How to Stop a Riot
Why Hacker News recommends it
Cited for its research-based principles of riot control, and as an analogy for managing other crowd dynamics like bubbles.
What it is
Wendover Productions explains counterintuitive riot control techniques based on research, showing that effective tactics tend to avoid violence.
Recommended by 1 HN commenters across 1 different months, 2018 to 2020.
What Hacker News said
Recommends lathiat · 2020-07 · on “We Reviewed Police Tactics Seen in Nearly 400 Protest Videos”
Wendover Productions made great video coverage on "How to Stop a Riot" based on the research: [this video] Unsurprisingly some of the techniques required are a little counter-intuitive which is interesting when weighed into public opinion or uninformed politicians etc. Naturally, the most effective techniques techniques don't involve violence.
Cites JumpCrisscross · 2018-01 · on “US regulators charge three Bitcoin operators with fraud”
> I think maybe the best solution is to just leave things unregulated and let dumb money get burnt There are a lot of unsophisticated "investors" who cannot differentiate investing from gambling. We have experience with extra-systemic irrational exuberance. Too light-tough and the risks contaminate broader markets, thus fomenting a crisis. Too heavy and the risks go underground. There they (a) fuel broader criminality and/or (b) metastasize into the broader markets, thus fomenting a crisis. A strategy focussing on three things emerges from the literature: 1. Stomp out obvious, easy-to-enforce-against fraud. This keeps regulators engaged, helps keep everyone wary and removes fuel from the fir
Cites tomschlick · 2020-08 · on “Gallup: 81% of Black Americans Want Police to Retain Local Presence”
> rock-throwing protesters versus police officers wearing body armor and gas masks, carrying ballistic shields and lobbing flash grenades. So regular riot control equipment in 95% of the world... The only other stuff they mention are semi-auto rifles which are not militarization. Us civilians have the same rifles which are way more accurate than a standard handgun. I dont want an officer using a handgun at 50-100 yards trying to stop an active shooter, I want them to have the best tool for the job which would be a patrol rifle. That's safer for everyone, especially bystanders. > My police department should not be anywhere near militarized. It's inappropriate, wrong, and is a waste of funds b
Cites shirakawasuna · 2020-08 · on “Gallup: 81% of Black Americans Want Police to Retain Local Presence”
> So regular riot control equipment in 95% of the world... Yes, militarization of the police is normalized in many countries. That doesn't make it acceptable. They're trigger-happy and violent. It's part of the culture. > The only other stuff they mention are semi-auto rifles which are not militarization. Us civilians have the same rifles which are way more accurate than a standard handgun. I dont want an officer using a handgun at 50-100 yards trying to stop an active shooter, I want them to have the best tool for the job which would be a patrol rifle. That's safer for everyone, especially bystanders. Do you believe that there needs to be a line of officers wielding rifles behind a line of