David W. Dunlap blames himself

New York Times reporter David W. Dunlapblames himself for getting beat up while on the job.

After about two minutes, one man asked me why I was taking pictures. “Because what you’re doing is illegal,” I replied.

He answered, “Breaking cameras is illegal, too, but if you don’t stop taking pictures, I’ll break your camera.”

...The approach came so swiftly, I cannot even say whether it was from in front or behind. But I do remember a furious face inches away from mine as the man said he had warned me not to take any more pictures.

The next few minutes are — as they say — a blur. I was suddenly on my back on the sidewalk, near the curb, trying to hold on to my camera and fend off my assailant, with my right leg pressed against his chest.

...I’m not inclined to press charges. While my assailant’s actions were frightening, they resulted in part from what he interpreted as provocation: that is, my taking pictures after he had explicitly warned me not to. He did not take my wallet, cash or briefcase; something he could easily have done while I was on the ground. Nor do I recall him using much more force than was needed to wrest the camera from me. He didn’t kick me gratuitously when I was down. He did what he threatened to do, but no more.

In the greater scheme of things, my quarrel isn’t with him, anyway. It’s with the suits who made the decision in the first place to undertake an illegal marketing campaign.

Quite of few of his commenters agree. Here is Number 109:

“Because what you are doing is illegal?”

That was a pretty incendiary reply...Didn’t you think the person was capable of engaging in dialogue about their conduct and actions and the larger scope of your story?...

“Because what you are doing is illegal?”
That is the fascist mentality, inform on people not bothering you.

Go photo violent cops at demonstrations or landlords kicking out people of their lifelong homes to build glass and steel towers. The misbalance of shock and scorn is well crafted by society...

Read the whole thing: it isn't long (except for the comments, many of which are pro-prosecution) and it gives a heck of an insight into the mind of at least one New York Times reporter. Let's hear it for intellectualizing victimhood into ruling class oppressordom. Robert Fisk would be proud of him. Sick, sick, puppies.