Sunday 16 September 2012

Sunday Sermon: Some people are just dicks!

  
  

In all walks of life there are asshats, dicks, tossers, wan... you get the picture. That guy who shoves past you to get on the train, even though everyone else has queued properly and he's just got there. The arse who plays his iPod just loud enough so you can hear the tiny sound of his rubbish dance music grating on the inside of your skull after a hard day at work, you ask him to politely turn it down... he turns it up! Minor transgressions I know, but these sorts of things happen so often that it all just lends credence to those who argue that are becoming more self-centered and selfish, or just a little less tolerant... you know... depending on whether you are one of the many asshats who frequent this globe we call earth or not. Real life sucks, especially so in these harsh economic times, most of us will have a 'release', whether that's watching your favourite soap opera, reading trashy novels... or collecting little toy soldiers. It's these little pleasures in life that make what we have to put up with bearable.

In our little hobby we have to really be decent to one and other, or it just wouldn't work. So what happens when your haven or hobby is turned upside down or violated? Well there's one such story that's sort of doing the rounds right now over at Dream Pod 9. For those of you who haven't followed the link, or don't want to, one of Dream Pod 9's Pod Squad, or their volunteer games demo guys actually had a case full of his miniatures stolen... while he was at a store running demo games. Now, I don't know about you guys, but I have a strangely personal relationship with my painted miniatures. I feel a love for my little toy soldiers that I really don't feel for any of my other material possessions. Is it a little strange? Maybe, but the reason for this is obvious, we put so much of ourselves into our miniatures don't we? It's not just an object with a monetary value, it's something personal. So having them stolen hurts just a tad! Now on a happier note the awesome chaps at Dream Pod 9 swung into action and did their best to replace the stuff that went missing, plus Dream Pod 9 painting studio Blue Table Painting offered to paint them up at a very small fraction of the cost they'd normally charge.

The Punishment of Thieves - William Blake - 1824-7

In a way that makes the theft doubly galling though doesn't it? Here, let me explain why that is. We are all such a close knit community us gamers, we sorta have to be. We can't just walk into any old place and strike up conversations with strangers about Corvus Belli's latest release, or whether Colossal's are OP must takes or not, or whether 6th Edition 40K is for us or not. OK so maybe we could, but it's not normal to do that and you'd more than like be socially ostracized for doing so. Truth is we know each other, because we have to socialise, and when something like this happens we all dip in our own pockets, or miniature collections to help out. Why? Because we're a community, and we rely on each other, and we trust each other. So when someone from this community commits an act of theft it is doubly disturbing and upsetting. We don't like to think that there is someone amongst us who we know and trust who would be capable of screwing a fellow gamer over in such a scummy way. It's really not nice is it? Because the only sort of person who would steal a case full of miniatures is a fellow hobbyist.

The Cherry thieves - Zuber Buhler Fritz - 1870-5

I myself have been the victim of multiple hobby thefts. I've had my Necromunda gangs stolen from a tournament where I knew a huge swathe of those there. The fact they left the larger case of Battletech stuff next to it tells me they knew what it was they were stealing, and therefore most likely knew me, no matter how briefly. That hurt! I've also had my Blood Bowl teams stolen from a friends house, and that was rubbish too, because there really was only a very limited number of geeks who had access to pinching that stuff. I also lost an Eldar army from the store room of the Birmingham Games Workshop after I left working there. I went back to pick them up and they were gone. That was probably a fellow staff member, someone who I'd been to the pub with most likely and shared a pint with. Each one of these incidents has made me more wary and cautious with my stuff, because I know only too well through painful experience that there are some especially low scum sucking pigs around in our hobby.

I have no idea how widespread such behaviour is, but I do know of others who have suffered similar fates, and I hear of other tales like this one. I don't know why it shocks me so much when I hear these stories anymore, but it still does. Because I really can not understand why someone who is part of a tight knit gaming community, someone who knows how much love and effort we put into our armies could do this sort of thing. Most thieves in the rest of real life actually pick on random victims, people they don't know, there is a separation between them and the person they are ripping off. In a way they are removed from the impact and consequences of their actions. It doesn't make what they do any less vile, but it does make it easier I guess to perform their crimes. So what does that tell us about a 'hobby thief' who most likely knows their victim? I guess what I'm trying to say is the fact that this person who stole the Pod Squad members army had no doubt met the guy, smiled at him, maybe even shook his hand and played a game, makes what they did even worse in my eyes. This theft was personal, and they knew the sort of anguish it would cause. I'm sure they probably know the anguish it has caused, certainly if they frequent Dream Pod 9's forums, or Facebook page they must be aware of the hurt and shock they have caused.

Perhaps in their own minds the fact that the Pod Squad member has got new mini's means that there's no harm, and therefore no foul going on. Perhaps that the guys a Blue Table Painting are going to paint his miniatures means he'll have a better collection, and makes it all OK! Right? Well if you think that is the case then let me put you straight. You are WRONG!!! You not only stole the miniatures and their monetary value, you stole the guys time putting them together, you stole the guys time painting them, but worst of all you stole his memories. Each army we have takes on a personality through the games we play with them and the paint we put on them. We develop favourites don't we? Miniatures that just seem to stay alive no matter how bad things get, or always seems to hit no matter what. They develop a history with us. The thief took this from this chap, who I might add selflessly devotes their free time to help spread the word and improve hobbyists hobby time. So there is harm, and there is a foul and if anyone knows anything about this, or any other theft of miniatures, fess up, come clean or shop the person, because communities should stick together and just because in every walk of life there are complete and utter dicks, it doesn't mean we have to put up with them. Peace out!

34 comments:

  1. Can't agree more. I'm always saddened when I hear of people's collections getting stolen, especially if it is at some form of event, were as you say the person probably knew the guy they were stealing from.

    While crime committed against random persons is no less horrible, it at least is a random act. Something like this were you can smile at someone, talk to them, and then steal their stuff is a horrible low really.

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    1. words really can not express how utterly scummy such an act is Mecha Ace. I've never really wanted to think too much about the thefts that have happened to me. They certainly have affected my own behaviour, if my miniatures leave the house with me they stay in my sight at all times. Plus I don't really trust other people with my stuff.

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  2. Wow, that is bad for the guy who lost his stuff. The thief clearly knew what they were doing and what effect it would have on the pod squad guy, but still did it. Scum is too soft a word for them.

    Great response from DP9 and BTP, but as you say it won't be the same army.

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    1. Sadly I know exactly how he feels. It is utterly awful to know you'll never see that Orc star player again, or your favourite Human team. It's just horrible.

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  3. Well fecking said, a fecking bollox of the high order, it would be nice to find out who did it!

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    1. I don't advocate violence... but I'd suggest if they catch the guy that he be pelted to death by throwing gears at him... trust me its worse than stones, DP9's Gears are made of the sternest metals known to man and carry some significant weight!

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  4. Its quite disgusting when you here something like this. I mean what does the thief want to do with the figures, he can't ever use them at a tournament, because he'll be found out. What an arse!

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    1. That's the other aspect of it Ray. Where the hell will they be able to use these miniatures? They won't will they? So they'll more than likely be selling them on eBay... so it's for monetary gain, which actually makes it even worse in some warped way.

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    1. Well it needed saying. Some people are just dicks!

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  6. Amen. Its not just the loss *though that is bad enough), its the feeling of helpless violation. To have that done by somebody you know is unbelievable. There is a reason some cultures used to cut the hands off thieves.

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    1. Yep. Thankfully I've never had my house or home broken into. I'd hate for that to happen, its not so much the stuff being taken, just more that fact that someone had been in your home uninvited. It's just not nice.

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  7. Um... Yeah. That first picture you put up there is really quite a disturbing one.

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    1. That's sort of the point. This sort of thing should happen to all thieves!!!

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  8. One of the great things about living in the Bronx- when my apartment was robbed, they left my models and all of my books alone.
    No one here games!

    Ok, so maybe I had to replace two TV's and a surround sound system, a stereo, a computer, my XBox and all the associated games...but my models were right were I left 'em!

    I hope Santa never gets paroled....

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    1. Now that I would have difficulty dealing with. Somebody rifling through my home and stuff. Not sure I could stay living in the same house after something lie that buddy. I hate thieves I really, really do.

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  9. It's one of the worst things to have to endure - LGS says "Come play here on our lovely tables with your mates." but I don't go. Sick of having to look over my shoulder for fear of getting my minis half-inched.
    Thieves are everywhere in every walk of life. I really do approve of the Arab method of punishment - one, because the perpetrator will likely refrain from stealing again and two, that way we'll know who exactly NOT to trust anymore.
    But then I work at my local Courthouse and have become rather bitter toward these "supposed" punishments that are dealt out to criminals these days.

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    1. I too have worked in an environment where I came across ex-offenders. Some do turn themselves around, but more just keep on being the unscrupulous shits they always were. Despite being offered all the help in the world. I really don't pretend to have all, or indeed any of the answers, but what I do know is that right now that what we do right now in the UK isn't really working.

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  10. That image..... Can't be unseen!

    Alternative caption:
    "GW: This is what it's like in Australia"

    Back on topic, wow, just wow.

    I can't say I've had anything of mine pinched, but then again, I only play at home.

    Where I live you could leave your door wide open, go out for the day, and be safe in the knowledge that all your belongings would be there when you get back (having 3 huge dogs doesn't hurt either!).

    Anyone who steals something that has had so much love poured into it is scum. It's not like they are stealing a loaf of bread to feed their family; they are stealing a luxury item, and one that has been greatly personalised, making the theft even more abhorrent.

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    1. You're lucky to live in such a place Bishop, I don't think there's a spot on the British Isles anymore that doesn't have a crime problem. We're a small island nation, which sadly allows the shits that reside in our society to get to pretty much all of it and wreak havoc!

      The first time I had any of my stuff go missing (my Blood Bowl teams) I thought it was just a mistake and an error. I just assumed they'd turn up eventually. They never bloody did though. The Necromunda gangs sucked because my Escher, Spyers and Van Saars were really nicely painted.

      It's just a bit upsetting to see that others have gone through similar things. Just positively sucks. As to the picture, as I said, that fellow should be forcibly introduced to all hobby thieves!!!

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  11. Had a guy we know steal a bunch of Eldar years ago. He denied it but it was blatantly him. (Models stored at our house, he came out an played with his Eldar, 2 days later we noticed them gone, he was the only visitor in that time and he was moving to another city)

    Dude is now a cop... makes me sick

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    1. Yeah that sucks. It does go on though, someone once said they felt the price of miniatures had something to do with it. I do not subscribe to this line of thought. Genuinely I think it has more to do with some people being born dicks, and they were always going to be dicks, and thus do dickish things. These people would still steal stuff no matter what.

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  12. I had the occasional problem with thieves when I worked for Games Workshop; little scumbag chavs nicking the occasional model off the table, but I've never personally had any of my stuff go missing. I suspect a large part of the reason for that is that the Dudley store is in the Merry Hill Centre, and the GW staff there are on excellent terms with the Westfield security team; most of the regular guys who come in the shop know that.

    But the ramifications of people stealing whole cases full of models are not lost on me, and this post brings them all right back to the surface. I tend to go in to GW on Monday Nights for Lord of the Rings. I have no problem with leaving my stuff in there if I go out for a drink or something to eat... but because LotR has shall we say a rather select fanbase, there I know every single one of those guys in person and I've played games with most of them. Plus I have a tag on it with my name on. The idea that any potential thieves there would know who I was and what they were stealing is a horrible thought and something I don't even want to consider...

    That being said, years ago I had a UV pen that could write things like names and postcodes in UV ink. It might be worth writing your initials and postcode on the bottom of the base of your models; it won't stop anyone stealing them but if they do turn up later it won't be hard to prove they belong to you.

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    1. I think kids nicking the odd intro table miniature is shockingly commonplace. I remember working the weekend of LotR launch. By the end of it we needed to do a new intro set because we'd lost so many models... this trend continued for many months to follow!

      As to UV pens... been there and done that. Doesn't work. Even if people know you do it. There's no deterrent strong enough I think to stop a determined thief with shiny syndrome.

      There was a chap I'm sure who left a comment on an article on this Blog who said a friend army in Northern Ireland I think was stolen from out of a locked shed in the back garden. They said that only that one specific army was stolen, and that all the others in the shed were left behind. That means that army was stolen to order. That's sickening, how do you deter people who are that determined?

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  13. Very well said. All theft is abhorrent but when it comes from within a community where thief and victim probably know each other or have met, it is worse. The crime is still the same but the impact on the victim is greater because not only have they had their stuff stolen they have also had their faith in people stolen as well.

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    1. Very well articulated Lee. I think that's sort of what I was trying to say but fumbling to do so. So I appreciate you stopping by and making words what sound good!!! :P

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  14. I might be sheltered, but I can't relate at all.

    Sweden's biggest convention (and the worlds continually longest running) in Gothenburg is one of the biggest I visit.

    I have attended this for 18 years now, and only ever heard of 1 thing getting stolen, ever.

    A friend of mine left his wallet in the cafeteria and 24 hours (!) later, after thousands of people passing through this, it was still there. Moved, but at the same table. I assume someone has moved it because they were playing at that table at one time or another.

    I've gotten a bit more cautios with age, but have always had all my stuff lying around on the premesis (a gigantic school), and never have anything, like camera, wallet or armies ever been touched.

    The only thing that got stolen was a year ago when someone took a friends charger to the cell phone. But since it was connected where a lot of other chargers were, it can have been a mistake.

    Sorry for your experience, but I can't relate to it.

    /Tomas

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    1. Don't be sorry that you can't relate to my bad experience Tomas!!! That's a good thing. Either you're very lucky, or Sweden is a far less crime ridden hell hole than the rest of the world. :P

      Having visited Sweden on a number of occasions that is a distinct possibility... except I know of a chap who had a case of Dark Elves pinched, he was Swedish, just don't know whether the crime happened in Sweden.

      The article was about the poor Pod Squad member in USA who had his miniatures stolen, and it just brought up my own bad experience and memories. In many respects I know I've been unlucky, I've also had my toolbox of paints nicked from a car because I'm guessing somebody thought it might have been full of expensive tools... bet they were almost as gutted as me!!!

      I just felt it was a worthy subject to talk about, considering it clearly has affected so many people.

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    2. And with what I can't relate to, is the number of small thefts you've been victim to.

      The first crime, stealing a bag full of minis, now, that is the death penalty.

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    3. Worthy subject indeed. Didn't realize it was so common as it seems from reading the answers above.

      A good blog as always.

      (But you really need to fix your Captcha. It is friggin impossible.)

      Cheers,
      Tomas

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    4. I wouldn't call any of the thefts I've suffered small. My Blood Bowl case had my High Elf, Human, Orc, Dwarf, Dark Elf, Norse, Skaven, Chaos and Wood Elf teams in them. Including a bucket load of star players. I'd bet that there were over 150 metal miniatures in that figure case. That's not a small theft!!! The same is true of by Necromunda gangs. I had a number of them stored in my case, although probably not as many as !50. My Eldar was a 1800 point Saim-Hann Wild Rider army with a boat load of Jetbikes, Vipers and tanks!!! That was my biggest loss I've suffered, and that sucked big time.

      Sadly it is a topic that has affected a lot of people. I know from speaking to those present when my stuff was stolen that many, particularly the Blood Bowl stuff, felt they'd let me down by not being vigilant and that they felt like they couldn't trust people anymore. The Blood Bowl theft totally killed a gaming club we'd started to form. No one really wanted to game with a potential thief... and we didn't know who had committed the crime.

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    5. PS Sorry about the Captcha, I keep turning it off and Blogger seems to keep turning it back on. As somebody who is Dyslexic I despise the bloody thing. Honestly it drives me up the wall.

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  15. Well, the most gutting theft has to be my 1st ed Epic army. All those metal marines. Sob. From GW Beckenham. I suspect the bag was picked up in error as the first GW plastic case was out and everyones looked rather similar, but mine was not returned.

    Plus a 'friend' decided to sell the WWII 6mm stuff I left at his house for a while after he borrowed them. I believe he tried to insist he was burgled, but Lancaster just doesn't have a criminal underworld that is keen on GHQ minitures stored in pizza boxes to the exclusion of other more saleable stuff.

    Saying that is it karmic justice? As a kid I was very keen on models, but didn't have the cash to fulfil my desires so might have thought the ones in Hamleys were fair game. Funnily enough at the age of 10 I didn't think the same of stuff in a gw or anybodies models. Selective morality clearly.

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    1. Wow, an entire Epic army, with the metal bits and bobs instead of the plastic. That must have hurt. As to the WWII 6mm stuff... total jerk and I would be referring to the toe rag as mortal enemy / ex-friend!!!

      Not sure I believe in Karma, because if I did it would have to mean I was a serial killer in a former life. I don't really believe in luck either. I just think the universe it just one big random mess.

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