Pointless buying stuff

[thebitterguy]

Okay, aside from Every Freaking Thing at Think Geek, this is another item that strikes me as fascinating, yet completely unjustifiable.

I mean, yes, it would be good to know that when I got home, my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough would be safe.

Until, of course, I realized the ice cream was kept in a laminated cardboard container you can penetrate with a spoon. Then the novelty wore off.

Comments

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

Dude. You do realise that over 50% of 'crimes' are prevented by simply putting obstacles in their path, or at least the illusion thereof? Signs saying that the area is under video surveillance actually lowers the occurances of theft, vandalism, loitering, harrassment and violent crimes. Putting those empty plastic domes that hang from the ceiling in bookstores and the like actually lower the amount of shoplifting that occurs.

I imagine that this is a combination of novelty item (hey, look, a lock for my ice cream!) and the above.

Most people who raid other peoples stuff in the fridge/freezer won't go through the effort. You'd have to stab the ice cream container pretty hard with a spoon to pierce it. In fact, I daresay that really a spoon isn't going to do the trick (and if it did, I wager that a good amount would end up spilt on the perp's clothing or the floor.)

Now, a serrated knife would be more the proper choice to break into an ice cream container. But still, some people would just rather not bother than to go through the effort of getting a knife and sawing an ice cream container in half.

Also, it's a fairly established fact of human psyche that if you put something that establishes that said item belongs to someone, it generally reduces food theft from communal/shared fridge/freezers.

Sure, there are people who will not respect your ice cream lock - but you know what? Anyone who lives with someone who doesn't deserves it, b/c they're a jackass for letting someone like that live with them in the first damn place.

Yes, I agree that such items are silly - because I wouldn't allow someone to live with me who would eat "my" stuff anyhow. The first time it happened, there'd be a severe ass-chewing, the 2nd time, there'd be violence or they'd be kicked out of my house.

[deven-science.livejournal.com]

What it comes down to is that locks, signs, and other obstacles are only there to keep honest men honest. If someone really wanted your stuff, ice cream or otherwise, they would get it.

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

Actually, because signs, locks, etc do prevent a lot of people from trying stuff, I don't see your point.

[thebitterguy]

Well, yeah. Wow.

I was just joking. My wife can have the ice cream if she wants.

God, I love CCCD.

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

And, of course, that was patently obvious, since you phrased it in a completely serious fashion?

So, yeah, crazy me for having a serious response.

What's CCCD?

[thebitterguy]

Chocolate chip Cookie Dough.

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

Ennh, never got into cookie dough ice cream.

As far as Ben and Jerry's goes, either Peanut Butter Cup or Karamel Sutra. Mmmm.

[deven-science.livejournal.com]

I've lived in enough high-crime areas to know that if someone really wants something of yours, they'll get it. Doesn't matter how many signs you post. My point: Someone sees something of yours they're thinking of taking. They see a sign saying "monitored area" or somesuch. If they're wishy-washy about the theft, then that will push them in the direction of leaving the item alone. But if they're determined, then kiss the object goodbye.

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

At no point did I dispute that. I did not say that signs, etc will work on hardened criminals, professionals, or in many cases, desperate people.

But they still work. It's a proven fact. Retail corporations have done studies on this. I've seen the pages, I've seen the practices go into effect, I've seen the results.