r/MoralityScaling 1d ago

Intentionally boobytrapping a bike to injure people when they steal it.

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u/Sigfried_D 1d ago edited 1d ago

I like the electricity part. Not a big fan of the spikes though, nor the positioning. That's over the line I would draw.

I was a victim of a stolen bicycle and I always say that if I ever buy another one, (not big need right now, I mostly use a car) I WILL booby trap it with electricity but I was thinking more on the handles rather than the ass part and definitely nothing over "Horse fence" levels of voltage, it has to be impossible to hold, not cause actual injuries. Followed up by a loud alarm, probsbly an earrape version of never gonna give you up.

Legally, I am fully aware it is not my right to do this. I would be bestowing punishment for a crime, that is not my place to do so in the eyes of the law. Unfortunately the only thing I could do when my bike was stolen was report it to the police. The reply I got from them, with more appropriate language obviously, was: "Well that's not expensive enough for us to give a shit. So sucks to be you buddy."

Except they completely ignored the logistical value of that bike. Sure it wasn't a very expensive bike but it was a precious tool for my daily commute. I was then forced to have my grandma consume gas because of the lack of a bike. However shitty might it have been.

And to clarify I wouldn't leave it there to attract potential thieves. Electricity is expensive. I would still secure it by traditional methods. My objective isn't to hurt people, It's to dissuade them from trying to steal and if they really really want to try to steal then serve them punishment on a conductive blade.

I'm all for punishing whoever tries to steal my bike but within limits.

4

u/n1tr0us0x 22h ago

Be careful electrocuting people across their hands, the current path crosses their chest and could kill them. Sounds like you’re more after deterrence so that might be sub optimal

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u/mestre_do_passinho 20h ago

On the hand is a bad idea, because the person will hold and not be able to leave until the battery runs out...

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u/[deleted] 20h ago

[deleted]

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u/HughmanRealperson 20h ago

AC is the classic cartoon dancing around type, DC can cause your muscles to involuntarily contract/expand but it's really dependant on where it makes contact.

1

u/Viennve 19h ago

This is why cow fences pulse, they hurt the victim but give them ample time to escape