly advised against.

Posted by treacle on July 30, 2012 at 9:45 PM

The proper emotion when threatened with physical violence is fear.

Posted by sirkowski

on July 31, 2012 at 12:39 AM

well since we're on the task of trivialising this man's horrible experience with violence, I'll chip in my two cents.

As someone who doesn't like being hugged, but who has found myself at times in hippie hotspots, I've noticed these hugger types sometimes project their need for hugs onto others. Education is key. "Just because you appreciate being hugged doesn't mean others do, so best to ask first."

Posted by doloresdaphne on July 31, 2012 at 5:19 AM

defuse is not diffuse

Posted by tal on July 31, 2012 at 7:12 AM

Because the best way to prove that you're not being flirty is by trying to get physically friendly with your accuser.

Posted by suddenlyorcas on July 31, 2012 at 9:11 AM

The hug gesture was probably a quick self-defense mechanism against impending danger, I am guessing. But, I actually know this nice guy and his sweet wife and I can ask him once he heals a bit more. He is not a hippie.

Posted by CommonKnowledge on July 31, 2012 at 12:51 PM