Random peeves

[Dannyalcatraz]

I, too, have to side with Chimera. I know a few people who work in various aspects of security, from subdivision/private property rentacops to bodyguards to police officers to armored transporters to Secret Service...

Crowds are THE WORST place for them or their charges to be. They deal with crowds by getting out of them or dispersing them.

In some places, people in Chimera's line get the benefit of actually having other security guards clear a path for them, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

The problem is this: if they are being obstructed by someone, they realistically have only seconds to determine if the person is obstructing them accidentally, negligently, or deliberately, and then choose the appropriate reaction.

From what I've been told, the preferred policy is get your charge to the "safe point" ASAP, and if someone gets jostled, that can be dealt with later.

 

[Aeolius]

If you did this, they'd likely tell you to shut up and move on. Then, if you told them that we threatened you with a gun, we'd make sure that you were arrested for filing a false police report.

Things may be different, here in NC, then. If someone made a comment about their gun and then smugly patted it, I'd consider it to be a threat. Also, I don't care if it's the bloody Pope; if the last handicap spot is taken or the ramp is blocked, my son can't use his wheelchair - so I'll call the cops. If they do nothing, then I tend to get.... creative.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Which leads me to my biggest peeve: alarm clocks. When it takes a noise as loud as the average rock concert to wake up in the morning, that's probably a sign that humanity wasn't actually meant to be up at such an insanely early hour.

I'm fond of my Progression Wake-Up Alarm Clock Half an hour before the time it's set for, it starts to gradually phase in a light (with optional aroma beads that the light heats up, causing a scent to slowly permeate the room). Fifteen minutes later, it starts with a selectable sound - I choose birdsong at a low level, but others include running water, the ocean, or crickets. Eventually, you get the traditional shrieking alarm... but the birds wake me up, so I never need to endure that

-Hyp.

 

[Chimera]

Things may be different, here in NC, then. If someone made a comment about their gun and then smugly patted it, I'd consider it to be a threat.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Things may be different, here in NC, then. If someone made a comment about their gun and then smugly patted it, I'd consider it to be a threat. Also, I don't care if it's the bloody Pope; if the last handicap spot is taken or the ramp is blocked, my son can't use his wheelchair - so I'll call the cops. If they do nothing, then I tend to get.... creative.

Look, my mom is handicapped and I drive her around a lot, so I understand the importance of keeping those spots clear.

However, the point that Chimera is trying to make is that handicapped tag or placard equipped vehicles are not the only vehicles permitted to use those spaces. Depending upon your city & state, vehicles authorized to use such spaces would typically include police, fire & ambulances, and in some cases, armored transport vehicles.

Check your local traffic laws before you "get...creative."

As for the threat, given his position, he's probably permitted by law to make it.

 

[Chimera]

As for the threat, given his position, he's probably permitted by law to make it.

There was no "threat".

To repeat what I said in the original post, a delivery guy yelled at me for parking in the handicap spot outside City Hall. I simply patted my gun and said "When they let me carry a gun in a court house, they let me park wherever I want". This is an indication that my position is an exception that authorizes me to park in places where the delivery guy is not allowed to do so.

This does not constitute any form of threat, except in the minds of the seriously paranoid or mentally ill.

 

[ssampier]

I'm fond of my Progression Wake-Up Alarm Clock Half an hour before the time it's set for, it starts to gradually phase in a light (with optional aroma beads that the light heats up, causing a scent to slowly permeate the room). Fifteen minutes later, it starts with a selectable sound - I choose birdsong at a low level, but others include running water, the ocean, or crickets. Eventually, you get the traditional shrieking alarm... but the birds wake me up, so I never need to endure that
-Hyp.

Interesting. I need one of those. Most morning--I'm still quite groggy when the alarms shrieks. I can't seem to find one that I like (like one that plays music softly).

 

[Hypersmurf]

Interesting. I need one of those. Most morning--I'm still quite groggy when the alarms shrieks. I can't seem to find one that I like (like one that plays music softly).

I got mine from Hammacher Schlemmer.

Another one that interested me was the Zen Alarm Clock, which uses a progression of chimes over a ten minute period... starting out three minutes apart, but getting closer and closer together...

-Hyp.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I know there wasn't a threat- and technically, I should have put it in quotes myself- but I was reusing his terminology to make the point.

And anyway, you probably are entitled to make such a threat if you needed to, given what you do...depending upon local laws, of course.

 

[Aeolius]

I suppose it really is a matter of interpretation.

If a bank guard/security guard/armored car driver was to pat their gun and say "When they let me carry a gun in a court house, they let me park wherever I want", I would probably interpret that as meaning "I have a gun. I can park where I want." Granted, I dislike firearms, so I carry a personal bias.

I do not begrudge you the right to arm yourself; your job carries a high risk factor. I would not have responded negatively to such an employee who explained they are an employee of the city/state/government and, while the handicap-designated sign did not carry such a disclaimer, they were authorized to use the space temporarily and would gladly surrender the space to someone in need. As you pointed out, "delivery guys", i.e. commercial vehicles, are not authorized to park in such spaces.

And you may be right, regarding who is authorized to park in such spots. To me, a bank guard/security guard/armored car driver is still a private employee and is afforded the same parking privileges as a pizza delivery driver or UPS carrier. To be honest, I've never considered my opinion to be in the wrong, here, so I will do my part by researching local laws. Mind you, I have called the police on UPS drivers (only after they made snide remarks) and I have asked security guards move their vehicles.