Eastern Europe: Olivier's sphere of influence

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > Eastern Europe: Olivier's sphere of influence

a podcast for cats: Jun 22, 2005; Dogs reading from an artifact buried in the ruins of our civilization, "We were assholes- " and writing solemnly, "They were assholes."; Soiled Meat

cinci zoo sniper posted:

So, Riga's municipal policy is running a program where you can report crimes with a mobile app, attaching pictures and stuff, and follow through on their proceedings. Say, you see, someone parked over two spots for disabled, or on the lawn, you snap - send it - and get told if the violator with fined or something.

Turns out our brave municipal police of Riga really hates working, fining people in particular, so they have been mad about this unknown "law maniac" for a while, which turns out to be a young father who just cares about walkways and parks being safe and clean from cars and such.

Long story short, apparently the municipal police has begun to attach his full name to each fine they place, on a separate slip of paper. In the latest turn of events, this dude was visited by an angry person to "discuss" the report of their violation. This person did get, in a sealed police envelope with crime protocol, a note to go and seek out "the snitch" for retribution.

It is pretty hosed up and entirely unsurprising, as are many things in this country, but the way I understood it, there is only one known instance of a note with the whistle-blower's name.

# ? Sep 28, 2016 20:39

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# ? May 9, 2024 22:00

cinci zoo sniper: Mar 15, 2013

Tonton Macoute posted:

It is pretty hosed up and entirely unsurprising, as are many things in this country, but the way I understood it, there is only one known instance of a note with the whistle-blower's name.

I imagine that given the ingrained "snitches get stitches" mentality majority of us did acquire growing up, there can't be all that many dutiful citizens actively reporting.

# ? Sep 28, 2016 20:42

Baronjutter: Dec 31, 2007; "Tiny Trains"

Also if the police are actually on-board and the whole plan is organized it sounds like a great idea. I'd spend all day snitching on assholes running red lights or parking in handicap spots. Of course the downside would be people obsessively taking picture of that neighbour they hate and using it as a form of harassment. Would be nice if there was an easy way to filter out the useful public safety and assholes needing a fine situations from the vindictive petty bullshit.

# ? Sep 28, 2016 20:42

Forums Terrorist: Dec 8, 2011

seriously though how do your police not like easy money

# ? Sep 28, 2016 20:44

Baronjutter: Dec 31, 2007; "Tiny Trains"

Forums Terrorist posted:

seriously though how do your police not like easy money

Handing out minor fines probably has a way lower return on time investment than collecting big ticket bribes.

# ? Sep 28, 2016 20:45

cinci zoo sniper: Mar 15, 2013

Forums Terrorist posted:

seriously though how do your police not like easy money

Poor work ethics are one of the corner stones of our culture, unfortunately.

# ? Sep 28, 2016 20:45

Cat Mattress: Jul 14, 2012; by Cyrano4747

cinci zoo sniper posted:

So, Riga's municipal policy is running a program where you can report crimes with a mobile app, attaching pictures and stuff, and follow through on their proceedings. Say, you see, someone parked over two spots for disabled, or on the lawn, you snap - send it - and get told if the violator with fined or something.

Turns out our brave municipal police of Riga really hates working, fining people in particular, so they have been mad about this unknown "law maniac" for a while, which turns out to be a young father who just cares about walkways and parks being safe and clean from cars and such.

Long story short, apparently the municipal police has begun to attach his full name to each fine they place, on a separate slip of paper. In the latest turn of events, this dude was visited by an angry person to "discuss" the report of their violation. This person did get, in a sealed police envelope with crime protocol, a note to go and seek out "the snitch" for retribution.

Did it really happen, or is it just a rumor spread to discourage snitching and make that mobile app a failure?

# ? Sep 28, 2016 20:51

a podcast for cats: Jun 22, 2005; Dogs reading from an artifact buried in the ruins of our civilization, "We were assholes- " and writing solemnly, "They were assholes."; Soiled Meat

Cat Mattress posted:

Did it really happen, or is it just a rumor spread to discourage snitching and make that mobile app a failure?

I saw the tweet with a picture of the parking ticket and the accompanying note. "You were reported by a guy named X. Look him up, say thanks" or something to that effect. The guy who tweeted it seemed legit. And legit concerned about his safety, although the enclosed parking ticket, with the licence plate of the offending vehicle being clearly visible, suggested that there hadn't been actual violence.

cinci zoo sniper posted:

I imagine that given the ingrained "snitches get stitches" mentality majority of us did acquire growing up, there can't be all that many dutiful citizens actively reporting.

Best way to disperse a crowd of rubberneckers? Bring out a notepad and loudly ask for witnesses.

# ? Sep 28, 2016 21:01

steinrokkan: Apr 2, 2011; Can't post for 2 hours!; Soiled Meat

Forums Terrorist posted:

are you kidding, american cops love fining people (because they get the money)

we used to have that, it was called bribes, then we decided it was neither good, nor cool

# ? Sep 28, 2016 21:08

cinci zoo sniper: Mar 15, 2013

Cat Mattress posted:

Did it really happen, or is it just a rumor spread to discourage snitching and make that mobile app a failure?

Official state news are reporting State Police investigation on the matter.

Edit: To clarify, they are investigating how this happened, not if.

cinci zoo sniper fucked around with this message at 21:30 on Sep 28, 2016

# ? Sep 28, 2016 21:13

Doctor Malaver: May 23, 2007; Ce qui s'est pass� t'a rendu plus fort

Brown Moses posted:

https://twitter.com/hugoreitsma/status/781073824821411840

I bet other SA mods are looking at this picture jealously and imagining themselves too in the center of media attention.

"Did you probate FlowingShit in PYF?"
"Yes, I can confirm that he was probated for six hours for not posting a picture in a picture thread."

# ? Sep 28, 2016 22:28

Meta-Mollusk: May 2, 2013; by FactsAreUseless; Grimey Drawer

Brown Moses posted:

Bit of a crazy day so far, I turned up at the press conference and I'm almost immediately mobbed journalists
https://twitter.com/hugoreitsma/status/781073824821411840

Nice work, BM. Just don't get yourself killed in mysterious circumstances or something like that. :ohdear:

# ? Sep 29, 2016 00:22

Runaktla: Feb 21, 2007; by Hand Knit

cinci zoo sniper posted:

So, Riga's municipal policy is running a program where you can report crimes with a mobile app, attaching pictures and stuff, and follow through on their proceedings. Say, you see, someone parked over two spots for disabled, or on the lawn, you snap - send it - and get told if the violator with fined or something.

Turns out our brave municipal police of Riga really hates working, fining people in particular, so they have been mad about this unknown "law maniac" for a while, which turns out to be a young father who just cares about walkways and parks being safe and clean from cars and such.

Long story short, apparently the municipal police has begun to attach his full name to each fine they place, on a separate slip of paper. In the latest turn of events, this dude was visited by an angry person to "discuss" the report of their violation. This person did get, in a sealed police envelope with crime protocol, a note to go and seek out "the snitch" for retribution.

I think the downside of this is so many people violate minor laws regularly it could definitely get out of hand.

I'm sure I commit at least $1,000 US of cumulative traffic violations each week, and probably most people do too. Imagine an rear end in a top hat following me making sure I get hit with every one.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 03:03

Young Freud: Nov 26, 2006

Runaktla posted:

I think the downside of this is so many people violate minor laws regularly it could definitely get out of hand.

I'm sure I commit at least $1,000 US of cumulative traffic violations each week, and probably most people do too. Imagine an rear end in a top hat following me making sure I get hit with every one.

I and other motorists have been driving down a road at 40-50mph that has signs marked for 35mph. I never noticed them at first, but once I did, they're everywhere down that road. I've had people tailgate me when I noticed the signs and corrected my driving. I'd imagine if the police set up radar-triggered cameras, they'd make a loving mint there.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 03:19

Sergg: Sep 19, 2005; I was rejected by the:

Brown Moses posted:

Bit of a crazy day so far, I turned up at the press conference and I'm almost immediately mobbed journalists
https://twitter.com/hugoreitsma/status/781073824821411840

As for the press conference, it was entirely inline with what we have been publishing on Bellingcat, the launch site was exactly the same, and they said it came from Russia. What made me really pay attention is they showed a video of the Buk in Donetsk, which turned out to be where Paris Match got their Donetsk Buk photos from, so it was eye-opening to see that. We suspected it did come from a video, but it was good to confirm. They also showed a second photo of the launch smoke, which allowed the exact position to be triangulated in the field we had previously ID'd as the launch site. They also had various audio recordings of intercepted calls, one of which was a call between separatists on the day Almaz Antey announced their alternative launch site. The rebels basically say, "but wait, didn't WE control that site?", so it's a bit comic.

We're getting a lot of press attention, pretty much nonstop emails, so hopefully you should see me or one of the Bellingcat team somewhere. I did three different interviews with NOS, the Dutch national broadcaster, immediately after the press conference.

Also today the Washington Post published a piece about how we were targeted by Russia for our work
https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...id=ss_tw-bottom

And Threat Connect details how hackers linked to DC Leaks targeted us:
https://www.threatconnect.com/blog/russia-hacks-bellingcat-mh17-investigation/

Donald Trump done called you a liar today, Mr. Moderator.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/14/politics/donald-trump-mh17-plane-russians/index.html

# ? Sep 29, 2016 03:54

Baronjutter: Dec 31, 2007; "Tiny Trains"

Do none of Trum's hyper nationalist supporters care that he's bought and paid for by Russia? Then again they probably look at Putin's Russia with jealousy and wish american could have a strong leader like that.
Didn't the right wing of the US coast along on anti-russian paranoia for a good 50 years, and now they're ok with a potential president with extremely deep and potentially controlling connections with Russia?

# ? Sep 29, 2016 03:56

TheDeadlyShoe: Feb 14, 2014

it was anti communist paranoia. the politically useful target of such endeavors is usually your countrymen.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 04:15

nutri_void: Apr 18, 2015; I shall devour your soul.; Grimey Drawer

I normally refrain from posting in D&D, but this is a special occasion

az posted:

Good work BM, I mean it.

*gets ready to hear a knock on the door*

nutri_void fucked around with this message at 05:13 on Sep 29, 2016

# ? Sep 29, 2016 05:08

woodenchicken: Aug 19, 2007; Nap Ghost

cinci zoo sniper posted:

So, Riga's municipal policy is running a program where you can report crimes with a mobile app, attaching pictures and stuff, and follow through on their proceedings. Say, you see, someone parked over two spots for disabled, or on the lawn, you snap - send it - and get told if the violator with fined or something.

Turns out our brave municipal police of Riga really hates working, fining people in particular, so they have been mad about this unknown "law maniac" for a while, which turns out to be a young father who just cares about walkways and parks being safe and clean from cars and such.

Long story short, apparently the municipal police has begun to attach his full name to each fine they place, on a separate slip of paper. In the latest turn of events, this dude was visited by an angry person to "discuss" the report of their violation. This person did get, in a sealed police envelope with crime protocol, a note to go and seek out "the snitch" for retribution.

Russia is getting that too, and seems like it's not anonymous either, thankfully.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 07:55

Seizure Meat: Jul 23, 2008; by Smythe

TheDeadlyShoe posted:

it was anti communist paranoia. the politically useful target of such endeavors is usually your countrymen.

This above all else.

Russia today is a corporatist oligarchy headed up by a militaristic strong man, it's basically Reaganomics on steroids.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 11:19

54.4 crowns: Apr 7, 2011; To think before you speak is like wiping your arse before you shit.

Baronjutter posted:

Do none of Trum's hyper nationalist supporters care that he's bought and paid for by Russia? Then again they probably look at Putin's Russia with jealousy and wish american could have a strong leader like that.
Didn't the right wing of the US coast along on anti-russian paranoia for a good 50 years, and now they're ok with a potential president with extremely deep and potentially controlling connections with Russia?

By keeping Assad on life support not to mention unloading all off Russias surplus bombs onto Syria, means Putin have had a huge impact on the number of refugees.

The responce from Europes brown stained boxers like Jobbik, AFD and Front National is "Putin Dreamy" as they prepare to shaft their countries with lovely prospects by aiming for the demise of EU.

Nationalists only coherent creed is to their own ego, consequence, principles and standards doesn't really exist.

Here is a pejorative for these times that should come in handy, Quislings.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 11:27

fatherboxx: Mar 25, 2013

Baronjutter posted:

Do none of Trum's hyper nationalist supporters care that he's bought and paid for by Russia? Then again they probably look at Putin's Russia with jealousy and wish american could have a strong leader like that.
Didn't the right wing of the US coast along on anti-russian paranoia for a good 50 years, and now they're ok with a potential president with extremely deep and potentially controlling connections with Russia?

Shame that Trump's sympathy for Russia got into the spotlight after republican primaries, otherwise Ted Cruz or another poo poo could've used the Eid celebration pictures from Moscow to short-circuit his base:

# ? Sep 29, 2016 11:38

54.4 crowns: Apr 7, 2011; To think before you speak is like wiping your arse before you shit.

Eh, If they're from the region they could drink Cruz under the table.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 13:15

chitoryu12: Apr 24, 2014

Alexeythegreat posted:

I normally refrain from posting in D&D, but this is a special occasion

*gets ready to hear a knock on the door*

Are you still living in Russia? Just going on SA seems dangerous.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 13:34

Brown Moses: Feb 22, 2002

As I'm not already dying of exhaustion, I'm doing another event tonight on MH17, which will be livestreamed. It'll include the MH17 lawyer Jerry Skinner who has taken Russian to the ECHR, so he should have an interesting reaction to yesterday's news

https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins/status/781466686390169600

# ? Sep 29, 2016 13:35

54.4 crowns: Apr 7, 2011; To think before you speak is like wiping your arse before you shit.

Baronjutter posted:

Also

If USA breaks up will get a new bout of Russian style foreign policy ranting and raving about spheres of influence, and cool cyborgs.

No I have no idea what the background for the Russo-American alliance is, but I'm sure more thought went into this fictional setting then the pizza cutter over there.

(don't judge me, some anime is actually...good)

# ? Sep 29, 2016 14:25

Discendo Vox: Mar 21, 2013; We don't need to have that dialogue because it's obvious, trivial, and has already been had a thousand times.

Brown Moses posted:

As I'm not already dying of exhaustion, I'm doing another event tonight on MH17, which will be livestreamed. It'll include the MH17 lawyer Jerry Skinner who has taken Russian to the ECHR, so he should have an interesting reaction to yesterday's news

https://twitter.com/EliotHiggins/status/781466686390169600

BM, who do you want to play you in the movie?

# ? Sep 29, 2016 16:38

Nenonen: Oct 22, 2009; Mulla on aina kolkyt donaa taskussa

54.4 crowns posted:

Eh, If they're from the region they could drink Cruz under the table.

Well, Muhammed only forbid wine, and without Muslims there would be no vodka...

# ? Sep 29, 2016 16:46

Cat Mattress: Jul 14, 2012; by Cyrano4747

Nenonen posted:

without Muslims there would be no vodka...

Sounds interesting, please elaborate.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 16:53

Nenonen: Oct 22, 2009; Mulla on aina kolkyt donaa taskussa

Cat Mattress posted:

Sounds interesting, please elaborate.

It's a bit of a stretch, but anyway Arab alchemists like Jabir ibn Hayyan were crucial in the development of distillation, which is where word alcohol also comes from (al-kuhl). Eventually Christians figured out the most practical implementation to this technology.

# ? Sep 29, 2016 17:04