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The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

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Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#81

Post by vacri »

snprbob86 wrote: post #76
javajosh wrote: post #10

Ah, procedure. I'm particularly fond of situations like this where the procedure is, for the normal person, a once-in-a-lifetime event. But the flunky on the other side of the desk does it every day. And they think you are yet another stupid person who doesn't understand the simple procedure, and they have nothing but contempt for those who don't understand the procedure as deeply as they do (especially which parts o…

> [T]he procedure is, for the normal person, a once-in-a-lifetime event. But the flunky on the other side of the desk does it every day. I just had a TV delivered. And then a replacement delivered, but they were unauthorized to pick up the original, so the same two delivery guys had to come back a third time. All three times, the delivery guys tried to force me to sign an incomplete form. They clearly wanted me to si…

Take photographs. 'perfect condition' on a form is not as powerful as 'here are your guys and my TV'. Certainly if you're a renter, take pictures before you move in. Same as landlords, too. Pictures are free and can potentially save a lot of heartache.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#82

Post by jacques_chester »

Some tactics that may or may not work depending on jurisdiction and circumstances:

1. Mark the correction on the form. Sign underneath the correction, or mark with your initials, in addition to the correct place to sign.

2. When signing, write "Under Duress" underneath.

IANAL, TINLA.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#84

Post by [deleted] »

tibbon wrote: post #67
eqreqeq wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> The other solution is to be really, really nice. To be incredibly accommodating. To engender a spirit of goodwill, joviality and kindness such that the flunky wants to help you. That is not a practical solution. It sounds almost like a bribe. I'm not saying that you should be rude to anybody, but you shouldn't have to kiss somebody's ass just so that they do their jobs. Is a slippery slope. Now you are kissing the…

So I was pulled over while driving a few months ago. I was trying to keep up with a friend, I got behind and I made a really stupid, illegal and probably dangerous maneuver in trying to keep up. Happened to be a cop at that intersection who pulled me over. Officer comes to the car, and asks about what I just did. I pretty much immediately admit to doing it, and tell him that it was a terrible lapse of judgement on my…

[deleted]

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#85

Post by edw519 »

clicks wrote: post #75
edw519 wrote: post #72

It’ll end by me bending over at some point. Karma for this: http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/14/aaron-swartz-asking-for-hel...

Nice to have you back Ed. Stick around. :)

I never left. I love Hacker News.

And I'm not proud of grandparent comment, but I couldn't resist. I'll try to revert to making comments that provide value to my fellow hackers.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#86

Post by jlgreco »

snowwrestler wrote: post #79
jlgreco wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Yes, yes, isn't so unreasonable the way those "flunkies" expect to be treated like worthwhile human beings? It is unreasonable for them to use their power to coerce the sort of treatment from people that they mistakenly believe they are entitled to. This is the case whether you consider them flunkies or community heroes.

Why is it mistaken to expect to be treated nicely? When did it become ok to be an asshole to fellow citizens? When I go to the convenience store to buy a donut, I am nice to the clerk behind the counter. When I go through customs, I am nice to the agent behind the counter. How are those mistakes?

Expecting that is absolutely fine. Feeling entitled to that is not. You don't get to fuck over other people's days when they fail to extend you a courtesy.

Well I mean, clearly they do get to do that, but that is a problem, not excusable behavior.

I treat clerks nicely because I am a decent person. I treat government officials in positions of power over me nicely because, aside from being a decent person, I understand the score.

Frankly I wish American culture were such that I could just give people $50s instead of putting on the song and dance. Either one is bribery, neither particularly morally superior to the other.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#87

Post by vacri »

eqreqeq wrote: post #19
javajosh wrote: post #10

Ah, procedure. I'm particularly fond of situations like this where the procedure is, for the normal person, a once-in-a-lifetime event. But the flunky on the other side of the desk does it every day. And they think you are yet another stupid person who doesn't understand the simple procedure, and they have nothing but contempt for those who don't understand the procedure as deeply as they do (especially which parts o…

>> The other solution is to be really, really nice. To be incredibly accommodating. To engender a spirit of goodwill, joviality and kindness such that the flunky wants to help you. That is not a practical solution. It sounds almost like a bribe. I'm not saying that you should be rude to anybody, but you shouldn't have to kiss somebody's ass just so that they do their jobs. Is a slippery slope. Now you are kissing the…

but you shouldn't have to kiss somebody's ass just so that they do their jobs

This is what I thought when I saw the US custom of tipping bartenders.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#88

Post by raintrees »

The form is being treated as a contract, and like all contracts I am requested to sign, I would line through and correct them as needed, then sign. If the other party will not allow the amendments, then we go to the next step, but in the mean time, the contract was made factually correct.

I did this with my girlfriend (now wife) on our first rental contract and was amused by her shock at my changing the "official" forms.

Likewise, forms with blanks that in no way allow for the information to be printed into the space given get writing that extends across whatever needed to supply the correct answers. Maybe the form will eventually be updated to be a little more accommodating, maybe not.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#90

Post by OldSchool »

antidaily wrote: post #58

They say you're better off taking the cash you'd pay for a boat and just throwing it into the ocean.

Another source says, "Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolute nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats..."

I believe this to be true at least for me, and I've also found that no other machine exists that can gather a family or friends together with the same reliable prospect for good times. A quality boat can last decades, but yes they are never any sort of good investment; they are an up-front and recurring cost. It just depends if it's your thing or not.

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