Might have jury duty... =S
- Thread starter awkwardamanda
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gustavofring
Well-known member
Looks like the architects understood well that a building of justice needs to be grandiose and impressive, to instill awe in the people and fear in criminals...
I can understand it makes you feel like "hey this is pretty cool and like you have a say. I feel like I'm in a Law & Order episode!" but I also think Graybeard is right when he speaks of the "darker" unspoken function of this Jury Duty thing.
I don't know. I'm just a bit distrusting against the "state" in general. I guess in America it's a lot more patriotic and "You must serve the country!" then here.
I can understand it makes you feel like "hey this is pretty cool and like you have a say. I feel like I'm in a Law & Order episode!" but I also think Graybeard is right when he speaks of the "darker" unspoken function of this Jury Duty thing.
I don't know. I'm just a bit distrusting against the "state" in general. I guess in America it's a lot more patriotic and "You must serve the country!" then here.
coyote
Well-known member
distrust of authority is a hallmark symptom of social anxiety and AvPD
and it's not about patriotism or serving your country. it's about being involved in your community. most laws are passed by local governments, not the national government. the courts serve the local community and help enforce local laws. becoming part of the process helps to ensure that the system is applied fairly toward your own friends, family, and neighbors. in a way, it is very self-serving. it's about looking out for your own interests and the interests of the people you care about.
if you are suspicious of authority, wouldn't you want to make sure you have an input and not just leave it up to someone else?
and it's not about patriotism or serving your country. it's about being involved in your community. most laws are passed by local governments, not the national government. the courts serve the local community and help enforce local laws. becoming part of the process helps to ensure that the system is applied fairly toward your own friends, family, and neighbors. in a way, it is very self-serving. it's about looking out for your own interests and the interests of the people you care about.
if you are suspicious of authority, wouldn't you want to make sure you have an input and not just leave it up to someone else?
coyote
Well-known member
the law is explained to the jurors by the lawyers trying the case and the judge presiding over the trial. they are given very specific instructions.
gustavofring
Well-known member
Who says I want to be involved and part of it? There's a lot of people in the community I absolutely don't want anything to do with!
It's not so much about authority, it's about participating in stuff that I don't really want to be asociated with. These silly ceremonies with overpaid apes in suits and their over-complicated jargon... I'm just not much of a "community" or "society" guy haha. I never liked participating in groups. I think today's concept of community is very skewed and I don't feel much connection to it. I see it as sheep behavior, and all the magistrates and their enforcers as a silly display of theatrics.
Yes this is probably all classic AVP and SA... But I feel it's also just my natural, somewhat paranoid view of things. In WW2 Germany most Germans also without question walked in line towards their doom. Who says we're on the right side?
coyote
Well-known member
that's just it
by getting involved and taking part of the process, we - the people - can try to ensure that those things don't happen
it's when we turn a blind eye and "leave it up to the professionals" that the state is allowed to abuse it's power unchecked
gustavofring
Well-known member
Just to elaborate, I don't really believe in the "good" of society (yes I also question the citizens) and the justice system. Maybe that's my misanthropic side speaking, knowing what people are capable of.
I think it also stems from having had financial problems and stuff. Having to pay large sums of money to the court because I was late on a payment.
I probably need therapy lessons to overcome my distrust of all aspects of society, and to see its merits. It's hard as an SA-er.
I think it also stems from having had financial problems and stuff. Having to pay large sums of money to the court because I was late on a payment.
I probably need therapy lessons to overcome my distrust of all aspects of society, and to see its merits. It's hard as an SA-er.
coyote
Well-known member
no problem
distrust of the system and society in general is certainly understandable - it is far from perfect, and broken in many ways
when confronted with broken things, people react in different ways
some people curse and complain, some break them further, some just toss them away
i tend to look for ways to fix them up
(although i haven't done a very good job of fixing things that are broken in my own life)
distrust of the system and society in general is certainly understandable - it is far from perfect, and broken in many ways
when confronted with broken things, people react in different ways
some people curse and complain, some break them further, some just toss them away
i tend to look for ways to fix them up
(although i haven't done a very good job of fixing things that are broken in my own life)
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cowboyup
Well-known member
ohh I'm sorry to hear you have jury duty. I am not familiar with the laws there in Canada, but I was summoned for jury duty a couple years back and I thought I could use my brother as excuse because he is in law enforcement but it didn't work so I ended up going. It was terribly scary for me, unfortunately. But on the plus side, I was not picked for jury duty - I was dismissed. It was a murder trial and was asked my stance on corporal punishment - I answered and I guess they didn't like my answer, lol!
Maybe you could kind of play up the whole "death penalty" if it's a murder trial?? Sorry, wish I had a better answer!
Good Luck!
Maybe you could kind of play up the whole "death penalty" if it's a murder trial?? Sorry, wish I had a better answer!
Good Luck!
awkwardamanda
Well-known member
Thanks everyone.
I called today and it was dreadful. I was nauseated and starting to cry before even making the phone call. Then I got an answering machine.
The number was for leaving a message only and I ended up hanging up and calling back a few times before even leaving a message. The recording said to leave your name, two phone numbers, and your jury number and they'd still have to call back to speak to you whether you were planning to attend or apply for an exemption. It wasn't actually clear whether you had to state if you wanted an exemption or why in the message. So I didn't know what the hell I should say. When I finally got far enough through the recording there was an option to press one if you were attending or two if you wanted an exemption, but it still wasn't clear if I was supposed to say why or wait until I spoke to them. GRRR I did anyway, after a long, awkward pause after leaving my name and numbers. I probably sounded like a nervous wreck on the phone. Now I just dread every time the phone rings. I hate phones and I hate playing telephone tag. I don't remember having to leave a message when I got summoned before. I thought I spoke to someone right away.
I don't even know if they're going to accept my reason. If they don't, I'm just gonna kick myself for even bothering. I can never let stuff like that go. When I make mistakes they tend to eat at me for ages after. If I have to go the selection process, all I can hope is that it's obvious I'm too nervous to be good on a jury. I can't exactly claim social anxiety as a reason to get out of it. It will pose a problem, but since I have no official diagnosis that's not going to work. You can get an exemption if you're mentally unfit, but that would require some sort of confirmation from a doctor or psychologist.
I don't think I want to pretend to be prejudiced or anything, but I do have some biases so maybe that'll show and they won't want me. Stereotypes usually exist because there's some degree of truth behind them. As for corporal punishment, I have some mixed opinions, but I believe it's warranted in extreme cases. I hate it when criminals get off the hook on some stupid technicality. Often when someone is acquitted, it isn't because they didn't actually do anything. It's because it can't be proven. I think I'd have a hard time focusing on what really can be proven and what's just the likely scenario. I really don't think I'd be good on a jury.
And now I don't know what to do about work. I don't know if I should book off a couple of days for the jury selection. Tomorrow is technically the last day I can book off enough in advance. But I don't even know if I'll need the days off or if I can get out of it. I'd like to wait until I know because I don't want to say anything if I don't have to. If I do need the days off, I guess I could just say sorry I need a couple of days off on short notice. Sometimes, **** just comes up. They really can't say no, although they can be pissed off about it. It's just so screwy because my store is in liquidation right now. We were asked not to request any time off, but really, sometimes people have important things to attend to. We shouldn't be forced to bend over backwards for the place. I don't know. I just fret about stupid things. I hate this.
I called today and it was dreadful. I was nauseated and starting to cry before even making the phone call. Then I got an answering machine.
The number was for leaving a message only and I ended up hanging up and calling back a few times before even leaving a message. The recording said to leave your name, two phone numbers, and your jury number and they'd still have to call back to speak to you whether you were planning to attend or apply for an exemption. It wasn't actually clear whether you had to state if you wanted an exemption or why in the message. So I didn't know what the hell I should say. When I finally got far enough through the recording there was an option to press one if you were attending or two if you wanted an exemption, but it still wasn't clear if I was supposed to say why or wait until I spoke to them. GRRR I did anyway, after a long, awkward pause after leaving my name and numbers. I probably sounded like a nervous wreck on the phone. Now I just dread every time the phone rings. I hate phones and I hate playing telephone tag. I don't remember having to leave a message when I got summoned before. I thought I spoke to someone right away.I don't even know if they're going to accept my reason. If they don't, I'm just gonna kick myself for even bothering. I can never let stuff like that go. When I make mistakes they tend to eat at me for ages after. If I have to go the selection process, all I can hope is that it's obvious I'm too nervous to be good on a jury. I can't exactly claim social anxiety as a reason to get out of it. It will pose a problem, but since I have no official diagnosis that's not going to work. You can get an exemption if you're mentally unfit, but that would require some sort of confirmation from a doctor or psychologist.
I don't think I want to pretend to be prejudiced or anything, but I do have some biases so maybe that'll show and they won't want me.
Stereotypes usually exist because there's some degree of truth behind them. As for corporal punishment, I have some mixed opinions, but I believe it's warranted in extreme cases. I hate it when criminals get off the hook on some stupid technicality. Often when someone is acquitted, it isn't because they didn't actually do anything. It's because it can't be proven. I think I'd have a hard time focusing on what really can be proven and what's just the likely scenario. I really don't think I'd be good on a jury.And now I don't know what to do about work. I don't know if I should book off a couple of days for the jury selection. Tomorrow is technically the last day I can book off enough in advance. But I don't even know if I'll need the days off or if I can get out of it. I'd like to wait until I know because I don't want to say anything if I don't have to. If I do need the days off, I guess I could just say sorry I need a couple of days off on short notice. Sometimes, **** just comes up. They really can't say no, although they can be pissed off about it. It's just so screwy because my store is in liquidation right now. We were asked not to request any time off, but really, sometimes people have important things to attend to. We shouldn't be forced to bend over backwards for the place. I don't know. I just fret about stupid things. I hate this.
Falkor
1
I too cried many times when I learnt I had jury duty. I couldn't focus on things and obsessed over what I should wear for jury duty.
If you cannot claim an exemption, at least tell the lawyers about your work situation. On the first day of jury selection, the sherriff brought us to a courtroom where lawyers question us. They ask us questions such as "What kind of profession are you in" and "Will you have any problems with jury duty". Some people talk about having to attend surgeries of their loved ones or being the boss of a company. Many of the people who were brave enough to speak about their problems were exempted from jury duty. Meanwhile, the people who were the most quiet (didn't say anything at all) got picked to sit on trial. So, if you have a problem with jury duty, definitely speak up.
theslowesthand
Banned
Oh, just that in certain situations, maybe which i'd normally be my usual reserved self, i seem to get a major boost of confidence (adrenaline? nerves?). And i for a (very) short time become a confident/likeable/witty/sociable/extrovert/etc type. Hope you don't mind using your name, but i've never even had a name for it before, so don't know what to call except "the saskia/falkor thing"!Lol, what does this mean? :
(in one of your posts, can't recall which, you wrote of how you go from scared mouse to gregarious/etc mouse)
And when i went to court for just one day, i turned briefly into that person (maybe so i could handle it?).
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awkwardamanda
Well-known member
It's been almost two weeks and the bastards still haven't gotten back to me! WTF?! When I called, the message on the machine said something about them responding within ten business days. Seriously?! How is it that we only get a week to contact them, but they get two? I figured it was unlikely it would take them the full ten days to call back but maybe I was wrong there. What a load of crap. The tenth day will be Monday and the selection day is Thursday. I don't even know exactly what it is I have to do to go about getting an exemption. They might need a copy of my termination letter or something. I don't know what the hell to do until I talk to somebody. By the time I do, it could be too late and then I'm really gonna be pissed. I've been anxious and miserable all this time. I hate just waiting and waiting for a call I don't want anyway. I'm starting to worry that maybe my message didn't save. Why can't they just answer the friggin phone when people call?
I talked to one of my supervisors at work about getting those days off if I need them. I explained that I'm gonna try to get out of it but I haven't heard back yet. She was fine with that anyway. I told her I was hoping to get out of it because it's time I can't be looking for a new job and she was like, "If that was me, I'd be pissed." I think it would piss a lot of people off in that situation. Maybe if I'm grouchy enough, they won't want me.
WTF?! When I called, the message on the machine said something about them responding within ten business days. Seriously?! How is it that we only get a week to contact them, but they get two? I figured it was unlikely it would take them the full ten days to call back but maybe I was wrong there. What a load of crap. The tenth day will be Monday and the selection day is Thursday. I don't even know exactly what it is I have to do to go about getting an exemption. They might need a copy of my termination letter or something. I don't know what the hell to do until I talk to somebody. By the time I do, it could be too late and then I'm really gonna be pissed. I've been anxious and miserable all this time. I hate just waiting and waiting for a call I don't want anyway. I'm starting to worry that maybe my message didn't save. Why can't they just answer the friggin phone when people call?I talked to one of my supervisors at work about getting those days off if I need them. I explained that I'm gonna try to get out of it but I haven't heard back yet. She was fine with that anyway. I told her I was hoping to get out of it because it's time I can't be looking for a new job and she was like, "If that was me, I'd be pissed." I think it would piss a lot of people off in that situation. Maybe if I'm grouchy enough, they won't want me.
awkwardamanda
Well-known member
Ok, FINALLY, they sent me a letter saying I don't have to go. That's a huge relief, but I'm still puzzled about the whole thing. The message specifically said, we'll have to speak with you whether you're attending or requesting an exemption, and that documentation will/may be required. I'm not complaining if I don't actually have to talk to anyone, but I've been anticipating a phone call all this time, which is always hell. Whatever.