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California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

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Re: California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

#31

Post by klyrs »

GhostVII wrote: post #20
windexh8er wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's a simple fix, and he didn't want to do it. Instead, he's whining on the Internet, blaming a company that doesn't own the vehicle and can't do anything about it, either. Except, he's not whining. From the article: “I also just kind of want to see what happens,” Lou said. “How long is it gonna take them to figure out that they have a delivery truck that’s just sitting somewhere?” It doesn't seem like it's bot…

It sounds like this is just a van fully owned and operated by an independent contractor though, not Amazon, so I don't really think it speaks to any kind of inefficiency within Amazon. Prime vans generally have graphics on the side, no? And Amazon sometimes just has random people delivering packages from their vehicles. Seems kind of like talking about the inefficiency of Uber for not dealing with an Uber drivers aba…

I think that the fact that uber and amazon aren't responsible for the fleets is quite appropriate to talk about. No, this isn't the rich megacorp's direct liability. They've offloaded that to a low-margin courier that apparently can't afford to maintain their vehicles. And the schmuck who ordered some toilet paper ultimately suffers for it. I think that's a problem.

Re: California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

#32

Post by Cerium »

aimor wrote: post #28

Can't believe how many people want Lou to have the van impounded. The Amazon name is so big and so impersonal, anything and everything associated with it is expected to be taken care of by the System right away. This is our culture. Lou at least got a chance to talk to the driver, but other than that it seems whoever owns the van hasn't thought to keep Lou informed about what's going on. Lou doesn't even know who own…

Clearly the California man is following: HEURISTIC #1 When in doubt, chose the adventure. (Credit: Nietzsche) [1]

[1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29297594

Re: California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

#33

Post by pengaru »

wyrm wrote: post #6

"I’m not going to have the vehicle towed. Amazon should be able to figure this out. So now it’s an act of defiance. I did not follow Amazon’s instructions to just call the cops and have it towed." There's a simple fix, and he didn't want to do it. Instead, he's whining on the Internet, blaming a company that doesn't own the vehicle and can't do anything about it, either.

> There's a simple fix, and he didn't want to do it.

Not everyone considers inviting armed representatives of the State onto your property a "simple fix."

Re: California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

#34

Post by michaelmrose »

nullc wrote: post #19
wyrm wrote: post #6

"I’m not going to have the vehicle towed. Amazon should be able to figure this out. So now it’s an act of defiance. I did not follow Amazon’s instructions to just call the cops and have it towed." There's a simple fix, and he didn't want to do it. Instead, he's whining on the Internet, blaming a company that doesn't own the vehicle and can't do anything about it, either.

It costs money to have a car towed off your property. So he's supposed to pay to get rid of amazon's (contractors?) illegal dumping?

It costs the owner money. Calling the cops means they call the tow company and the tow operator expects to recover from the owner.

Re: California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

#35

Post by bsder »

Teever wrote: post #26
dmitriy_ko wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When police tows a vehicle, owner has to pay for towing to get the vehicle back. If nobody picks up the vehicle then vehicle is auctioned off and proceeds cover the cost of towing and storage. So the only way tax dollars end up being used is if the vehicle is worth less then the cost of towing.

I think it's highly unlikely that towing is guaranteed to be a profit centre vs. a cost centre in police/city budgets but that's besides the point. There's an opportunity cost to using police for such a mundane activity that could trivially be solved by a responsible individual. Every moment that a police officer spends on this trivial issue is one that they can't spend on a non-trivial issue. I would much rather see…

> I think it's highly unlikely that towing is guaranteed to be a profit centre vs. a cost centre in police/city budgets

Towing is massively profitable and almost all the companies have a "kickback" arrangement with the local police enforcement.

This kind of thing is in the same bin with "civil forfeiture" in the US. The whole idea that the criminal justice system gets ANY money from the criminals themselves sets up so many perverse incentives it's ridiculous.

This is the real reason why marijuana legalization is taking so long. Removing weed fines from the coffers of law enforcement is going to blow big holes in their budgets so they fight legalization tooth and nail.

Re: California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

#36

Post by Teever »

bsder wrote: post #35
Teever wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's highly unlikely that towing is guaranteed to be a profit centre vs. a cost centre in police/city budgets but that's besides the point. There's an opportunity cost to using police for such a mundane activity that could trivially be solved by a responsible individual. Every moment that a police officer spends on this trivial issue is one that they can't spend on a non-trivial issue. I would much rather see…

> I think it's highly unlikely that towing is guaranteed to be a profit centre vs. a cost centre in police/city budgets Towing is massively profitable and almost all the companies have a "kickback" arrangement with the local police enforcement. This kind of thing is in the same bin with "civil forfeiture" in the US. The whole idea that the criminal justice system gets ANY money from the criminals themselves sets up s…

Oh I'm aware that someone is making money off towing, I just question the assertion as to whether or not it is a money making activity for local governments, because I have a feeling that on the whole it's a net negative for some places, in part due to the kick-backs you describe.

Re: California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

#37

Post by aaron695 »

Amazon don't own the truck.

Maybe the owner is a cunt.

Or maybe life is just hard for them at the moment. They deliver packages for Amazon, it can't be great.

Or maybe they have mental issues. You know how everyone tweets about mental issues are like any sickness until they read about the 'huge' inconvenience of a car near/in someones driveway.

Dude seems cool, moved the truck and didn't screw over the owner because hurting people by default I guess isn't in everyone's DNA.

Re: California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

#39

Post by ckdarby »

Apocryphon wrote: post #21
lotsofpulp wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon most likely does not own it, hence Amazon telling him to have it towed. The guy is being an idiot looking for publicity.

He is raising donations for a food bank and appears to have received $200 so far from Amazon thanks to this media circus https://twitter.com/TheCaptainLou/status/1460773777164308482

You can see his house in one of the pictures he has on his twitter, +$2M house. Instead of trying for this attention he could just donate and have had the vehicle towed. It's childish behavior for attention, just scroll down his feed and there are other examples like where he talks about breaking free a signed basketball from his dentist office.

Re: California Man in 4-Day Standoff with Abandoned Amazon Truck in Driveway

#40

Post by ckdarby »

Apocryphon wrote: post #21
lotsofpulp wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Amazon most likely does not own it, hence Amazon telling him to have it towed. The guy is being an idiot looking for publicity.

He is raising donations for a food bank and appears to have received $200 so far from Amazon thanks to this media circus https://twitter.com/TheCaptainLou/status/1460773777164308482

You can see his house in one of the pictures he has on his twitter, +$2M house. Instead of trying for this attention he could just donate and have had the vehicle towed. It's childish behavior for attention, just scroll down his feed and there are other examples like where he talks about breaking free a signed basketball from his dentist office.
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