Can you pass the chicken test?

[Rangers]

I randomly saw this on my recommended feed and I found it pretty funny. So apparently this is at the Indiana University police academy. There cadets are working to get their peace officer's licenses so they can start reaching out to departments & sheriff offices to begin their career in law enforcement.

As someone also going in to that field, it requires a high level of discipline, focus, professionalism, knowledge and social skills. As part of that, I presume to test their ability to stay focused and on task, a teacher had them line up and he'd tell them to stay focused as he moves a toy chicken into their peripheral view and squeaks it.

If they begin to smile or look at the chicken, they have to hold a plank position as punishment. This test is flawed in my mind as it doesn't really gauge their maturity or professionalism well, more their sense of humor. I can see why they'd want to discourage laughing in the officers as they'll see a ton of hilarious things on the job where laughing would not be acceptable and aggravate citizens, so they need to keep a straight face at least until after the interaction is over.

It's hard for me to say whether I'd pass or fail the test as my personality is very conditional and in some ways, turbulent in that smaller details may influence my behavior significantly.
I'd either immediately laugh out loud the second he moves the chicken into my peripheral vision, or he would stand there squeezing the chicken all day long and stay looking forward, standing straight up with a straight face exactly as instructed.

Do you think you could pass that test?

https://youtu.be/qymqjHY_9rg

Yes

No

[zeitgeist057]

Honesty, the test is pretty damn funny, especially the fact that everyone is taking it seriously just makes me crack up. You don't even have to get that chicken near me. That said, I don't mind doing pushups all day long.

As for what you said, I agree: a peace officer should have a sense of humor, not just be an asshole with a stick up their butt who shows no emotion or humanity. This isn't Judge Dread. The fact that the senior officers are giggling and smiling about this shows me they are just as "unprofessional" as they are supposedly trying to prevent in the cadets. This test is a big joke, and I just see it as a fun way to do pushups.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/74Od5-Fmf60

I also said no, because yeah, I can probably put myself in a rigid no emotional reaction state of mind, but also you never know, my funny bone could get tickled. It's like when actors break and crack with the giggles during serious scenes. Sometimes it's not a big deal, and other times you just can't keep it together.

Thanks for being a cop, and I hope you become one of the good ones who protects the public rather than terrorizes them.

[MCheetah]

It's very hard to get me to laugh and most people annoy me. Also, I hate planking. So that'd piss me off more than anything. Seems like most of the ones who failed were women.

I agree it's not a good test though and more so focuses on their seriousness/outlook on life. A person who wouldn't laugh would be more uptight/less happy than someone who would, and both can potentially make for good cops. This just seems like a way to recruit more cops who have no sense of humor, or take things too seriously (I'm the latter).

[Daniela1982]

Some people can keep straight faces, and some can't hold in the laughter.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/iH1ID17j7Po

[zeitgeist057]

That's a tougher test than the chicken test.

[IveGotNoName]

I would I think. I think I have a good hold on my reactions or lack of reactions in this case.

[Fuentes]

Yes I would easily pass. I do remember when I was in Basic in 2012 and my Drill SGT made us all toe the line in the bay cause someone kept switching their weapon off in class from safety to semi and kept pressing the trigger, since he smoked the shit out of us for it & because nobody had integrity to admit it or snitch on who was doing it. He had us on the line and was cracking Hella jokes and jumping in our faces to make us laugh.

I remember I wanted to laugh so bad but did not wanna fuck everyone else over and get us all smoked again or he pulls just me to the side and makes me watch as he makes everyone else "beat their face" that day was funny. It's pretty easy these days to take most situations very seriously and not laugh at all and I dealt with many situations working as a Hospital Security Guard for a few years and dealing with 5150's and disgruntled family members and gang issues outside. I always kept a straight face.

[exitseven]

We had a drill sergeant that was from the south somewhere. It was hard to understand him when he got angry. We used to make fun of him when he was not around so when he would yell, some of the guys would smirk and it would just drive him nuts.

[Fuentes]

@exitseven lol sounds extreme back woods accent. Probably from Tennessee I have heard their accents it sounds pretty gross and make no sense when they're from some backwoods areas. Worse then Boomhauer hahaha

[exitseven]

@Fuentes I sort of thought he was from Mississippi. He was tough as nails and he knew every dirty joke that was ever told.

[Static_In_The_Attic]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/msSc7Mv0QHY

One look at that chicken I would fail the chicken test.

[_deeznuts]

i have a terrible poker face and I laugh in any situation presented to me, so I would absolutely fail.

[exitseven]

I have a good poker face. I could pass this.

[Rockstarrrrr]

I don't think so if I'm being honest lol...

[msc545]

Useless, ridiculous test. I prefer cops with a sense of humor.

[Jouth]

whats the chicken test