Useless Conversation

[Oban]

Well then, how the fuck do you meet people?

[Yegolev]

I wasn't looking.  I was listening.  It helps take my mind off of DBAs that don't know what a symbolic link is or SAP BASIS admins who don't understand file permissions or how the TZ variable works.  Or any env variable.

[Ironwood]

Yeah, don't get me started on DBA's in the bathroom that won't shut the fuck up.

[Brogarn]

Yeah, don't get me started on DBA's in the bathroom that won't shut the fuck up.

Preach it, brother.

[NowhereMan]

So last night after a few hours in the pub I accompanied two of my lecturers in a series of attempts at Urban exploration. I hadn't realised academics were into trespassing nor that a large gentleman could retain reasonable athletic ability.

[Oban]

Never underestimate the power of alcohol.

[Ironwood]

So last night after a few hours in the pub I accompanied two of my lecturers in a series of attempts at Urban exploration. I hadn't realised academics were into trespassing nor that a large gentleman could retain reasonable athletic ability.

There is no trespass law in Scotland.

[Oban]

Any member of the public is at liberty to walk over any land in Scotland provided he does so without damage to crops or fences and does not commit a breach of the various Poaching Acts. This applies to the whole country with the exception of private gardens or grounds which form the curtilage of a dwelling house or other private residence.

[Cyrrex]

So in other words, you can trespass all you want unless it is private property?  I'm not getting it.

[Signe]

If someone is on your land in Scotland and you ask them to leave, they have to go.  If they don't, you can use any reasonable force to make them comply.  Some Scottish farmers think a shotgun or a pitchfork to the head is reasonable.  Other than that sort of thing, roam at will.

[Cyrrex]

Sure, but other than the raging Scotsman with the hay extraction device, how is this not a pretty clear trespassing law?

[Ironwood]

Because it isn't.

[Samwise]

So in other words, you can trespass all you want unless it is private property?  I'm not getting it.

Not all private property, just the chunk of private property immediately around someone's home, if I'm reading it right.  So the campus of a privately owned business or school would be fair game, for example.  As would a farm, a private golf course, et cetera.

[NowhereMan]

So last night after a few hours in the pub I accompanied two of my lecturers in a series of attempts at Urban exploration. I hadn't realised academics were into trespassing nor that a large gentleman could retain reasonable athletic ability.

There is no trespass law in Scotland.

In fairness there's no me in Scotland either

[Ironwood]

There's also no I in Team.

There is a Me though.

[Merusk]

There's no I in team, but there certainly is in dick.

[Margalis]

One time at a company meeting:

Exec: Remember, there is no 'I' in team.
Smart-ass coworker: No. But there is a 'meat.'

[Salamok]

would have been funnier if they said no but there is a me.

[Selby]

would have been funnier if they said no but there is a me.

Every time I say this, people give me strange looks as if it doesn't make any sense.

[schild]

would have been funnier if they said no but there is a me.

Every time I say this, people give me strange looks as if it doesn't make any sense.

That is because people are stupid sheep.

[Lantyssa]

So what's going on tonight?

Me?  I am wide awake despite being tired as hell.  I think it has something to do with a MOTHERFUCKING INTRUDER IN MY APARTMENT an hour and a half ago.

I'm okay.  Physically.  Saw the top of the guy's head peak out around the hallway corner.  He seemed to turn around and head right back out at that.  Having a dozen cops show up was nice.  The roomie was thankfully home and next to me.  This time.  Emotionally I'm ranging from "he obviously didn't want a confrontation, he won't be back" to "I'm going to be raped and turned into a statistic when he works up the courage".

Fuck.  Fuck.  Fuck.

[schild]

I assume they didn't catch him?

[Lantyssa]

No they didn't.  He had two or three minutes head start, and pretty much could have gone anywhere.  We're a cul-de-sac with climbable fences in two directions, a major road around a large building in the third, and college kids up and wandering about at all times.

If I wanted to I could have followed to get a look at the guy, but that would have been really, really stupid.

[schild]

Suffice it to say, people are sick.

I'm glad you're OK.

[Lantyssa]

Thanks.  I hope your hand heals up soon.

[Trippy]

How did he get in?

[Lantyssa]

High bathroom window over the toilet.

It had been painted shut, and unfortunately the same with the latch.  (I had tried multiple times to fix it, so it was solidly sealed shut.)  He managed to jimmy it, though how without making any noise I don't know.  I'll have to look in the light, but with how smooth it was sliding I would bet it was lubricated, too.  We took a hammer to the latch, and the same with all the other windows.

[JWIV]

High bathroom window over the toilet.

It had been painted shut, and unfortunately the same with the latch.  (I had tried multiple times to fix it, so it was solidly sealed shut.)  He managed to jimmy it, though how without making any noise I don't know.  I'll have to look in the light, but with how smooth it was sliding I would bet it was lubricated, too.  We took a hammer to the latch, and the same with all the other windows.

Glad to hear you're ok.  gah

[Trippy]

High bathroom window over the toilet.

It had been painted shut, and unfortunately the same with the latch.  (I had tried multiple times to fix it, so it was solidly sealed shut.)  He managed to jimmy it, though how without making any noise I don't know.  I'll have to look in the light, but with how smooth it was sliding I would bet it was lubricated, too.  We took a hammer to the latch, and the same with all the other windows.

Wow that sounds like he was pretty determined to get in. Good thing he didn't stick around and you two weren't attacked. Hopefully he won't be back.

[Margalis]

Man that's scary stuff. Maybe get an alarm system for piece of mind if nothing else. (You can hook them up to pretty much every window in your place)

Good that you are alright. Can't imagine how freaky it would be to see a random guy's head peeking out from around a corner in your own house.

[Oban]

 

[Merusk]

High bathroom window over the toilet.

It had been painted shut, and unfortunately the same with the latch.  (I had tried multiple times to fix it, so it was solidly sealed shut.)  He managed to jimmy it, though how without making any noise I don't know.  I'll have to look in the light, but with how smooth it was sliding I would bet it was lubricated, too.  We took a hammer to the latch, and the same with all the other windows.

Fuck the latch. Since it's painted I'm assuming it's a wood window. Nail it shut.  Big 6" long nails through the sash into the jamb.  It was stuck all this time so you don't care if it opens or not.

Glad you're ok, though.

[Engels]

Is it your property, or are you renting? Because if its yours, it couldn't hurt to get some motion activated floodlights, maybe even a surveillance camera, if you have the dosh.

[Lantyssa]

That is just about right.  Only the ears, but otherwise a perfect represenation.

Glad I'm not twelve.

Warning, Someone Posted Edit:

Is it your property, or are you renting? Because if its yours, it couldn't hurt to get some motion activated floodlights, maybe even a surveillance camera, if you have the dosh.

Renting.  I'm hoping to buy next year, though with this my parents might be fronting a little cash to speed that up.  The landlady added some lights in the back when we had some troubles with people breaking into cars.  She'll probably install something in the side alley with this.

[Engels]

I used to live on the ground floor by the street. 8 years and nothing bad happened because of it, but one night when I was finally moving out, I had an intruder, who probably thought the apartment was empty because I'd already moved most of my furniture. The amount fear and rage I felt when I confronted him surprised me. It luckily didn't come to much, but I'm glad I now live on the 3rd floor of some modern apartments with surveillance cameras in several locations. I still, however, wake up with a start at strange noises. But I'm extra neurotic that way.