This reminded me of a situation Richard Stallman was involved in while visiting a doctor's office:
http://stallman.org/articles/asked_to_lie.html
The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
91–100 of 246 posts
Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
#922 + 2 = 5
Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
#93A guy I know was in a similar situation when trying to enter Australia. 20+ years ago, when he was 18, he was arrested for the afternoon because of a student protest. So now on the visa forms, when entering Australia on vacation, he was asked if he had ever been arrested. He checked yes. The border control people in Australia denied him entry, and put him on the next plane back home. When he told the border guy the f…
Or, just go with the flow. I remember a time I was leaving Boca Raton Florida, heading for Front Royal Virginia (field engineering work). I had a partial bottle of wine in my carry on (way before 9-11) and as I carefully set the bag on the conveyor for the x-ray device, I asked the security attendant if it was okay to have a partial bottle in the bag.
She said "What?" in a heavy accent, so I asked again, she said "What?" again, and by this time my bag was at the bottom of the exit ramp of the conveyor.
I said "Never mind, have a nice day" picked up my bag and made my flight.
Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
#94Earlier quoted context omitted.
>That seems like a terribly cynical way to view the idea that, if you're nice to people, they will be nice to you. I'm saying that if you're nice to someone who wants nothing more than an excuse to hurt you, and who has no compunction about doing so, then perhaps you won't get hurt. The end goal is not for them to be nice to you. The goal is for them to refrain from making your life a living hell.
I just think there's another way to look at this situation. Have you seen The Incredibles? The scene towards the beginning when Mr. Incredible helps the little old lady cheat the insurance system? I think most bureaucrats want to be that person. They want to give the good guy a break; they want to cut people who try hard a little bit of slack. It means more work for them, since they need to spend their own time to ma…
God, I wish it was the way you describe it. Unfortunately, Mr. Incredible is the exception, not the rule. Most flunkies really don't care about the person in front of them - at least not enough to risk their job (which Mr. Incredible was doing every time he helped someone).
Additionally, it has been my experience that American cops are not shy about showing overwhelming force. Nor are they shy about pushing the boundaries of what they can do to you, what they can cite or arrest you for. Nor do they have any compunction about tricking you into giving them more access or more information than they have a right to.
We live in a society which has somehow learned to ascribe to the philosophy that you should use your power to it's full extent. Discretion is a sucker's game. The MO is: show up to the scene with overwhelming force, and if anyone gives you an excuse, arrest them. Cite them. Take their stuff. Cost them time and money. Punish them. Or, for a federal prosecutor: ignore common sense and threaten a non-violent person with decades in federal prison to get your desired plea-deal. There is no prize for discretion, only convictions.
Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
#95Earlier 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…
Maybe, but it's also just as likely to have resulted in a ticket after confessing.
Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
#96“What struck me the most about the situation is how excited she got about seizing the boat. Like she was just itching for something like this to happen. This was a very happy day for her.”
I am inclined to believe this. Ugh. Makes me mad.
Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
#97Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Coast Guard was placed there for financial gerrymandering. The idea that they are part of DHS is a horrible joke. Same with most of what you mentioned. Bush/Obama has shoved everything in there to create a psuedo military branch so it can't be declined in the future. Disgusting actions, honestly.
Bush/Obama shoved everything in there because people it was a national outrage after 9/11 that we had different departments for these things. We got what we goddamned asked for. It's not Bush's fault, or Obama's fault, but your fault and my fault.
Speak for yourself. I didn't ask for that.
Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
#98Earlier 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…
Know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em. Sometimes pragmatism beats principle.
Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
#99Would Google Glass be able to solve this type of issues???
Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today
#100The boat in question[1] would appear to be a Coastal Craft 400 IPS[2]. Roughly, $1M CAD (roughly, $1M USD at today's rate). I don't have that kind of money lying around for anything, much less a boat, but I suppose I'd be a little pissed myself if all of it was in the hands of someone else due to red tape. 1. https://twitter.com/BrianKrantz/status/279015063661199360/ph... 2. http://coastalcraft.com/coastal-craft-400-…
Heh, 1 mil doesn't buy much boat.