Mimikama, can you see if that's true?

“Can you check whether the Cologne picture is real?” “Can you research whether what the bouncer says in the video is true?”

No…..I don’t actually want to anymore because it doesn’t matter anyway. On the one hand “rightly, it doesn’t matter”, on the other hand “it pisses me off – it doesn’t matter”. Because in the end, it is currently of little interest whether what a bouncer in Cologne said in a video is true or whether a picture was taken from somewhere and “Cologne” is written on it. And anyone who expects this to be an “oh so dear” appeal to humanity will be wrong.

Because I understand very well: it doesn't really matter. I too am pissed off and walk around with my fist clenched in my pocket when I read about the aggressive acts at the turn of the year. Damn: what's this shit? How can it happen that groups of people, let's get to the point, groups of men with the police description “from the Arab or North African region” could so far exceed all boundaries of decency and legality? What kind of despicable film is going on in the minds of such people? Not only the intention to commit a robbery, but also to condone causing physical and psychological harm to people, is completely outside of my personal value system.

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I don't even know how I would have acted in the situation. I probably would have grabbed my wife by the arm and ran with her far out of the danger zone. She would have had to suffer many disgusting and humiliating moments of groping during her attempt to escape. I cannot estimate to what extent I would have become violent towards the aggressors myself. There are points in life when fuses blow. Unfortunately, you only notice this when it is too late. So this is very hypothetical.

However, what is currently driving me personally almost crazy: was there anyone who provided protection? And many people now have to put up with this criticism. In many places you read that the police were overwhelmed. After November 13, 2015, we all thought we could expect more police presence and protection in public places. There were even warnings of attacks at public celebrations. And then you suddenly read about the attacks: “ Police admit mistakes on New Year’s Eve ” or “ A senior inspector takes “dear politics” to task ”. I am fully aware that the situation is now bad and no one wants to be held responsible. But do we even need someone in charge? Is that constructive?

“an arm’s length distance”

Google's automatic word completion has a new expression: “an arm's length distance”. Why? Because this phrase expresses exactly this helplessness and overwhelm and simply triggers even more anger in me: women are given the advice to simply keep their distance. Wait a minute, that sounds very strange! To put it bluntly, does it mean that it is your own fault? How the hell were the women supposed to keep that distance that night? So what went wrong again? It is not women who have to adapt their behavior, but rather the perpetrators who have to be punished. Urgent – ​​clear – consistent.

And it goes on! This lousy scam has recently been reported again from Bielefeld. When I read through the police report, in which the term “Antanz perpetrator” is clearly written again , I could scream again. Such degrading crimes must not be allowed to take place. Likewise, it cannot be the case that women should lose their freedom - NO! It is not the women who must lose their freedom, but THE PERSONS!

Because this report is definitely right: please explain to boys and men that sexual assault is a crime. And not to tell girls and women not to go out. I also advised my wife to make as much noise and shouting as possible if she found herself in a dangerous situation. Attract attention. You can't simply put women on an invisible leash and hope that the person accompanying them will eliminate the potential danger.

Several days ago I wrote to the police and the Ministry of the Interior of North Rhine-Westphalia and asked for tips on how to get out of situations like these. The answer still today: unfortunately no answer was received. So I'll just give the opposite advice: please, dear politicians and police, work together. Don't look for those responsible for a disaster; that won't help any of the victims. Rather, look for ways and means by which you can emerge stronger and also ensure safety. Correct me, but so far I have read in the few remaining common sense media that only three suspects have been identified (see Zeit: Police identify three suspects or What happened in Cologne?). How that sounds... I don't know anymore. But while we're on the subject...

Reason Media

I just used that word. Because at the moment it seems to be absolutely in vogue to whip up the headlines to the sky. The biggest breakdown report is probably the one that speaks of 1000 perpetrators. And this time too I'll get to the point, everyone can read it for themselves: the Krone “Dozens of women sexually harassed by 1000 perpetrators”. Reports like this make my toenails and fingernails curl. read the clear criticism in the article “ When assumptions become facts

Focus Online , for example – currently the news site with the largest reach in Germany – headlined an article with: “Group of 1,000 men was the starting point – there was a rape in Cologne.”

You can no longer argue rationally, you can only ask: do you believe what you write ?

Nevertheless, I have read some very sensible and critical discussions on the topic. What impressed me most in this context was Sascha Lobo's column in Spiegel , which also coined what I believe to be the correct description: there were sexually violent attacks on New Year's Eve from men's groups to women. No “events”, no “occurrences”, even the word “individual cases” is nonsense, but rather they were sexually violent attacks by groups of men on women . What Sascha Lobo writes there is to the point and is neither trivializing nor exaggerating.

• A group of around a thousand people, some of whom were heavily intoxicated, apparently understood partying to mean throwing firecrackers at each other or having firecrackers thrown at them. This is undoubtedly crazy, but it is an accepted absurdity in this country on the night of mass alcohol-fuelled explosives at the end of the year.
• From these people, mobs of up to 40 men have apparently always followed a plan: attacking women, both with predatory and sexually violent intent. The police speak of “organized crime” and, disturbingly, of “intensive offenders known to the police.”
• At the same time, however, an aggressive mood seemed to have built up at Cologne Central Station ( and elsewhere ) beyond these gangs - and a sexist and invasive mood against women.

Likewise, I can only underline his words when it comes to drawing the results from everything that has been written. I like his example: “Being civilized means meeting nine black-haired people one after the other, all of whom turn out to be assholes, and yet not punching the tenth black-haired guy in the face because of it.”

Civilized

But how long can/must one remain civilized, especially when it comes to the fact that uncivilized conditions publicly prevail in Germany - and then at the same time in different places? When are you at this crossroads, when is an uncivilized backlash legitimate? Personally, I put the answer to this way back, because the moment I decide on the same uncivilized behavior, I stand outside the value system that I want to defend with all means possible. You've arrived at exactly the place you don't want to be.

However, my own gut feeling tells me: unfortunately we will see some acts of self- and revenge justice in the future. Often out of pure hatred and pure powerlessness. And then most likely against innocent people. Now we're back to the value system: is it legitimate to defend your own decent system by attacking innocent people yourself? Have you not even betrayed your own value system?

Uncivilized

Nevertheless, that seems to be the path that has currently been taken. She half pulled him, half sank him - into the path where no reply is allowed. All means are permitted because abnormal means have already been used. Abnormal, I emphasize that again, because I myself also feel strong anger towards the aggressors on New Year's Eve. The way they consciously acted towards women was abnormal.

And now I encounter the backlash online and do nothing other than what I've been doing for a long time: check! I have now come across two pictures that were simply put in a completely wrong context. in particular was used completely out of place . Actually a simple fact check: search for images, find the origin, present the situation. Thus the result is neutral as neutral can be.

But not these days. No, because that is no longer desired. I have to be ashamed, so they say.. Me - who is pissed off myself and has to struggle to pull myself together. We, who also argue in the office about how this type of aggression should be classified. Yaha! I should be ashamed because I describe a misrepresentation as such. Lies and exaggerations are appropriate in this context.

Alright, at least I understood it! Therefore, I personally have little interest in analyzing who is saying something about attacks in which video or picture. Because it has never been as obvious as in this case: it is undesirable !

What will happen now?

Well, I expect that we will see an increased volume of robbery and rape reports on Facebook in the near future. For image-related reasons, I would advise us as ZDDK/Mimikama not to clarify them, because in the end there would always be a user comment: “And what about Cologne? Was that made up too?”. At this point we would always be at a dead end. Always. Even when presented clearly and objectively.

So what have all these cruel acts in Paris, Cologne, Hamburg, etc. shown us? That we are vulnerable. We are vulnerable to suffering violence against which we seem powerless. However, we are equally vulnerable to blindly calling for a counterattack. I don't even know where I'm leaning yet, because in fact there have never been such disgusting sexually violent attacks by groups of men on women. This also blocks all understanding.

On the other hand, I consider myself civilized and honest enough not to commit injustice myself and to close my eyes to injustice. Therefore, my inner self will continue to compel me to denounce any misrepresentation. However, I will use my energies to warn about the danger of these lousy “dance tricks” instead of hunting down false perpetrators. And I will encourage each and every one to hold on to personal freedom .