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I got arrested in Kazakhstan and represented myself in court

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

#221

Post by wtetzner »

swhipple wrote: post #200
crispyambulance wrote: post #197

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Someone else may want a system that is fair and by-the-book in all situations. It is utterly unreasonable to expect or desire everything to be "by the book" all the time. If you do, you'll be sorely disappointed with the real world. Your particular example actually works against your argument. The "minor procedural errors" were likely discovered and exploited by highly compensated lawyers who make a living negotiat…

I don't have the story around, but if I recall correctly, the minor procedural errors were forgetting to read Miranda rights. In the US, conviction can be based on possession without that form of evidence. Let's say for the sake of the argument that social status was an important factor here. If going by-the-book is overly harsh, then the book needs to be amended. Bending the rules is not really praiseworthy, though…

The problem is that it's basically impossible to come up with a book of rules that are reasonable to enforce in all circumstances. The world is too complicated for that, which is why it's necessary to look at each case individually.

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

#222

Post by tptacek »

coldtea wrote: post #153
exabrial wrote: post #128

I don't know even what to make of this... The preamble suggests that Kazakhstan justice was superior to American justice, but after reading the whole story I'm like... dude, grow a sense of self-responsibility. It's not like your visa expiring was a surprise... you knew exactly when it was going to happen, and YOU CHOSE to violate it without giving yourself any wiggle room. Then you willingly participated in a corrup…

I find this response, and the suggestions, exemplifying why Kazakhstan justice (as expressed in the story, I don't know how it's in general) is superior to American justice. It's the ability to take the law and regulations lightly, when they're not that serious, and be humane about it. I mean writing: "YOU CHOSE to violate it", with added emphasis, as if having a visa expiring on the same day you leave a place (and l…

What you see as humanity, I see as corruption. The system where you have onerous laws that aren't enforced against normal people because they pay nominal sums to avoid enforcement is also the system where you have to pay nominal sums to get anything done, and where the price to avoid enforcement for "undesirable" people climbs to infinity.

This isn't theoretical: it describes plenty of corrupt governments that nobody would hold up against any western country.

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

#223

Post by waqf »

krick wrote: post #44
mind_heist wrote: post #5

Is that picture going to get Irlan in trouble ?

I hope not, but it seems to me that not taking photos if explicitly asked not to is the least you can do for a guy who, upon arresting you treats you like a best friend, helps you to get refund for unused ticket and buys you bear and coffee. Hell, it's actually only human to restrain from taking photos of somebody who doesn't want to, but doing so to that Irlan guy? The most repulsive thing is author doesn't do that…

> buys you bear and coffee

You give bribe, I buy you bear. You give no bribe, I buy you two bears.

(Or insert any other joke here, they write themselves.)

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

#224

Post by trhway »

jessaustin wrote: post #207
trhway wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Secondly, I think we want a society where police choose constructive dialog over violence. seeing how deep the police got addicted to violence one can only wonder whether it is possible for them to get sober at all. I mean you can't make that up - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/07/2... . Just make sure to watch the video. The police tried to shoot the autistic patient even after the therapis…

I thought it was a scapegoating situation: the light-skinned guy didn't do what they wanted, so they shot the black guy.

it gets even "better" - the police who shot black therapist is now saying that he was trying to save the therapist from the autistic patient. If not for the video, we'd never knew how really low their lies are. The police demonstrate all the symptoms of addiction - doing their drug (violence) and lying about it in the face of obviously contradicting evidence.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/22/487027848/...

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

#225

Post by peeters »

mwfunk wrote: post #219
coldtea wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find this response, and the suggestions, exemplifying why Kazakhstan justice (as expressed in the story, I don't know how it's in general) is superior to American justice. It's the ability to take the law and regulations lightly, when they're not that serious, and be humane about it. I mean writing: "YOU CHOSE to violate it", with added emphasis, as if having a visa expiring on the same day you leave a place (and l…

Yes, he did choose to violate it, in the sense that waiting until you've got 24 hours left on a visa to leave is just straight up bananapants crazy, especially when you are in a place where all sorts of things can happen that could delay your exit, and the legal system is unusually unpredictable (and the consequences could be unusually bad for you). Accepting a certain level of risk that something bad might happen is…

I think the point is, it's only a stupid risk if you're dealing with stupid systems. When all the actors involved see his transgression for what it actually is (instead of just yelling BUT THE RULEZ) it's apparently not as big of a risk.

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

#226

Post by tn13 »

eklavya wrote: post #148
tn13 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Almost all modern Indian trains are like this too. But I dont think you will get into trouble for shitting on a station.

Open defecation is such a big problem. There is a big government programme just for this. I hope it succeeds and rids us of this shame.

I really doubt if that problem will ever be tackled. In cities it is a logistical problem. Standing in line for 5 minutes for a proper toilet v/s shitting on a track right away. There is no way on earth we can build sufficient number of toilets for the people in Mulund or Dharavi slums. There are politically incorrect solutions such as letting people defecate in open but provide slightly better facilities which will help tackle all the shit.

In village however the problem is purely cultural. I worked with some NGO which build proper flush toilets but people would prefer to use them as goat shelters. Their priorities are different.

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

#227

Post by tn13 »

zeroer wrote: post #122
tn13 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Almost all modern Indian trains are like this too. But I dont think you will get into trouble for shitting on a station.

This is true even without the train.

Only in certain areas. In many villages a person can be beaten up for defecating in open and in some cities it would lead to arrest. Despite all the perception "toilets"has been a priority in many cities and especially villages. If you travel in rural Mahrashtra you will see large boards that say "Open Defecation Free Village", such places will even have vigilante groups to enforce this law.

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

#228

Post by kqr »

rangibaby wrote: post #125
cft wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is "grassed on" Australian or British? Never heard this before.

British rhyming slang. Copper > grasshopper > grass

I will never understand this. Rhyming slang is always so far fetched.

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

#229

Post by blastrat »

zanny wrote: post #74
grizzles wrote: post #62

This dude just grassed on all the people who bent the rules to be nice to him. With pictures. For a moment of blog fame. Very uncool.

Hopefully any higher up officials can recognize this just gave what is probably on average a fairly affluent tech class on HN a more positive outlook on Kazakhstan. Its positive advertising for the country to hear that you don't end up in a gulag for having your passport lapse.

but who will bust the busters?

guy got busted by some people who turned around and helped him.

now he's returning the favor?

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

#230

Post by coldtea »

mwfunk wrote: post #219
coldtea wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find this response, and the suggestions, exemplifying why Kazakhstan justice (as expressed in the story, I don't know how it's in general) is superior to American justice. It's the ability to take the law and regulations lightly, when they're not that serious, and be humane about it. I mean writing: "YOU CHOSE to violate it", with added emphasis, as if having a visa expiring on the same day you leave a place (and l…

Yes, he did choose to violate it, in the sense that waiting until you've got 24 hours left on a visa to leave is just straight up bananapants crazy, especially when you are in a place where all sorts of things can happen that could delay your exit, and the legal system is unusually unpredictable (and the consequences could be unusually bad for you). Accepting a certain level of risk that something bad might happen is…

>Yes, he did choose to violate it, in the sense that waiting until you've got 24 hours left on a visa to leave is just straight up bananapants crazy, especially when you are in a place where all sorts of things can happen that could delay your exit, and the legal system is unusually unpredictable (and the consequences could be unusually bad for you).

As far as risks people take go, this one is pretty inconsequential -- even in the worst case scenario, which would be a couple months in some jail.

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