I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court • Hacker News Board

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#21

Post by at-fates-hands » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:26 PM UTC

pavel_lishin wrote: post #12

mc32 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

John MacAfee has a great guide. Context is important. You need to know the situation, you have to be situationally aware. You can't just start showing money (maybe alcohol or other "currency" depending on their penchants are more apt). You have to know a bit about the locals. See http://www.whoismcafee.com/the-travel-guide/

Serious question: given how ... unstable ... McAfee seems to be, how reliable is this guide?

Just because he's paranoid schizophrenic now does not lessen his experiences before his brain went AWOL. Considering he's dealt with some pretty hostile governments and government officials, I'd say the advice is pretty solid.

On a side note, when I was in telecom, My boss (who had been in the industry for 15 years) used to tell me about working for MCI and doing surveying and laying copper in several middle eastern countries. He told me some stories that would make the hair on your neck stand up.

He said it was an open secret that MCI was giving his team suitcases of cash to bribe officials and the military just to allow them to do their job. Stories of being pulled over at gunpoint, negotiating with military people and being able to talk through the process of a bribe was something he always maintained was part of the day-to-day survival game they played.

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#22

Post by pavel_lishin » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:26 PM UTC

swimnow wrote: post #17

Something similar happened to me. I was a citizen of Uzbekistan at the time. I was about to fly out of Almaty. When the lady at the checkpoint saw my passport, she asked where my exit visa was. I never knew all the Uzbek citizens needed one to leave the post Soviet territory. So, I was denied my seat on the plane. Had to renew my ticket for $50. Come next day, another lady at the checkpoint says the same thing - with…

How much would it have cost to get an exit visa?

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#23

Post by k-mcgrady » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:29 PM UTC

swimnow wrote: post #17

Something similar happened to me. I was a citizen of Uzbekistan at the time. I was about to fly out of Almaty. When the lady at the checkpoint saw my passport, she asked where my exit visa was. I never knew all the Uzbek citizens needed one to leave the post Soviet territory. So, I was denied my seat on the plane. Had to renew my ticket for $50. Come next day, another lady at the checkpoint says the same thing - with…

Curious why you found out you needed an exit visa, rebooked, and came back without one. Were you just hoping you'd get lucky with the border staff the second time?

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#24

Post by johansch » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:30 PM UTC

a) Sensationalist headline - something that seems amazing to someone who is not e.g. russian - but the person is actually russian

b) Outing the photo of a cute 18 yo girl "who just got raped"

Yes - an interesting story - but this is extreme clickbait likely for profit. And problematic in other dimensions. This guy is an opportunist who does not seem to care about other people.

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#25

Post by k-mcgrady » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:31 PM UTC

at-fates-hands wrote: post #21

pavel_lishin wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Serious question: given how ... unstable ... McAfee seems to be, how reliable is this guide?

Just because he's paranoid schizophrenic now does not lessen his experiences before his brain went AWOL. Considering he's dealt with some pretty hostile governments and government officials, I'd say the advice is pretty solid. On a side note, when I was in telecom, My boss (who had been in the industry for 15 years) used to tell me about working for MCI and doing surveying and laying copper in several middle eastern…

>> "Just because he's paranoid schizophrenic"

Was this confirmed somewhere? I can't find any evidence with a quick search and I saw some of his interviews during the presidential campaign (he was running from the libertarian nomination I think) and he seemed ok.

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#26

Post by mc32 » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:36 PM UTC

k-mcgrady wrote: post #25

at-fates-hands wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just because he's paranoid schizophrenic now does not lessen his experiences before his brain went AWOL. Considering he's dealt with some pretty hostile governments and government officials, I'd say the advice is pretty solid. On a side note, when I was in telecom, My boss (who had been in the industry for 15 years) used to tell me about working for MCI and doing surveying and laying copper in several middle eastern…

>> "Just because he's paranoid schizophrenic" Was this confirmed somewhere? I can't find any evidence with a quick search and I saw some of his interviews during the presidential campaign (he was running from the libertarian nomination I think) and he seemed ok.

I think a lot of that stems from his reported behavior in Belize. I think it was reported he was high on something on the occasions of some of his reportedly bizarre behavior. From my recollection.

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#27

Post by anotheryou » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:37 PM UTC

johansch wrote: post #24

a) Sensationalist headline - something that seems amazing to someone who is not e.g. russian - but the person is actually russian b) Outing the photo of a cute 18 yo girl "who just got raped" Yes - an interesting story - but this is extreme clickbait likely for profit. And problematic in other dimensions. This guy is an opportunist who does not seem to care about other people.

b) is really bad

also I'd be so grateful for the boys, I'd least make some effort to repay all the beers :)

about a) i liked it. It builds a expectation that is completely shattered by the "but i got treated so well". He lures you in to thinking a little racist and than disproves it :)

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#28

Post by k-mcgrady » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:42 PM UTC

mc32 wrote: post #26

k-mcgrady wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> "Just because he's paranoid schizophrenic" Was this confirmed somewhere? I can't find any evidence with a quick search and I saw some of his interviews during the presidential campaign (he was running from the libertarian nomination I think) and he seemed ok.

I think a lot of that stems from his reported behavior in Belize. I think it was reported he was high on something on the occasions of some of his reportedly bizarre behavior. From my recollection.

Yeah that's my recollection as well. I presume the parent has something to back up the claim though as it's not a term you throw around lightly.

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#29

Post by drpp » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:48 PM UTC

Dr_tldr wrote: post #14

joelhaasnoot wrote: post #4

Cute story, but wonder if the outcome would be the same if the author hadn't originally been Russian and didn't speak Russian.

While speaking a common language usually (but not always) helps, being a US citizen is the way more important part of the story. Police in the United States are used to generally treating everyone (including foreigners) with impunity, while cops in other countries dealing with US citizens are more wary of causing a diplomatic incident. There's also the novelty factor: people from high status countries are seen as int…

Everything you say is true. I fully acknowledge that. I hope it's not implied otherwise.

Re: I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

#30

Post by mildbow » Thu, Jul 21, 2016, 8:52 PM UTC

csmajorfive wrote: post #18

mildbow wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't found the same to be the case. Being able to speak the local language and to be able to portray yourself as "local boy made good" seems to bring out something in people where they want to root for you.

Yeah, I think it can go either way. I've had a few situations in Russia where speaking the language evoked "You idiot. You should know better and let me set you straight." while speaking English evoked "Stupid American. Here's how we fix it."

Exactly.

Both your responses have the person taking on the role of a --short term-- mentee: they show some sort of of connection + naïveté that prompts the authority figure into rooting for them ie caring enough to indicate next steps. '