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Tinfoil Hat House

An anonymous reader writes "A family in Sacromento has covered the side of their house with aluminum to keep the radiowaves from their neighbors at bay. The city has given them one week to remove the life saving shielding or face charges."

17 of 896 comments (clear)

  1. weird but illegal by indy_Muad'Dib · · Score: 4, Insightful

    easy fix, just line the inside of the house with foil.

    love the antibot text field btw. same i cant read the fucker.

  2. Tinfoil Hat Jokes aside by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm sure there will be plenty of Tinfoil Hat Jokes and other posts, but after reading the article I'd say they need lithium, not aluminum. That is to say, the "radio waves" deal is typical in schizophrenic patients. Other common variations are people using radio waves to listen to what their thinking, people using high-tech devices to spy on their homes. The end result is a bunch of variations on the sheet metal siding. Those people that aren't familiar with metal and radiation commonly use cardboard boxes to cover all openings and windows.

    A misdemeanor charge isn't what's needed, a visit from a social worker probably is. There's a difference between being unique and unusual, and having mental issues.

    1. Re:Tinfoil Hat Jokes aside by csk_1975 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I knew this guy who was given millions and a large shareholding in a public company by his father. He had to play by his father's (and stepmother's) rules which he wasn't doing and he seemed to think it was funny to aggravate them. So they hired some spooks to follow him and eavesdrop on him. He was never the sharpest knife in the draw and years of ADD drugs didn't help. So when he started getting paranoid and having "dellusional fantasies" about people spying on him and his house - which they were actually doing - this was the proof used to incarcerate him in a mental institution. Last time I saw him he was on drugs that had completely extinguished his mind. I am sure people much more qualified than I would testify that he was really schizophrenic (and they did when he was incarcerated) but its pretty sad that the proof of someone's psychosis can be engineered by simply spying on them and then telling them that they are paranoid - how do I know he was being spied on? His stepmother warned me off and offered photos showing that I had also been under observation.

      Obviously someone putting tin foil all over their house is a fair indication that their mental state should be questioned. But malicious people can (and do) take advantage of the common perception that paranoia about being spied on is proof positive of schizophrenia for the own nefarious purposes. Never underestimate how mean spirited and avaricious some people are.

    2. Re:Tinfoil Hat Jokes aside by Vince+Mo'aluka · · Score: 5, Insightful
      A misdemeanor charge isn't what's needed, a visit from a social worker probably is.

      How about just leaving them the hell alone and minding your own god damn business? Am I the only one here who respects freedom more than arbitrary "social standards" imposed by some central planning agency?

      --
      You took his stuff. You pound him.
  3. Re:I'm not a Californian by bgog · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I agree. If it's their property let them be protected from the aliens. Who cares. And don't give me crap about it looking nice for the neighbors. I believe in freedom. If my neighbors want to paint their house with pink polka-dots then so be it, none of my buisness. People spend far too much energy worrying about what other people are doing. The officials should worry about stuff that is actually harming others.

  4. f'ed up neighbors by bobalu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    there's nothing liberal about trying to keep some looney bin neighbor from bringing down the local real estate values.

    or, if there is, then i'm all for it anyway.

    --
    The revolution will NOT be televised.
  5. It isn't about California by fm6 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Not only are you not a Californian, but you've obviously never owned a house -- or owned one that was worth so little, you didn't obssess over things that might affect the value of your property. In most of urban California, you have to sell your soul in order to afford a house -- which makes people insanely aware of anything that might lower property values. People will hassle you just for parking a rusty car in front of your house. And of coursethey pass zoning laws that minimize any and all activities affecting same. So forget about raising chickens in your back yard, or painting your house a funny color. And you damn well better take good care of your lawn, if you value your freedom!

    In that context, a strong reaction to a house covered with metal foil is most predictable. The only suprise is that the neighbors took the time to call the code enforcement people, instead of rounding up a lynch mob!

    If your situation is any better, don't feel too smug. Housing costs are going up everywhere, and the same obsesssion with property values is spreading like a disease.

  6. Re:I'm not a Californian by Penguinoflight · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Absolutely. Any time you're having a problem with your neigbor make sure you talk to him/her first. Not only is it the polite thing to do, you have the ethical responsibilty to go to your friend/opponent before seeking legal protection.

    If the fence is really important to him you might be able to work out a deal to your own financial gain. Keeping communication open will require that you respect your neighbors directly.

    --
    "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the World"
    1 John 4:14
  7. Re:Legalistics by dtdns · · Score: 3, Insightful

    +2 Informative? Spilling cool-aide on some kids rare comic book has nothing to do with this situation. This would be more like taking your crappy comics and putting them next to his nice ones. Sure, it may not look nice, but the ACTUAL value and quality of his comics are not affected in any way. As soon as you take your nasty comics away his look nicer again. In order for your analogy to be correct, these foil people would have had to put the sheet metal on their neighbors house instead of their own. Frankly, I find the whole "they're making my house worth less" argument to be ineffective unless you are actively trying to sell your house. Thanks for playing.

  8. Re:I'm not a Californian by Qzukk · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Any other state and they'd merely be shunned by their neighbors and harrassed by annoying teenagers.

    Where the hell do you live? I want to move there so I can quit being harassed by my homeowners' association for having my antenna in the "wrong place". It was "hurting the value of their investment", not that the mandated ugly gray and brown houses are all that great anyway.

    Anywhere where there are no associations has to be a better place to live than here, even if the house isn't a "great investment" without a bunch of old biddies who take hundreds of dollars of my money then can't even afford to pay a bored neighborhood kid $20 to mow the yard for the old woman down the street that they've been harassing as well.

    --
    If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
  9. Re:What'll the neighbors think? by ONOIML8 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yeah because gods forbid anyone who owns property or a home should be allowed to do as they please with it just because they own it. They must be forced to conform with government approved standards. If they can't handle that then perhaps some time in Siberia will teach them a lesson. If they offend a second time then the neighbors should be allowed to lynch them.

    But only neighbors who are party members in good standing.

    Who are these assholes who insist on acting like individuals anyway? Fucking Americans.

    --
    . Quit playing Monopoly with Bill. Switch to one of many non-Microsoft products today.
  10. Re:At least they're taking extra precautions... by CurlyG · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Erm, you *are* kidding aren't you?

    'Space blankets' are AFAIK absolutely standard hiking/camping gear - you'd be an idiot to go away without one.

    They're compact, light, and they could save you from hypothermia.

    I mean yeah, you could concievably rig your grow-room up with mylar over the walls, but is it really going to help that much more than the white plastic sheeting used by most of the grow-rooms I've seen?

    Are you seriously suggesting that every hiker or camper who buys a space blanket in the US is going to get reported to the DEA? I don't live in the US, but if so, that is so ridiculous, so utterly pointless, so far out of control, that I'm just kind of staggered.

    --
    You know they call 'em fingers but I've never seen 'em fing. Oh, there they go.
  11. Re:At least they're taking extra precautions... by SacredNaCl · · Score: 4, Insightful

    No, unfotunately I am not joking. Many of the stores that sell garden lights openly tell you they share their customer list with law enforcement, a few of them have signs on the door. The police used to tail people who would go to the garden center and pull them over...etc That behavior got it institutionalized here, so they got the hardware stores involved and started offering cash to employees who would phone in on larger orders of certain supplies. Buying a mess of mylar at the hardware store is enough. Buying a single space age blanket probably isn't going to raise an eyebrow though.

    I'm not sure how much better the mylar is for that purpose, I've been told that it reflects different spectrums of light more effectively than just flat white paint, and slightly more effectively (total lumens) than the plastic sheeting. The plastic sheeting is lot cheaper.

    Of course just because they come to your door doesn't mean you have to let them in, but the mere fact that they are at the door because you made a purchase from the hardware store is very disturbing.

    --
    Freedom is merely privilege extended unless enjoyed by one and all.
  12. Private property by stuce · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm sorry. They might be as crazy as SCO but private property is private property.

    If the neighbors or the city really has something to gain with their house looking good they should either offer to pay for more attractive tin foil or offer to buy their house from them. Forcing a private property owner to decorate their home a certain way at gunpoint is not part of a free society.

  13. Re:I'm not a Californian by SgtChaireBourne · · Score: 3, Insightful
    how come polititians and regulators wont change the building codes to allow you to have rooms without natural light?
    Because then landlords will rent out rooms without natural light. There is also health and safety issues. With a window, you can theoretically get fresh air or escaping a fire or after an earthquake.
    --
    Beta is broken and the link to classic doesn't work. Stop wasting our time or there won't be anybody left here.
  14. Buy a dictionary. by Gruneun · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes, it's a community code. It means the community got together and a majority decided that they wanted to live in an area with certain rules. Nobody is forced to live in the community and that same community can act to modify those codes whenever they please.

    This has nothing to do with race, national pride, or an unchecked autocracy. Therefore, the fascism label simply doesn't apply. I suggest you learn the meaning of a word before you start throwing it around.

    1. Re:Buy a dictionary. by JonKatzIsAnIdiot · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It means the community got together and a majority decided that they wanted to live in an area with certain rules.

      Awww - they're so cute when they're young and idealistic, aren't they?

      These days, rules aren't decided by the majority. Rules (laws) are passed in order to pacify small groups who are very adept at making a lot of noise and attracting attention to themselves and their cause. The majority of people just want everyone else to leave them alone.