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

511–520 of 535 posts

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

#511

Post by [deleted] »

memetherapy wrote: post #431
sgt wrote: post #420

Earlier quoted context omitted.

General advice: do not give money to the homeless, just give them food. There are of course exceptions in life like with anything, but if your city has a homelessness problem then you and others will only gradually make it worse by giving money.

As someone who's been homeless (and didn't have a drink or drug problem thanks) please fuck off. A night in a shelter costs money. Clothes which regularly get stolen cost money. Going to the bathroom costs money. Having a shower costs money. Travel to find jobs costs money. Medication costs money. Toothpaste costs money.

[deleted]

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

#512

Post by sgt »

memetherapy wrote: post #431
sgt wrote: post #420

Earlier quoted context omitted.

General advice: do not give money to the homeless, just give them food. There are of course exceptions in life like with anything, but if your city has a homelessness problem then you and others will only gradually make it worse by giving money.

As someone who's been homeless (and didn't have a drink or drug problem thanks) please fuck off. A night in a shelter costs money. Clothes which regularly get stolen cost money. Going to the bathroom costs money. Having a shower costs money. Travel to find jobs costs money. Medication costs money. Toothpaste costs money.

Telling me bluntly to "fuck off" tells me a little bit about your personality. I'm guessing you have psychological issues that you struggle with. Be careful so you don't end up on the street again buddy.

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

#513

Post by earthboundkid »

ineedasername wrote: post #393
earthboundkid wrote: post #334

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There have always been crazy people and the indolent, but there was a qualitative change in the number of urban homeless in the 1980s. It didn’t used to be like this.

The qualitative change in the 1980's was a deep recession that saw a drastic reduction in HUD funding, combined with a 20-30 year long defunding of long-term mental health institutions. The combination left the economically disenfranchised and mentally vulnerable with high rates of homelessness. It's notable that neither of these factors that had been keeping homelessness rates low were the result of a hands-off free…

The “fall on hard times” crowd hasn’t always lost their homes. For instance, it doesn’t matter how bad the famine was in feudal times, the lord wasn’t going to kick you off the land. Losing your home to foreclosure requires a modern economy.

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

#514

Post by asveikau »

asveikau wrote: post #510
meowster wrote: post #496

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Hmm, too late to edit, but it appears I mis-remembered Kia as Hyundai. I remembered the country of origin correctly though!

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

#515

Post by ineedasername »

earthboundkid wrote: post #513
ineedasername wrote: post #393

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The qualitative change in the 1980's was a deep recession that saw a drastic reduction in HUD funding, combined with a 20-30 year long defunding of long-term mental health institutions. The combination left the economically disenfranchised and mentally vulnerable with high rates of homelessness. It's notable that neither of these factors that had been keeping homelessness rates low were the result of a hands-off free…

The “fall on hard times” crowd hasn’t always lost their homes. For instance, it doesn’t matter how bad the famine was in feudal times, the lord wasn’t going to kick you off the land. Losing your home to foreclosure requires a modern economy.

That isn't quite true. It was not uncommon for the British lords to kick Irish off their lands. I have a hard time believing that was a unique circumstance throughout the history of various forms of feudalism.

See also the practice of "Enclosure" for an additional example.

In addition, being a peasant often had some properties of slavery: no freedom of mobility or choice and sometimes lack of pay, with the express approval of the local lord required for many things. See the Revolt of 1381.

The Lord-Peasant relationship is really not a positive example of preventing homelessness, but either way, let's face it: It was the Government supporting those people. Arguing from the historic example of feudalism as a method that prevented homelessness would mean you're arguing that the government should be directly supporting the homeless.

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

#516

Post by progman32 »

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…

> I imagine that this isn't the norm, though.

Agree. This is an anecdote to frame my point, not a statistical claim.

> How much do hospitals cost where you live?

Unjustifiably, prohibitively expensive. They were asking for money specifically to go to the hospital.

> What were they going to do with the others?

Not immediately tossing the clothes into the dirt in front of my friend, for one. My friend spent time sorting and folding the clothes before coming back outside to the homeless man waiting on the porch. My point is this doesn't really change the ethics.

> Why is this the fault of the homeless person? It isn't, and I did not intend to have my post interpreted in this way.

All that is beside my point presented at the end of my post, which was elided from your response.

Let me restate my position. If I give a dollar to a homeless person, they may blow it on destructive behavior. Or maybe they led me to falsely believe they needed the help. Point is, that does not excuse not helping at all.

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

#517

Post by ineedasername »

sgt wrote: post #422
audiometry wrote: post #377

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah the preoccupation with “how will the person use this money” I’ve done away with. I donate money to people. If it’s a scam or they use it for “unhealthy” ends, then I consider that is on them, not me. I gave the money with good intentions. I’m not tied to the outcome.

Yes, in a way that's pretty selfish of you (and reflects typical western society). You want to feel good by patting yourself on the back saying "oh well, I did donate", and then expressing interest in any consequences later on caused by the transaction. We all do it, but we also know good intentions can be lined with consequences that you are partially responsible for.

There is nothing you can do in life-- including the choice of doing nothing-- that doesn't have the potential for negative consequences.

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

#518

Post by FalconSensei »

recursive wrote: post #508
FalconSensei wrote: post #410

Earlier quoted context omitted.

says who?

The original article, me, and a few others in this comment section.

> It's also unneeded: it's nearly impossible to start a modern car without the key.

> But, as Roger Morris at the National Insurance Crime Bureau explained to me, guys will "break in, roll the car to a vacant lot, and strip it for parts. Breaking into cars is a billion-dollar business."

In Brazil they rob the sound system, and other things, in place. Maybe that's more common with older cars, that only had a CD player, but it happens.

With my sister's car, they just broke down the door (like, folded it down a bit), stole the stereo, the CDs, and other stuff that was inside.

You know those car stereos that you could take the front off? A friend of my parents did that. They keyed the car, screwed with the door, and wrote that the stereo would have been cheaper...

So yeah, I would say that an alarm might have helped in those cases.

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

#519

Post by fao_ »

fao_ wrote: post #509
coremoff wrote: post #502

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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 wh…

> from approaching a doctor to receiving medical treatment from a GIC being 7+ years

Ah, I can't believe I managed to put this down wrong.

There are two required appointments from a GIC: First a psychiatric assessment from a therapist, Second an appointment with an endocrinologist. The timeline until the first appointment is approximately 3 - 7 years, and then you need to wait up to 2 years (At least, I've heard word of people waiting that long) for the endocrinology appointment, and then finally, you will receive treatment.

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

#520

Post by fy20 »

chrisseaton wrote: post #308
fy20 wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing about radios isn't true. You can remove them easily, but they are usually locked in software to that vehicle so can't easily be reused. That doesn't mean they can't... Last year someone broke into the underground parking of my apartment building and stole the radios from a couple of new BMWs. No way was that just a random smash and grab, as to get in you need to go through the car elevator or unlock two doo…

> The thing about radios isn't true. You can remove them easily Do you think cars still use the old ISO 7736 and ISO 10487 standards for radios? Those standard-sized oblong units where people would replace them with after-market radios? That's not the case anymore and hasn't been more than a decade or two. Car radios these days are an integral part of the cars computers and the infotainment system. They aren't remova…

> Car radios these days are an integral part

Typically a single car is sold with a few different models of stereos, not only for different trim levels but also different regions, e.g. SiriusFM is common in the US but doesn't exist in Europe, and the navigation is usually region specific (you can't just swap a DVD like you could 15 years ago).

> what on earth are you going to do with that?

In my country salvaged cars are imported from Western Europe and the US, fixed up and resold here. A car with a European radio/infotainment/nav system is going to sell for a lot more than a car with a (pretty useless for here) USA system. There's also people who need a replacement for whatever reason (it broke, spilled coffee on it, dog scratched it up, etc) and want something cheaper than €5000 for a replacement at a dealership.

As I hinted at, the radio software is locked to the original ECU so you can't just swap them directly, but if you know what you are doing (or more likely know someone with access to manufacturers software) it's possible.

This wasn't just a junkie stealing a radio they can sell for $20 to get a hit, it's an organised crime. I'd be very surprised if this doesn't happen in the USA too. I would have thought it would be easier to steal the whole car and take it to a chop shop than just stealing parts though.

Post reply on HN