News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by roenxi on Tuesday October 15, 2019 @07:50PM (#21265431)
There is an interesting selection bias at work.

1) If someone on the street approaches you, they are probably up to something.

2) If you randomly select someone on the street you have probably picked a moral and upstanding person who would love to do you a good turn.

Because of (1) people tend to be a lot more defensive than they need to be when assessing what the average stranger is likely to do.

Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by mikepurvis on Tuesday October 15, 2019 @09:37PM (#21266188)
This is why modern parenting guidance tends away from a blanket stranger danger policy toward something a bit more nuanced like "beware of a grownup who approaches you or initiates a conversations with you, but if you are in trouble, almost any grownup who looks safe to you is probably someone you can ask for help."

You can add a few more layers like seeking out someone in a uniform or who has a stroller, but generally speaking most people minding their own business are perfectly safe.

Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by tialaramex on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @04:11AM (#21268138)
UK Advice is moving towards "Clever Never Goes".

http://clevernevergoes.org/

Honest grown-ups will be annoyed that a lost child refuses to come with them to the obvious "lost children" place, but they'll put up with it while somebody tries to figure out where the people responsible for that child are. Somebody with nefarious motives will probably need to take the child somewhere else though - by refusing to go they're protected.

Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by skrebbel on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @05:09AM (#21268439)
Wow, that site is awfully bad. I had to go through 3 pages + one excruciatingly slow video all of which just told me how amazing their organization is, but I still didn't know what "Clever Never Goes" means.

tl;dr for the rest: it means: "Never go anywhere unless it was planned beforehand".

Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by mrgill on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @06:11AM (#21268772)
Yeah. Funny this is they have a good UX but terrible copywriting. No info at all on what they do unless you dig deep.
Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by specialist on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @12:18PM (#21272089)
That would have been awesome to implement.

My son was always hyper social. (I have no idea where he got that from.) Would walk up to any one, everyone and start a convo.

While it's fantastic that my son was so open, trusting, there is still a risk. A little girl two grades ahead of him was abducted and then found dead on a beach. (Oak Harbor WA, should any one want to dox me.)

Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by jjeaff on Tuesday October 15, 2019 @08:09PM (#21265570)
The same thing applies if something gets stolen. Countless individuals have "not" stolen that item. You only take note when it gets stolen.
Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by ethbro on Tuesday October 15, 2019 @08:38PM (#21265812)
I call this the subway train theory.

I am nervous with one other person in my subway car.

I feel completely safe with 5+ unrelated people in my subway car.

Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by TylerE on Tuesday October 15, 2019 @09:34PM (#21266171)
You shouldn't. I had my iPhone stolen on a nearly full DC metro train. Thief grabbed it out of my hands just before the doors closed and dashed.
Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by bigwavedave on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @01:46AM (#21267400)
In the Philippines, my companion and I went to an atm to withdraw our monthly support (something of a stipend as missionaries) and my companion was unfortunate enough to hold his in his hands just a little too long before putting it away and it was snatched by some kid who vanished into a sea of people.
Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by stef25 on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @05:32AM (#21268563)
Pickpockets thrive in crowded places. Opposite for muggers, rapists.
Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by HeWhoLurksLate on Tuesday October 15, 2019 @10:48PM (#21266586)
Ouch. Sad anecdote.
Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by mike_hock on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @01:46AM (#21267401)
Should be called the subway train "effect" or "phenomenon," then.
Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by ProZsolt on Wednesday October 16, 2019 @05:14AM (#21268473)
In Hungary, I have been conditioned that if somebody approaches me on the street 95% of the time is a homeless person begging for money or somebody trying to sell me drugs or sex. The other people just not interacting with each other.

When I moved to New Zealand it was the opposite. There is more interaction with "regular" people. They are helping me or asking for help.

Re:I just lost my wallet on the way home from work by tripzilch on Thursday October 17, 2019 @09:21AM (#21281726)
Maybe I'm missing something here, but if you say "Excuse me sir! You dropped your wallet" while holding up their wallet clear to see, people think "Oh no! A mugger! And they must have already robbed me, let's run for it" ?