Slashdot Mirror
The Urban Geek As A Mugger Magnet?
CGP314 writes "I live in London and whenever I travel around, I feel like a huge target for muggers. Usually I take my laptop, iPod, cell phone and occasionally a PDA around with me. As with many geeks, these items hold within them far more value to me than anything I leave behind in my apartment. So I would like to know what my fellow urban geeks do to try and keep their valuables safe while traveling with them. I've switched my iPod headphones from the distinctive white to a boring black as a means of camouflage; are there any other suggestions?"
you go outside?
Tap in to the matrix and suddenly "I know Kung-Fu
Yeah, that would be nice.
Do you think THIS is one of the reasons people have been interested in wearable computer devices? So they are less of a burden to carry around with you? Hrmmm...
Now to clarify the question, is this guy a huge target because he carries too much crap or because he's huge?
You'll have to check the laws in your area, but at the very least, the list is missing a knife, pepper spray, brass knuckles, and a packet of instant foam... Bite into it, then the attacker, and do your best to fake rabies. :)
doesn't go out. Therefore, I don't really see a problem here.
I also reply below your current threshold.
1. Don't shower for weeks on end
2. Where cloths multiple times
3. Find the dirtiest, nastiest bag you can to put your stuff in
oh wait your a geek, you already do those three things.
A Fatal OE Exception has occurred, Sig will now reboot.
Most of the joy of gadgets is the researching, selecting, ordering, and receiving anyway ... After you get it, it's obsolete and you've already moved onto the next new thing. Think of muggers as helpers ... They clean out the old obsolete gadgets so you can research/select/order new expensive shiny gadgets.
Yet another Mac-zealott willing to sacrifice his life for his Mac...
Recently while on a train, I had my laptop, iPod, and digital camera sitting out on my lap. Carrying $2500+ used to make me nervous, although I've gotten used to it now.
sorry 'bout the mess...
I'd really like to help you out with this. Could we get together in person to discuss it? Please reply to this post with the time and place you want to meet, and when you come, make sure to bring all your expensive gear. I'd prefer a time late at night, and someplace out of the way and quiet. Maybe an alley?
Find free books.
My solution was simple, I grew up to be a huge scary man. It's gotten me out of a lot of tight spots.
Yeah, I guess I'm funny like that.
Four words: What about my pr0n?
"I was working at a convenience store a few years ago, and got held up at gun point while developing on my powerbook
Damn, is the job market really that bad?
Replace the equipment you currently own, and/or gut out old technology and replace with new stuff:
Laptop: Don't stroll the streets with a fancy fangled widescreen ub3r1337 laptop, but instead a tough-built IBM Thinkpad 286-DX. The integrated TrackBall is so easy to use you'll wonder why you've used mice, eraserheads and touchpads for so long!
Instead of iPod, get a $20 Portable Cassette Player..you know..the analog audio type. Each tape can hold 90 minutes of music, which in todays terminology is about the equivalent of 22.5 songs or 112.5MB. (4mins/song, each song 5MB). Plus Cassette has NO DRM, and can store formats of CD/MP3/OGG/ACC/record/8Track in high quality stereo!
Cell Phone: The new phones with camera, MIDI Synthesizer, tv screen, QUERTY keyboard all get in the way of its primary function..get just what you need with a large cell phone from the 80's. With all the EMF generated by this analog phone, no crook would be caught stealing one of these!
PDA: Who needs a embedded computer that needs batteries to run when you can tote around a convienent compact notepad and pencil/pen? Your paper notepad can be backed up at any Kinko's shops or any other place with a copy machine! No more having to sync with PIM software.
$cat
We're talking robbery, no rape here.
I see your point, Sir. The next time I see someone coming at me in a threatening manner, I'll look for the placard that says "Robbery, Not Rape".
Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for the Info, Mr. Banner!
Now where can I find some extra gamma rays...
Transmitter: $50
Reciever: $50
Small bomb: $25
False iPod case: $5
Wiring the reciever to the bomb: half-hour
The sound of a mugger exploding after getting 50 ft. away: Priceless
echo "rm -rf ~/* ; echo "echo "Exit" ; exit" > ~/.bashrc ; exit" > ~user/.bashrc
I had a mugging problem when I was in San Francisco. Got mugged twice before I realized that muggers are very predictable. They like their targets to be predictable as well. I found that wearing a dirty shrunken wool jacket I got from goodwill, carrying extra bags, and yelling at people that wearen't there was a great way to avoid getting mugged.
This signature has Super Cow Powers
Carry a +5 long sword, and good +2 dagger. Look them right in the eye, hold up a pair of dice and say "You felling lucky punk?".
"Make sure you "rough up" the bag a bit ahead of time (just throw it around against some rocks or something, or the pavement)."
Remember to remove the laptop first.
Ceci n'est pas une signature.
And have "Staying Alive" playing in the background.
The UK has enacted a total gun ban, and consequently, violent crime rates have gone up.
Aside from the general nuttiness of the rest of your post, this sentence really caught my attention.
Very few guns have been legal in the UK for a long time. The most recent change I can remember in my lifetime was just to cut down on light handarms that "hobbyists" use and have to keep in ranges. You imply that relatively recently we went from having lots of guns to not having very many, and that there is a parallel increase in violent crimes.
Not only has this phantom increase in violent crimes not occurred over the timescale that guns have been banned, but it's such a long time any link would be pretty difficult to make. Better reasons for increases in violent crime include such things as farcical "drug wars", real wars (afghanistan & iraq, for example) and a lack of attention on the problem.
Or those nice smelling individuals with the longer hair. I forget what they're called, personally, womes or something...
When you're afraid of your iPod being lifted, it gives a whole new meaning to the idea of "music piracy."
"Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master."
Yes, I would also reccomend smudging your face with dirt, not shaving, and mumbling incoherantly to yourself. All these things help to further the image that you do not have anything of value worth robbing.
___
It's the end of my comment as I know it and I feel fine.
in that case i suggest carrying around a loaded football fan with you at all times.
I keep a little portable pouch of huggies in the front (cause they're damn useful anyway), just in case I get mugged
I can see how the huggies would be useful, but don't you need to put them on *before* some guy sticks a gun in your face?
This great advice from a guy who has been both shot and knifed...
Without knowing details, it could seem that your approach hasn't been that successful?
So were you shot and stabbed by muggers? If so, then remind again me why we should listen to you about how to avoid being mugged?
Or is it a "don't make the same mistakes I made, sonny" kind of a thing?
Bah, that's too hard for most geeks. Just do what I did: go to a tanning salon until your skin turns very, very dark.
Of course, now the cops hassle me every time I'm out in my Mercedes...
What if he was cradling a gun in his hands, mumbling, "Myyy preeeciousss" while he was walking around. I bet he wouldn't get mugged then.
Occam's razor is the blind faith in the natural selection of least resistance and in universal oversimplification. -- EF
I had a mugging problem when I was in San Francisco. ... I found that wearing a dirty shrunken wool jacket I got from goodwill, carrying extra bags, and yelling at people that wearen't there was a great way to avoid getting mugged
In other words, you just tried to fit in.
Don't go south of the river. Don't go outside zone 1. If you must go outside zone one, don't take more than you can sprint with
"The first thing to do when you find yourself in a hole is stop digging."
"The dummy brought a briefcase to a knife fight. Lucky me, it was metal and the blood was easy to wipe off."
Zookeeper: "You see children, the alpha male Slashdot specimen ensures that he will be moderated up by using reverse psychology and asking to be moderated down."
Child: "Why would he want to do that?"
Zookeeper: "Highly moderated comments are often regarded as the correct opinion or in some cases irrefutable fact."
Child: "Why doesn't he just ask to be moderated up?"
Zookeeper: "Before a moderator will use their influence to bestow such an honor on a comment, he/she must be convinced. Moderators are usually skeptical of everything. After watching the poster/moderator behavior for many years, we've observed that this reverse psychology is often very persuasive."
Child: "Their behavior is confusing!"
Zookeeper: "It's not unlike guild psychology and social acceptance rituals employed by the specimens in the Everquest exhibit. This way please..."
You're right, I wouldn't steal a car. But if it were possible, I sure as hell would download one!
Remove the tape from the middle of your glasses.
My
Limekiller
Seriously, there is a damn fine reason why you'll never see anyone serious about self defense with such an anemic load. They don't WORK. I was in a robbery back in '99 and I was shot in the HEAD and lower back with a pretty much identical loadout. Guess what? I got up, took the gun away from the bastard and smacked him with it. A .32 no matter what you're loading into it just doesn't have stopping power (unless you throw the empty gun in which case even Superman will duck).
Find out about my new childrens book: SS Death Camp Criminal Batallion Go To Monte Carlo For The Massacre
Are you sure it's not the BO they're avoiding?
;)
Don't forget "smell of urine".
Oh, come on! Three days at a lan party, you don't want to miss the CS finals, everyone's done it!
Haven't they?... Anyone?...
I think he's more likely to be beaten to death by his english teachers.
I found that wearing a dirty shrunken wool jacket I got from goodwill, carrying extra bags, and yelling at people that wearen't there was a great way to avoid getting mugged.
I found that dressing like a biker scumbag, getting some tatoos, growing a goatee and copping an attitude was a great way to avoid being mugged because most people won't mess around with a biker.... except other bikers. Then the real bikers started picking on me and beat me up just because they thought it was fun to do. However, they didn't mug me.
Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
In related news, the number of muggings attributed to victims wearing e-Vests have now overtaken those using iPods. When interviewed, a mugger was quoted as saying "Well, I get a higher return with them e-Vests. I use the included cables to tie up my victim, their PDA to take over the identity, the digicam to take pictures of the geek and their laptop to upload their photos to my blog. If I'm lucky, an iPod will be hidden somewhere as well; I got over 5,000 songs one time and 10 hours of free porn. Man, that dude was into some nasty shit. Oh, and don't forget the bottled mineral water. That's a bonus."
My sensei also said that another instructor he knew tried to take down a mugger who had a knife and he ended up dead with multiple stab wounds.
Did one of his students swear revenge and tracked down the killer and challenged him to a duel?
I mean... I always assumed it was an unwritten rule of martial arts that when somebody kills your master you have to swear revenge on his grave.
(yes, I'm going to hell)
No sig
Well, you could just join your local SCA group, and always go around in period attire. they will think you are crazy, and avoid you, plus it makes it less silly looking to carry a big blade, mace, battleaxe, morning star, whatever.
I'm not certain what London laws are concerning carrying swords; don't you have to be in one of the guilds or something to get away with it? but if that's an option.....
Why, yes, I AM a Pagan Libertarian.
I have a friend that real life role plays. He was dressed up in his medieval armor and cloak garb waiting at a train station one day. A mugger came up to him with a 4 inch knife and said "give me your wallet". My mate stared him in the face and moved his cloak to reveal a 30 inch long sword. "I see your 4 and raise you 26". Should have seen him run.
...they don't treat relationships like games...
Damn straight, I treat mine like SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS.
I wonder how she'll react if I eat the spider instead of smiting it?
Today I'll find out why she doesn't put some clothing items into the dryer.
I wonder what happens if I slip a Jolly Rancher in there while I'm eating her out, will she even notice?
"Sometimes, I think Trent just needs a cup of hot chocolate and a blankie." -Tori Amos on Nine Inch Nails