Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

popularmechanics.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

501–510 of 535 posts

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#501

Post by einpoklum »

loyukfai wrote: post #264
ineedasername wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It amazes me that, in wealthy countries, there are significant homelessness problems due to economic displacement. I consider it an existence-proof of the idea that a free market cannot solve all problems. I think homelessness due to other causes-- mental health for example-- are more complex but similarly demonstrate fundamental flaws in the framework of society. Only once was I able to give a homeless person a meal…

A free market has no morals, it's up to the participants to instill some.

Actually, a market instills morals - although not the ones I'd like:

* Never give, only sell.

* Produce in accordance to the interests of those with money, not people in general or those with need.

* Everything, and perhaps every one, can be bought for the right price.

* Debt must be repaid.

etc.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#502

Post by coremoff »

fao_ wrote: post #386
progman32 wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've brought over a bagged lunch to a homeless person specifically asking for food, only to be roundly rejected without comment or inquiry. Guy begged for food daily. I've given money to a homeless person asking for money for a cab to the hospital. They had a visibly and badly injured hand. After I gave them the money they stopped me from calling a cab from my phone, and (upon perceiving me as having left), pocketed…

> I've brought over a bagged lunch to a homeless person specifically asking for food, only to be roundly rejected without comment or inquiry. Guy begged for food daily. I imagine that this isn't the norm, though. > I've given money to a homeless person asking for money for a cab to the hospital. They had a visibly and badly injured hand. After I gave them the money they stopped me from calling a cab from my phone, an…

> How much do hospitals cost where you live? I'm not saying that this person wasn't an asshole, but for many people, they see no point going to the hospital if it's going to leave them in the red.

This happens even in countries with universal healthcare - the "needing money for a cab to get to the hospital" is a well known scam; the dedicated ones learn how to keep a wound open and bleeding constantly. (There was a notorious one near where I live, who managed to keep a bone exposed, allegedly - never seen him, so can't comment further on that).

In London, at least, my understanding is that most homelessness is a mental health issue; support is available, but not necessarily wanted.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#503

Post by astura »

james-skemp wrote: post #378
astura wrote: post #302

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But everyone just totally ignores car alarms, so they don't function as any sort of deterrent in practice. Thieves will still take your shit even if an alarm is going off. When was the last time you ran outside to confront a possible theft when you heard a car alarm go off?

I didn't run outside last week, but that's because we can get a good view of the circle we live on from our front window. We've had a number of thefts in our city, especially since the pandemic started, so we've been keeping an eye open for our fellow neighbors. (Thefts have mostly been kids, seemingly using them for temporary transportation, joy riding, and a case earlier this year of a possible ring taking nicer ve…

Okay, you keep your eyes open for your neighbors - then what? Your eyes don't magically stop break-ins - you looking out the window doesn't stop people from breaking into cars, just like actual cameras don't stop them.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#504

Post by Skunkleton »

bluGill wrote: post #311
ineedasername wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sitting here on my couch looking around my living room, and it occurs to me that a significant % of my belongings could have been made under labor conditions illegal within the US. It's a bit chilling to consider that.

this is tricky. Most of those workers don't have better options. Work in conditions that are illegal, or for much less pay elsewhere, and probably still illegal. Safety standards are not as high, but they get better as the companies learn from us. (Even at the least flattering look, cleaning up body parts and training a replacement takes time. Most people are better than that ) But I still avoid slave labor. The work…

I used to think this way, but I have since realized that it is a trap. Modern American business benefits from cheap foreign labor. This is almost exclusively labor done in conditions that no American worker would accept, for pay that would be illegally low. The transitional argument in favor of this arrangement is dishonest. It ignores the fact that many of our suppliers countries controlling entities are benefiting hugely from this exploitative arrangement, and are therefore unwilling to move towards a more just society.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#505

Post by jmackinn »

Lammy wrote: post #288
ineedasername wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It amazes me that, in wealthy countries, there are significant homelessness problems due to economic displacement. I consider it an existence-proof of the idea that a free market cannot solve all problems. I think homelessness due to other causes-- mental health for example-- are more complex but similarly demonstrate fundamental flaws in the framework of society. Only once was I able to give a homeless person a meal…

This is only my American perspective and wouldn't pertain to all wealthy countries, but I don't think it would be fair to categorize the US as having a free market. We have a market that has been increasingly weaponized to continue the old traditions of Jim Crow and segregation. Lots of people will ask "WTF happened in 1971?" ( https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/ ), but I find it impossible to do that without considering…

The microprocessor became available in 1971, that's what happened.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#506

Post by nimbius »

The real answer: insurance companies and fleets in the early 90s.

Fleet vehicles in the 90s were high theft targets. Common keyed in most cases and sparsely tracked. As part of insurance provider crackdowns cars were required to be fitted with alarms so fleet lot security guards would be alerted to theft. Rental companies responded by demanding alarms in their fleet cars, and manufacturers complied.

In 2020 a rental car is basically a rolling eye of the god argus. Everything gets tracked.

these alarms are also used at ports of call and container shipping lots for new cars, although they're less meaningful since most new cars ship on a 'transit' mode that locks the car to 5mph until a dealer unlocks the firmware.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#507

Post by JadeNB »

dotancohen wrote: post #239
andy_ppp wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess because the car would appear to be non-functional rather than deliberately disabled, i.e. the engine would choke and splutter but would not take you far.

Also, in some jurisdictions the car is not considered "stolen" until it has physically moved. If the engine can move the vehicle just a centimeter before stalling under the load, then the vehicle is stolen for legal purposes and that has effects on reporting to the police, insurance for broken windows or valuables missing, and even crime statistics if the OP is thinking long term. It also might enable the OP to file…

> Also, in some jurisdictions the car is not considered "stolen" until it has physically moved.

Leading to the hilarious situation that a thief who couldn't get my car moving was charged, not with theft, but criminal trespass.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#509

Post by fao_ »

coremoff wrote: post #502
fao_ wrote: post #386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've brought over a bagged lunch to a homeless person specifically asking for food, only to be roundly rejected without comment or inquiry. Guy begged for food daily. I imagine that this isn't the norm, though. > I've given money to a homeless person asking for money for a cab to the hospital. They had a visibly and badly injured hand. After I gave them the money they stopped me from calling a cab from my phone, an…

> How much do hospitals cost where you live? I'm not saying that this person wasn't an asshole, but for many people, they see no point going to the hospital if it's going to leave them in the red. This happens even in countries with universal healthcare - the "needing money for a cab to get to the hospital" is a well known scam; the dedicated ones learn how to keep a wound open and bleeding constantly. (There was a n…

> support is available

In most places in the UK, mental health support takes about 3 years to put you through the waiting list (Niche problems like for example trans healthcare are even worse, with the current estimated waiting list from approaching a doctor to receiving medical treatment from a GIC being 7+ years in some places of England), and I've know people who have had trouble with being dropped off the list when being transferred from the youth mental health support to the adult mental health support. Also, it still relies on you being in a fiscally and materially stable position where you can address these problems safely and from a place where you are not literally worrying about your ability to live to tomorrow, which for a lot of people who do not have active housing, is not viable.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#510

Post by asveikau »

meowster wrote: post #496
asveikau wrote: post #402

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hm. Maybe I am wrong on this, but then you would expect them to dispose it near a potentially faraway crime scene, not close to where it was stolen.

Plans can change. OP asked a question, and I provided a possibility that wasn't previously considered.

Well it kinda fits what I heard about something like meth, where someone might expend a lot of energy on a wild plan (elaborate heist of a Hyundai) but not have much to show for it (Hyundai abandoned a few blocks away with nothing of value removed).

Didn't seem like a rational actor.

Post reply on HN