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Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

telecom.csail.mit.edu

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Re: Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

#61

Post by ajxs »

dools wrote: post #20

Here in Australia, you would just need to call the TIO to get it sorted out. Likewise if financial institutions are stuffing you about, call ACMA. If it's an energy company, call Energy and Water. A perfect example of how the private sector cannot self regulate to the benefit of consumers simply because a profit motive exists. Every time I've made an ombudsman complaint I have received Good Service™ from the company…

Fellow Australian here. I can confirm every word of this. The TIO gets things done. The telecom companies live in fear of the ombudsman's office, to the point that even mentioning their name can get things moving.

Re: Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

#62

Post by torstenvl »

profile53 wrote: post #52
torstenvl wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This comment is deeply inappropriate. Engaging in ideological flamewar is against HN guidelines and is just plain rude to all of the HN folks who actually work in the field you're being casually dismissive of.

I don’t think the parent post was engaging in an ideological flame war. As a way to start educating yourself, I’d recommend reading about the correlation between long jail sentences and African American heritage. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/racial-d... (Edit: this DOJ report is more relevant to the time period of the article. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/sfc-drmtsg8690.pdf ) Deny the ba…

[flagged]

Re: Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

#63

Post by profile53 »

torstenvl wrote: post #50
mabbo wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

> I wonder if there's any good data on the sentencing for cable theft broken down by race. If there were, that would arguably be good content for HN. In the absence of such data, completely baseless allegations of systemic racism are ideological flamewar and do not belong here.

> completely baseless allegations of systemic racism

Pretty much all scientific literature in the last 40 years agrees that there is systemic racism throughout the legal system. Your choice not to believe it does not make most existing scientific research ‘an ideological flame war’.

Re: Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

#65

Post by sidewndr46 »

emodendroket wrote: post #15
Hizonner wrote: post #7

While Comcast should get plenty of blame here, it's also true that it's flat out dereliction of duty for a prosecutor to file a case based on nothing but an uninvestigated complaint from some random corporation. At least Comcast made some attempt to fix it... and also got stonewalled by the State's Attorney's office.

You know, I've had similar thoughts about the Hertz debacle where people were thrown in jail for having rented cars and used them as agreed. I don't think if I made a phone call to the local police department and told them so-and-so stole my car they'd throw them in jail without asking any questions (at least I hope not). Why is Hertz any different?

Because they have more money and power than you

Re: Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

#66

Post by eru »

extraduder_ire wrote: post #44
AaronM wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Growing up my best friend dated a girl with very strict parents, who did not approve of the relationship. He was pulled over and arrested for grand theft auto. Spent three days in jail until she was convinced to make a statement at the police station and they let him go. Parents reported the car, which they must have owned, as stolen, and gave my friends description to police

I think that one is actually "malicious prosecution", as described in the article.

That might be true, but good look keeping your girlfriend, if you sue their parents (even if the parents are jerks).

Re: Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

#67

Post by l33t7332273 »

torstenvl wrote: post #62
profile53 wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t think the parent post was engaging in an ideological flame war. As a way to start educating yourself, I’d recommend reading about the correlation between long jail sentences and African American heritage. https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/racial-d... (Edit: this DOJ report is more relevant to the time period of the article. https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/sfc-drmtsg8690.pdf ) Deny the ba…

[flagged]

I wish you would use your expertise to share some knowledge instead of just shutting down the conversation.

Re: Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

#68

Post by erosenbe0 »

cogman10 wrote: post #17

I thought this might be fiction because the amount of time for pirating cable seemed crazy.. However [1] there are indeed up to 6 month penalties for stealing cable. That's just ludicrous. How could copyright theft ever be anything other than a civil action? Jail time for stealing cable, that's just insane. Nobody gets hurt from stolen cable. We really need to look long and hard at what we allow jail time for. Jail t…

Copyright is a property right. It is not unreasonable for theft of property to carry the possibility of criminal charges. This is not strictly done in service of big media---if organized crime rings come in to town and do a ton of rogue hookups with impunity, then the cable company leaves and you have a cycle of degradation in the quality of life. Preventing organized crime is why it is a federal offense. Of course, the judicial system ought to utilize its authority with discretion so as not to severely punish simple petty thefts. Also note that cable theft (e.g., the physical tampering element) can damage emergency communication lines and can create dangerous electrical problems.

Re: Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

#69

Post by quickthrower2 »

extraduder_ire wrote: post #48
quickthrower2 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

= always have $10,000+ liquid on hand in case you need to?

"on hand" being metaphorical here, because if you actually have anywhere near that amount of cash some cop could civil asset forfeiture you.

I said liquid :-). Might be just your credit card limit.

Re: Get a cable modem, go to jail (1999)

#70

Post by [deleted] »

Larrikin wrote: post #18
cogman10 wrote: post #17

I thought this might be fiction because the amount of time for pirating cable seemed crazy.. However [1] there are indeed up to 6 month penalties for stealing cable. That's just ludicrous. How could copyright theft ever be anything other than a civil action? Jail time for stealing cable, that's just insane. Nobody gets hurt from stolen cable. We really need to look long and hard at what we allow jail time for. Jail t…

[flagged]

[deleted]
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