A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Funny how those in favor of more guns, bombs, flamethrowers, missles, etc., live in those parts of the country where you would NEVER need them!
I guess they give one the sense of POWER and control that may be otherwise lacking.
A:
Originally Posted by LW Elise
I'd hate to think that someone's son has had a couple of drinks too many, and lost his life because he wanted to look at my Elise, and compounded his mistake by swinging a baseball bat.
Dude, that's the point. It's got nothing to do with guns, it's got to do with perspective.
A:
Originally Posted by LBC111
Funny how those in favor of more guns, bombs, flamethrowers, missles, etc., live in those parts of the country where you would NEVER need them!
I guess they give one the sense of POWER and control that may be otherwise lacking.
Seems to me you're the only person in this thread that mentioned bombs, flamethrowers and missiles. Not sure how valid arguing against your own hyperbole is.
I honestly think more people being armed would cause an overall lower crime rate, though you'd probably see an increase in crimes of passion, or at least the consequences of such crimes.
"An armed society is a polite society."
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Originally Posted by DeathWish
Just a hypothetical, but suppose I'm on the way back from the range with my 45 and I come upon you being beaten by someone with a bat. How many times would you like me to allow them to strike you before going for a center of mass shot?
To everyone else here, I can assure you that I would without hesitation put down anyone I saw swinging a bat at you. That's assuming I was armed with something other than harsh language.
How would you know that the guy swinging the bat hadn't just had his store robbed or had some other crime committed against him by the guy on the other end of the beating. It's people with your gung-ho attitude that are the ones who shouldn't be allowed to have access to firearms in the first place
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Originally Posted by Obsidian
This has come up a few times on the forums but I'm not sure that there's been a thread for it yet.
What do you all believe is ok for people to do to your car when you leave it unattended in a parking lot?
I wk at the Getty. I've seen people stick their fingers into the paint on the canvas of a masterpiece just to see what it would do.
1) Unless shown otherwise, assume people are ignorant aholes.
2) Always set alarm b/c (see ans. #1)
3) I DO carry a firearm. This happens again, call me =D I could use some target practice.
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This thread sure has taken a dark turn....
You should have gotten an exige! I have no problems with people crawling into my car.
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Going back to the original content of the thread - I absolutely agree with and understand all your reactions to the idiot in the car but, two things:
1) I would not stop parking in the lot because there was one idiot who thought he should be allowed to climb into someone else's car. The whole neighborhood should not be tarred with the same brush. He's probably the only person in the area who thinks he should be able to act that way and now you've seen him you can guarantee he's not going near your car again. So I would go back and eat a couple of almond croissants today
2) I never park in two spaces. It makes me mad when I am cruising around looking for a spot and somebody thinks their car / paint job is so much more valuable than the rest of us they can selfishly take two spots. If I can't find a space it fills my head with thoughts of keying their damn paint (I don't do it - but I think others would). It's very selfsh to do that. As the lot fills up you run even more of a risk of this happening. Park in an end spot - look for spaces next to cars that are not going to have kids or overweight, thoughtless adults swing the doors into your car by all means, but don't take two spots - you WILL make others mad and you WILL attract more negative attention to your car. In fact I would park near the bakery so the car is not isolated. The Elise is narrow waisted and other car doors have more room to open next to it in a lot of cases - mine has not been dinged yet and is a daily driver, grocery shopper etc etc.
... I think I'll go get some coffee and pastries now - but I will be going to a lower end establishment - Dunkin Donuts
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For anyone who happens to leave their car unlocked or with the top off....I guarantee this happens all of the time. I used to live on the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and people would dock their boats and go to dinner. All night long I would watch people jump into their boats, pose, and take pictures. All night every night...never failed.
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Hi SAElise - I have lived in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore since 1990 and while I have not paid attention to who jumps in and out of boats, I can say that I park my car at the local Safeway, Wholefoods etc and various lots between here and Bethesda every day with the top off when the weather is nice. I always arm the car alarm and the only occasions I have come back to the car and got a wierd warning beep out of the alarm (indicating it has been set off) are those times when I mistakenly opened the boot lid and set the alarm off myself. So I conclude no-one has ever set the alarm off in my absence. Not saying there are not idiots like the one above out there but so far my experience has been people getting their pictures taken next to it, not trying to climb into something that does not belong to them.
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Originally Posted by GaryD
Hi SAElise - I have lived in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore since 1990 and while I have not paid attention to who jumps in and out of boats, I can say that I park my car at the local Safeway, Wholefoods etc and various lots between here and Bethesda every day with the top off when the weather is nice. I always arm the car alarm and the only occasions I have come back to the car and got a wierd warning beep out of the alarm (indicating it has been set off) are those times when I mistakenly opened the boot lid and set the alarm off myself. So I conclude no-one has ever set the alarm off in my absence. Not saying there are not idiots like the one above out there but so far my experience has been people getting their pictures taken next to it, not trying to climb into something that does not belong to them.
I lived in Fells Point. The people in question were very likely intoxicated. Boats are also a lot easier to jump into then an Elise with the windows up.
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Originally Posted by SAElise
I lived in Fells Point. The people in question were very likely intoxicated. Boats are also a lot easier to jump into then an Elise with the windows up.
Where and when?! I lived in Fells Point as well, on Aliceanna, back in the ol' bartending days. Ahhh, memories of working at "The Horse" then hitting the "Sip and puke." Good times!!
A:
Originally Posted by GaryD
Hi SAElise - I have lived in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore since 1990 and while I have not paid attention to who jumps in and out of boats, I can say that I park my car at the local Safeway, Wholefoods etc and various lots between here and Bethesda every day with the top off when the weather is nice. I always arm the car alarm and the only occasions I have come back to the car and got a wierd warning beep out of the alarm (indicating it has been set off) are those times when I mistakenly opened the boot lid and set the alarm off myself. So I conclude no-one has ever set the alarm off in my absence. Not saying there are not idiots like the one above out there but so far my experience has been people getting their pictures taken next to it, not trying to climb into something that does not belong to them.
Drunk people (actually college kids) in the downtown area are funny. They are probably the one most belligerent drunks in the U.S. IMO. I know because I was one of them at one point. I remember walking down Federal Hill and watching kids passed out in front of someone's front door steps covered in their own regurgitation. It's actually pretty amusing. So someone hopping onto a docked boat in Inner Harbor to take pics isn't that suprising.
Going back to the original post, Obsidian should be commended for showing restraint. If it were me, as soon as the guy tried to flee I woud've went after him. He had no business in my car, and if he can't wait for the cops to explain himself, he deserves to get tackled from behind and restrained forceably.
John
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My $0.02 on the gun issue.
This country was founded by guns, and it's a dang shame that people misuse them daily. It's a proven fact that countries who ban guns like Japan have very very low crime rates. But then again, I've been there, the USA is the wild wild west compared to Japan. I think it's the level of education and just higher standards of respect other countries hold compared to us as a nation. Anyone in the US can carry a gun.....legally or illegally. Be it a gun rack in your truck, a concealed pistol in your belt, or a business owner protecting himself when he takes deposits to the bank (me).
Frankly I am glad that I have the right to bear arms, my thinking is if they have a gun, h3ll I'm gonna carry one too. If someone tries to rob me, I will give it up no questions asked. But if I get shot at, I'm returning fire and you better hope your a better shot than me because I'm aiming for center mass or your head. For those of you who do not understand the mentality of "eye for an eye" think about it this way......someone is trying to push you into a pool with your wallet/cellphone/etc, are you going to go down by yourself? NO. Your gonna take someone down with you LOL.
Guns are legal, it's a scary fact. In my situation getting robbed is a reality and I always look both ways when I leave my store at night. I'm lucky I have 2 other people who walk out with me. But imagine a lonely business man in a bad part of town late at night leaving his store with alot of cash on him. If you were him, wouldn't you carry a gun too?
I don't have the Dirty Harry mentality, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
John
A:
I just remembered, rolling the windows up would have helped prevent the original poster's situation. However, I usually only roll up my windows during expected long parking situations.
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Back in school my GF exited her house and found a guy in her Subaru. He was out cold, and covered in what she thought was blood. The cops responded to her call and discovered that he was some frat boy. As some kind of pledge abuse his bros had gotten him hammered, dumped him in her car, and covered him in red paint. (yes, very very wierd) She said the cops all made fun of him and took pictures. (was in nothing but his boxers and still f'd up)
She had to sue to recover costs for all the damage from the paint. They wouldn't settle so it went to court. The pictures had the judge laughing at him and his parents.
A:
1) This thread just won't be satisfying unless pictures of the car-squatter are posted. I understand your karma point, but... maybe you can pixelate his eyes?
2) I always key-lock my doors and put the Sector 111 shower cap on the car if I think I'm anywhere close to a situation where someome will f*ck with it. Showercap takes just a few seconds, makes the car look cheaper (and therefore less alluring).
3) I don't arm the alarm, because it's too sensitive. One time with the hard top on, some guy was staring at it intently, being very careful not even to let his jacket touch the paint. And the alarm went off when he inched closer to look inside! It made me feel bad, like my car was being "unfair." At any rate, all the alarm does is cause a public nuisance.
4) I really don't care too much about the car looking clean, and in fact I would be more comfortable if everyone knew it cost $51K out the door. I don't want any paint knicks, but I am thinking of making all the starshield pieces look as hooptie as possible. This to give the car a worn-out, "it really ain't nothin' special look." Maybe even put faded, pealing stickers on the starshield. Hmmm...
A:
Originally Posted by JonOrangeElise
4) I really don't care too much about the car looking clean, and in fact I would be more comfortable if everyone knew it cost $51K out the door. I don't want any paint knicks, but I am thinking of making all the starshield pieces look as hooptie as possible. This to give the car a worn-out, "it really ain't nothin' special look." Maybe even put faded, pealing stickers on the starshield. Hmmm...
Yeah, maybe you could have some simulated body-rot painted on. A few cracks in the fiberglass might help too.
I'm also one who isn't really into the "perfection" of my car, but judging by a lot of the posts on ET, I would said I'm in the minority. As a stereotype, Elise owners seem almost obcessive about the clenliness of their cars. This goes back to the original topic of the thread. A few finger prints aren't a big deal to me at all, although people touching my car still bothers me for some reason.
A:
Originally Posted by JonOrangeElise
1
3) I don't arm the alarm, because it's too sensitive. One time with the hard top on, some guy was staring at it intently, being very careful not even to let his jacket touch the paint. And the alarm went off when he inched closer to look inside! It made me feel bad, like my car was being "unfair." At any rate, all the alarm does is cause a public nuisance.
..
Maybe you should have someone look at the alarm - mine does not go off that easily and I always park with the windows up and the alarm on. My wife heard it one time from our condo (it went off two floors below in the garage so someone must have pointed inside the car or something but we have never heard it since (except when I open the boot with it on and scare the crap out of myself).
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Originally Posted by Serebo1
Where and when?! I lived in Fells Point as well, on Aliceanna, back in the ol' bartending days. Ahhh, memories of working at "The Horse" then hitting the "Sip and puke." Good times!!
I lived on Bond near Aliceanna. Still own the rowhome. Those were very memorable times.
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Originally Posted by nugg_dawg
Drunk people (actually college kids) in the downtown area are funny. They are probably the one most belligerent drunks in the U.S. IMO. I know because I was one of them at one point. I remember walking down Federal Hill and watching kids passed out in front of someone's front door steps covered in their own regurgitation. It's actually pretty amusing. So someone hopping onto a docked boat in Inner Harbor to take pics isn't that suprising.
John
Sorry to further hijack, but I have another funny story. I lived on a block with three bars. The bars would all let out at 2:00. It never failed that someone would pee in the planter I had next to my front door (It is a three story rowhome). My bedroom was on the third floor, and I would keep a supply of water balloons that I would drop on them, often 3-4 at one time. Not once did they know what happened. (BTW Alan, I hope I never did this too you; if so, let me apologize in advance. )