When I was a kid, it was cow tipping...

[Timco]

Two distinct issues here.

1...Gallows humor. Guy falls into a septic tank and drowns, or the whole "Darwin Awards" thing. "Guy jumps against the glass in a high rise every year and one year he finally goes through" kind of thing... While no less tragic for the families involved, that unfortunate aspect of their demise is certainly there. Not your thing? Find that funny? Totally human nature. The only thing we have in common for sure here is Boxsters.

2...The vandalism being reasoned out or condoned. (We simply put dog crap in an old purse and set it in the parking lot of anystore, USA. People though they had hit gold and almost always concealed it as they got into their car and drove off. The purse would fly out at different distances from the parking lot.... )

Smashing someone's car? Breaking their glass or property? Insurance will get it? Totally unacceptable. So, rocks through someone's house windows is OK? As long as it doesn't do more than about $3-5k in damage and insurance will cover it? Can we get a scale or graph made up that shows the cool to uncool scale of typical youth offenses, starting with graffiti and ending with murder? These acts against other people's personal property are inexcusable. Drinking in the park? Smoking some weed? That does not effect me and in my opinion is far less indicative of future behavior than willfully damaging someone's personal property while sober. Throwing rocks at a warehouse is even more seemingly 'victimless' because it's just a building. But cars are personal. Doesn't matter if they barely afforded their first car or if it's some rich guy's loaner car.

I am on the side of Texas here, but the comment about shooting kids (or people?) is absurd. It's about being able to own something nice, and know if it's sitting on your property, you can defend it. That is a fine idea with me. Why shouldn't I be able to stop you from just walking up and taking my car or dog or golf clubs?

As for cow tipping, my ex wife and her friends were from the farming community outside of town. All of their friends swore it was soo fun. I never really bought into it, but always thought that seemed insanely cruel. I like animals.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Timco

I am on the side of Texas here, but the comment about shooting kids (or people?) is absurd. It's about being able to own something nice, and know if it's sitting on your property, you can defend it. That is a fine idea with me. Why shouldn't I be able to stop you from just walking up and taking my car or dog or golf clubs?

Please someone tell me Tim is joking. Tim, come back mate. Life cannot be terminated only for the sake of defending an object. You should call the nearest emergency service(s) and keep your love ones (the real/living ones I mean) safe until help arrive. Double chk with your local police dept to confirm but it should go along those lines I'm pretty sure.

No-no shooting kids - its only a few cars lol

[Timco]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Please someone tell me Tim is joking. Tim, come back mate. Life cannot be terminated only for the sake of defending an object. You should call the nearest emergency service(s) and keep your love ones (the real/living ones I mean) safe until help arrive. Double chk with your local police dept to confirm but it should go along those lines I'm pretty sure.

No-no shooting kids - its only a few cars lol

I didn't make those laws. And Texas seems fine with it.

Sorry, but if you're on my property trying to take what's mine, I have no sympathy for you. I've worked hard for everything I have and intend to keep it, and will defend it. The easy solution is to not steal or mess with other people's stuff. I find it interesting the guy who most downplays these actions and their severity is most opposed to this line of reasoning......

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Timco

I didn't make those laws. And Texas seems fine with it.

jesus christ..... I didn't know that the use of lethal force was officially supported by law for simply protecting "personal" lifeless objects. I don't think anyone in Texas would shoot down a bored teen who just ran out of tripleAAA batteries and decided to go flip a few Smart Cars anyway. But regardless... still a pretty tough community man... ouch.

Heard a few times about the 'self'defence' laws here and there (Stand your Rights?), which I'm cool with, but was convinced that the above TX law was all made up by Hollywood. Or only once existed centuries ago.

Guess some of you get to see the naïve and ignorant part of me (the little Canuck boy huh lol). I don't even recall seeing a real weapon, even less knowing how to load and shoot one of those thing

I do know all about making superb and better-than-oem headlights however. Like some already recommended... I'll just stick to that

[Timco]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

jesus christ..... I didn't know that the use of lethal force was officially supported by law for simply protecting "personal" lifeless objects. I don't think anyone in Texas would shoot down a bored teen who just ran out of tripleAAA batteries and decided to go flip a few Smart Cars anyway. But regardless... still a pretty tough community man... ouch.

Heard a few times about the 'self'defence' laws here and there (Stand your Rights?), which I'm cool with, but was convinced that the above TX law was all made up by Hollywood. Or only once existed centuries ago.

Guess some of you get to see the naïve and ignorant part of me (the little Canuck boy huh lol). I don't even recall seeing a real weapon, even less knowing how to load and shoot one of those thing

I do know all about making superb and better-than-oem headlights however. Like some already recommended... I'll just stick to that

Hey, thanks for using The Lord's name in vain!

Maybe you're still looking at it wrong. Since when are teens the only ones who burglarize people? Since when is boredom the only motive? Why stay so fixated on the punishment and ages and sweet, innocent motives and not simply agree those bored teens should not be stealing other people's hard earned private property? You do realize you can't walk out of a movie theater and shoot someone in your car, right? This is a personal property issue that applies when you're on your land. Away from home? Well. I guess you just need to learn to laugh at the antics of those crazy, bored kids who just wanted to borrow some batteries from your car...

I don't own lifeless objects. I own things I care for and care about that I bought with my sweat, and feel like it's worth protecting.

As for flipping cars? Still, a total dick move no matter how you want to rationalize it. Thugs, headed for prison hopefully. If it's OK, I would like to schedule a time to come flip your car or do the equivalent in property damage. Been pretty bored lately, and just ran out of AAA batteries. Please pre-approve this with your insurance company.

[jb92563]

These kind of threads are counter productive to the spirit of this forum.

It just creates bad blood between an otherwise great bunch of folks.

Everyone comes from different places, ideoligies, religions, and we all have our own philosophies and sometimes we are just plain grumpy and vent. Of course not everyone can agree, thats just natural.

Lets just lay this thing to rest and forget about it, and talk about the stuff we enjoy and makes us happy. 986's !!!!

Live and let live, Peace out friends

PS: Being a Canadian moved to the US 14 years ago I can relate how astoundingly different things really are here, but thats a whole other conversation for another forum altogether.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by Timco

I don't own lifeless objects. I own things I care for and care about that I bought with my sweat, and feel like it's worth protecting.

As for flipping cars? Still, a total dick move no matter how you want to rationalize it. Thugs, headed for prison hopefully. If it's OK, I would like to schedule a time to come flip your car or do the equivalent in property damage. Been pretty bored lately, and just ran out of AAA batteries. Please pre-approve this with your insurance company.

Tim, I was hoping to walk away quietly from your once FUNNY thread :/ But since it is your thousandth forum post anniversary and you are the OP, I wouldn't want to appear disrespectful to you

You want to hear me saying that I would be angry if someone would deliberately do damages to my property. Well, yes, I would. Not only because of the damage itself but also because I may have well deserved it. I'd be pissed at myself mostly. I don't believe bad things happening to people for no reason. Here, in the USA, in Cambodia... same everywhere. Not applicable in this random Smart car case of course but you get the idea.

In fact, not only I would be angry, I would be terrified Tim. The kind of guy who wouldn't know what to do. All I know is how to protect my love ones, and my pair of rotties. Okay, we would possibly be running in the basement, lockdown the family in a dark room, and me standing stiff with a butter knife with wide open eyes.

RE "random" vandalism done to my property. I'll be dead honest with you; I simply call this bad luck and move on 99.9% of time laughing at my cause. Trying to get away smarter from these kinda things (buying a garage?!) and finding the funny bit about it is I believe healthier in my case. I might also be trying to avoid becoming that miserable old grumpy smuck rumbling about every little meaningless social problems that we have today.

I see bigger problem elsewhere Tim. Smart car flipping remains funny here sorry!

(can I go now please?)

[Timco]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Tim, I was hoping to walk away quietly from your once FUNNY thread :/ But since it is your thousandth forum post anniversary and you are the OP, I wouldn't want to appear disrespectful to you

You want to hear me saying that I would be angry if someone would deliberately do damages to my property. Well, yes, I would. Not only because of the damage itself but also because I may have well deserved it. I'd be pissed at myself mostly. I don't believe bad things happening to people for no reason. Here, in the USA, in Cambodia... same everywhere. Not applicable in this random Smart car case of course but you get the idea.

In fact, not only I would be angry, I would be terrified Tim. The kind of guy who wouldn't know what to do. All I know is how to protect my love ones, and my pair of rotties. Okay, we would possibly be running in the basement, lockdown the family in a dark room, and me standing stiff with a butter knife with wide open eyes.

RE "random" vandalism done to my property. I'll be dead honest with you; I simply call this bad luck and move on 99.9% of time laughing at my cause. Trying to get away smarter from these kinda things (buying a garage?!) and finding the funny bit about it is I believe healthier in my case. I might also be trying to avoid becoming that miserable old grumpy smuck rumbling about every little meaningless social problems that we have today.

I see bigger problem elsewhere Tim. Smart car flipping remains funny here sorry!

(can I go now please?)

Can you go now? You're not obligated to answer or post anything you don't wish to. I agree this is indeed against the spirit of the forum. I actually never imagined this line of discussion when I posted this....probably because I never imagined anyone finding it funny or justifiable. Other people's bad acts have zero to do with you leaving your car on the street. Still 100% their wrong. Glad we have a garage. Yes, there are indeed much bigger problems, but that doesn't make this any more acceptable.

Apologies to the board.

[Jamesp]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Please someone tell me Tim is joking. Tim, come back mate. Life cannot be terminated only for the sake of defending an object. You should call the nearest emergency service(s) and keep your love ones (the real/living ones I mean) safe until help arrive. Double chk with your local police dept to confirm but it should go along those lines I'm pretty sure.

No-no shooting kids - its only a few cars lol

So to be clear, I would not personally shoot anyone over any part of my car, even if they flipped it - that's just me. I also would not stop some else from protecting their property. In Michigan I had a radio stolen and as they left their tools behind I felt it was a fair trade (the radio was broken). Stealing a radio is a bit more risky in Texas. Property crimes are taken seriously here, and by law ones life can certainly be forfeit, but if you think it's over the property, then again you miss the point. It's over the behavior. The message is; 1) bad behavior has consequences, 2) people have a right to protect their property. And waiting for the Police to show up to save you and you family!?! Good luck with that, especially the part about keeping everyone safe! I'd prefer to have Smith and Wesson show up for that.