News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on What is it like to be a geek in a prison?. Parent comment

Re:What is it like to be a geek in a prison? by Arnor on Thursday December 26, 2013 @11:58AM (#6966843)
You should try to broaden your arsenal of social interactions. Sure, tattling and beating people to death have their place, but there are one or two other methods for resolving conflicts as well.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What is it like to be a geek in a prison? by mjolk on Thursday December 26, 2013 @12:24PM (#6966946)
Such as what? Also, hilarious that you call it "tattling." If I stole your wallet, I'm sure you'd "tattle" on me.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What is it like to be a geek in a prison? by Arnor on Thursday December 26, 2013 @12:48PM (#6967062) 

  if arnor.knows(a_hole, stole_wallet) and (a_hole not instanceof psychopath or a_hole.physical_strength < arnor.physical_strength)
    arnor.confront(a_hole)
    if not arnor.has_wallet
      arnor.punch_in_face(a_hole)
      // When violence enters the picture, things get ugly.
      goto tattle
  else
    [lbl] tattle
    arnor.tattle_on(a_hole)
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What is it like to be a geek in a prison? by mjolk on Thursday December 26, 2013 @12:52PM (#6967083)
Cute, but when you're confronting someone, the situation can always turn violent. Let's say that you confront someone and end up punching him/her in the mouth and get a cut on your hand. You could get a serious infection or a disease, even though you "won."
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What is it like to be a geek in a prison? by Confusion on Friday December 27, 2013 @04:10AM (#6970008)
Really? You don't confront a colleague about not doing what he promised, but you go to your boss, because it could turn violent? You don't confront your neighbour about the noisy party, but you call the landlord, because it could turn violent? You don't confront your teammate about not giving enough passes, but you complain to your coach, because it could turn violent?

You are showing quite a lack of imagination in applying the maxim you complain about in your top-level post.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What is it like to be a geek in a prison? by Arnor on Thursday December 26, 2013 @01:21PM (#6967222)
Kidding aside, I would be extremely unlikely to resort to a violent act in the case of a stolen wallet. If a_hole won't give it back, it's really not that big of a deal. Reprint photos of wife and kids, Visit ATM, Cancel some credit cards, register a hold with a credit bureau, and move on with your life.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What is it like to be a geek in a prison? by mjolk on Thursday December 26, 2013 @01:26PM (#6967246)
It's not just about the wallet, it's about respect and the lizard brain telling you that if you don't get it back, you're allowing said a_hole to win.

I would be extremely likely to resort to violence if I felt that the official channels would not help. I guess I'm a caveman in that way.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:What is it like to be a geek in a prison? by Arnor on Thursday December 26, 2013 @02:24PM (#6967569)
That doesn't make you a caveman, it just means that we have a very different perspective on what winning and losing is. People who resort to petty theft have their own set of problems. They are rarely winners in any way that I would envy them. There is a point to be made in the fact that letting someone get away with theft sets a precedent that it is tolerated. That is certainly wrong and a clear hole in my outlook which I have yet to resolve.
[ Parent | on HN ]