# Some scumfucker stole my iPod off my desk at work **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 27, 2005, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222 "2005-10-27T23:15:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/41 "2005-10-28T12:50:43Z")
Maybe you should go around fixing all the wrongs you have done, like being a grade A prick, and apologize to people and help fix their lives. Then you can start your own show called “My name is Otto.” Then your I-pod won’t be stolen. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/42 "2005-10-28T12:55:45Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Because I foolishly thought that I was working with people who understood the concept of personal property. I’m sure they do. One person chose to ignore what it means. It happens. Some people just plain suck. You have to accept _some_ of the blame here. ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/43 "2005-10-28T14:33:34Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > I’m just trying to say that a victim of a crime is not the person at fault; the person who committed the crime is. > Yes, I think **Otto** made a big mistake in leaving his iPod out on his desk while he went to a meeting. That _is_ a big invitation to steal it. But ultimately, the person at fault is the one who saw the iPod, knew it was someone else’s, and decided to steal it anyway. Oh so you’re blaming Otto too, even after dropping that moronic rape analogy. Idiot. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/44 "2005-10-28T14:54:35Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > Oh so you’re blaming Otto too, even after dropping that moronic rape analogy. Idiot. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/45 "2005-10-28T15:01:18Z")
Funnily enough, my cousin sold me a way cool iPod for cheap yesterday. Can you believe it? An iPod for $25! The music on it is ass, but it’s a simple matter to delete that and put stuff more to my own taste in its place. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/46 "2005-10-28T15:06:48Z")
Theft is theft. Just because I don’t have bars on my windows and traps on the doors, is that an invitation for someone to enter my house and steal my stuff? Just because I’m not wearing a chastity belt, is that an invitation to anally rape me? Jeez. At most I didn’t make it harder for the criminal to commit the crimes. But that is not a _failure_ on my part, nor is it a failure on **Otto** ’s part. The thief is 100% to blame for being a thief. Anyone who says otherwise is an asshole. When did it become acceptable for mother-fucking law-and-order shitheads like **Syclla** to start blaming victims instead of the theives? I think you’re just using this as an excuse to be an asshole to **Otto**. Fuck off you blowhard. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/47 "2005-10-28T15:12:27Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Remember my thread about having to hand deliver (heh) my fresh squeezed sperm to a rather attractive young woman? No, I have no memory of this whatsoever. However, if your wife has issues with it, maybe you shouldn’t be broadcasting it worldwide on a message board. > [@duffer](#): > > You know something? I’m glad it was stolen. And I’m glad that you have trouble reproducing. Because the world has enough assholes like you in it already and it has no need of any further contributions from the asshole gene pool. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/48 "2005-10-28T15:13:20Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > Theft is theft. Just because I don’t have bars on my windows and traps on the doors, is that an invitation for someone to enter my house and steal my stuff? No, but if you did, it would show some repsonsibilty on your part to protect your stuff. I don’t expect anyone to burglarize my house, but I have an alarm system anyway. This world ain’t all sunshine and puppy dogs. If Otto had locked the iPod in his desk or given it to someone to take care of it while he was gone AND then it was stolen, then he might get a little more sympathy. I doubt he’ll get any from the authorities or his employer on this. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/49 "2005-10-28T15:14:24Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > When did it become acceptable for mother-fucking law-and-order shitheads like **Syclla** to start blaming victims instead of the theives? I think you’re just using this as an excuse to be an asshole to **Otto**. Fuck off you blowhard. The same time crybaby morons like you decided that blame was a binary issue and that there isn’t such a thing as partial faults. Leaving an ipod alone on a desk in a TEMP job is the height of stupidity. Complaining about it is just fine and dandy, but calling somebody an asshole because they point out that it was a pretty stupid maneuver is just plain assholic. If I leave my keys in my car and somebody steals it, it IS partially my fault. Yeah, legally and morally the guy stealing it is at greater fault, but some blame lies with my own stupidity. Blame is not black and white moron. And Scylla isn’t an asshole for pointing it out. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/50 "2005-10-28T15:15:00Z")
> [@mks57](#): > > I’d like to see company security departments setup sting operations for this sort of thing. Widely publicizing that Joe Turd was arrested, lost his job, and will be spending the next 90 days in the county jail, would put the fear of God in some people. That would be awesome. We had a dumbass taken off a jobsite in handcuffs for stealing a SawZall, and another shithead unofficially blacklisted in the industry for stealing a laptop. Fuck these thieves, fuck blaming the victim. If someone stole my iPod, regardless of where I left it, I’d be in a murderous rage. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/51 "2005-10-28T15:16:11Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > But my wife has twice suffered the indignity of having her handbag (that makes her sound like Maggie Thatcher! - would “bag” be better?) stolen from her office at work. Purse. **Otto** , sorry to hear about your iPod. Have you asked your co-workers if they saw anything? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/52 "2005-10-28T15:23:52Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > But my wife has twice suffered the indignity of having her handbag (that makes her sound like Maggie Thatcher! - would “bag” be better?) No, “wife” is better. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/53 "2005-10-28T15:26:39Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > I pray you never volunteer for a rape crisis center. Why yes, **Otto**. Having your iPod stolen is just like being raped. Hell, they practically shoved you into a Zyclon B shower. Dumbshit. Wasn’t it Thomas Paine who said, “Eternal viligance is the price of having Shakira at your fingertips?” ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/54 "2005-10-28T15:45:47Z")
> [@Homebrew](#): > > Just because I’m not wearing a chastity belt, is that an invitation to anally rape me? That’s one of the stupidest analogies to swiping an unattened iPod I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/55 "2005-10-28T15:52:08Z")
A workplace is _never_ completely safe. A friend of mine, in an office we thought was quite secure, had a credit card stolen out of her wallet; the thief left the money and the wallet and almost everything in it, just took the card, and by the time she even noticed it thousands of dollars had been charged up on it. They never could figure out who stole it (and a lot of other little surreptitious thefts like that one), either, and they actually did conduct a very thorough investigation. So I sympathize with how pissed off you are, Otto, and I agree that the thief is a total shitbag. You have every right to be upset that a coworker is a thief. But that doesn’t negate the fact that you can learn a valuable lesson from this: In the future, it’s _your_ job to make sure your stuff is safe wherever you happen to work, and if that requires carrying it with you, then so be it. Does the employer provide a lockable space, at your desk or elsewhere? If not, ask for it. Be more aware of your environment. And \*especially \*at work? Trust no one. And practice iPod security from here on out. Carry your replacement iPod on your person, not visible, from here on out. Don’t wear it on your belt or arm for someone to snatch and grab. I wear mine with the headphones running down under my shirt and the iPod in my pocket just to make it less likely that someone can make off with it. Yeah, what happened to you was shitty. Now it’s up to you to try to make sure nothing like that can ever happen again. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/56 "2005-10-28T15:58:22Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Why yes, **Otto**. Having your iPod stolen is just like being raped. Hell, they practically shoved you into a Zyclon B shower. Dumbshit. > > Wasn’t it Thomas Paine who said, “Eternal viligance is the price of having Shakira at your fingertips?” What I would do to have Shakira at my fingertips is a hell of a lot more than eternal viligence. 🙂 Sorry your iPod got lifted **Otto**. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/57 "2005-10-28T15:59:39Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > That’s one of the stupidest analogies to swiping an unattened iPod I’ve ever seen. It’s only stupid if you overextend the analogy. There’s no such thing as a perfect analogy–you stretch 'em, they’re GOING to break. In this case, the analogy only extends as far as the existence of a crime and a method of preventing said crime. Once you try to include the _severity_ or _consequences_ of the crime in question, of course it’s going to look stupid. Too often around here, when someone whips out an analogy to try to explain their position, folks make WAY too much of an effort to stretch, twist and bend it until it breaks. Why it’s not possible for people to contain the argument within the context of the analogy is beyond me. **Homebrew** ’s analogy is perfectly valid–WITHIN its context. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/58 "2005-10-28T16:05:18Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > It’s only stupid if you overextend the analogy. There’s no such thing as a perfect analogy–you stretch 'em, they’re GOING to break. In this case, the analogy only extends as far as the existence of a crime and a method of preventing said crime. Once you try to include the _severity_ or _consequences_ of the crime in question, of course it’s going to look stupid. Too often around here, when someone whips out an analogy to try to explain their position, folks make WAY too much of an effort to stretch, twist and bend it until it breaks. Why it’s not possible for people to contain the argument within the context of the analogy is beyond me. **Homebrew** ’s analogy is perfectly valid–WITHIN its context. I really don’t want to know how much stretching is involved when someone uses anal rape as an analogy, if you know what I mean. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e95f7d/32.png) [@holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holmes)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/59 "2005-10-28T16:07:48Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Why it’s not possible for people to contain the argument within the context of the analogy is beyond me. Because then they might have to stop kicking **Otto** and realize that this is a perfectly fine pitting and he’s not to blame for the actions of others. Sure he should’ve, could’ve, would’ve…that still doesn’t make him at fault here. I don’t think he needs us to point out what he should’ve done. I feel for you brotha, I still miss my hat. Who the hell would steal another man’s hat? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222/60 "2005-10-28T16:13:47Z")
> [@Uvula Donor](#): > > That’s one of the stupidest analogies to swiping an unattened iPod I’ve ever seen. How so? It’s not a direct analogy to the specific crime, rather a question of how many steps must a person take to avoid a crime before it’s no longer his fault he’s a victim? Do I need a moat with 'crocs around my house before it’s no longer my fault I’m burgularized? Must I have armed guards attending to my personal belongings to ensure they’re not stolen or else it’s my fault? It’s absurd to suggest that someone is at fault because they didn’t take sufficient steps to stop thieves. In previous days and still in some places people don’t lock their doors. If they’re robbed is it their fault? What if they do lock their doors but someone breaks it down? Is it still their fault they didn’t have an attack dog to stop the thief once entering the house? It’s a sad commentary on society that we even have door locks for anything more than privacy. The person in the cube next to me could leave any amount of money, gems or gold\* and fully expect that it would be there when she got back because I would not steal it. If I took it, I would be to blame, not her. \*chocolate, on the other hand … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-scumfucker-stole-my-ipod-off-my-desk-at-work/328222.md?page=4)