[sudo-discuss] It's Unconscionable
Michael Scroggins
michaeljscroggins at gmail.com
Fri Mar 1 11:43:29 PST 2013
In my opinion, the letter is overly apologetic. Neither Workshop Weekend
nor SudoRoom has done anything that needs to be apologized for.
Apologizing for the way the workshop was advertised implies there is
something wrong with the holding a public lock picking workshop, which
there is not. I wouldn't cede the rhetorical high ground on this point.
I love the TOOL statement. I think it strikes exactly the right note. If
there is to be a SudoRoom statement (does there need to be?) I think it
should be in line with the TOOL statement.
Michael
J.D. Zamfirescu wrote:
> For those interested, Workshop Weekend (that is, my brother and I)
> prepared the following statement on the lockpicking issue. We fully
> support Sudo Room having its own statement on the issue too.
>
> ===========
>
> Over the past two days, Workshop Weekend has received complaints from
> concerned citizens of Oakland about the upcoming "Introduction to
> Lockpicking" workshop being offered as part of Workshop Weekend on
> March 2, 2013. The workshop will run as scheduled, but in response to
> community concerns, lock-picking tools will no longer be offered for
> sale at the event.
>
>
> As Oakland residents ourselves, we have felt Oakland's crime problem,
> and we appreciate the community's concerns that offering a
> lock-picking workshop appears to encourage crime and sends the wrong
> message. We recognize now that it was insensitive to have the workshop
> listed and broadcast in the way that it was, and we regret doing so.
>
>
> To provide some background, Workshop Weekend invited The Open
> Organization of Lockpickers (TOOOL) to run a workshop about
> lock-picking and lock mechanisms this weekend.
>
>
> Exploring lock-picking and understanding the limitations of locks is
> valuable for everyone who relies on locks for physical security, and
> in kids it can spark an interest in mechanical engineering and complex
> systems.
>
>
> We would also like to share the following note from TOOOL, the group
> offering the session: "We in TOOOL are of course sensitive to the
> concern that occasionally surrounds our lock-themed workshops. We can
> only hope that the atmosphere of openness, information sharing, and
> strong ethical standards which is a part of all TOOOL meetings can
> assuage some concerns. Knowing about the weaknesses in certain locks
> protects the public; it does not aid criminals. Please visit our
> website -- toool.us <http://toool.us> -- for more information."
>
>
> We hope this note makes things clear to everyone; our goal is provide
> an educational and inclusive experience for everyone in Oakland who
> would like to be involved with our events.
>
>
> /Workshop Weekend is a two-day celebration of hands-on learning taking
> place in the heart of downtown Oakland, bringing together kids and
> adults from Oakland as well as the rest of the Bay Area. The event
> encourages exploration of new interests and passions by offering over
> 40 workshops in subjects not typically taught in schools, including
> aeroponics, electronics, and 3D printing. For more information, visit
> workshopweekend.net <http://workshopweekend.net>/
>
>
> We welcome your thoughts and comments at feedback at workshopweekend.net
> <mailto:feedback at workshopweekend.net>
>
> ===========
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 6:44 PM, J.D. Zamfirescu <zamfire at gmail.com
> <mailto:zamfire at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Michael, you're not missing anything -- we haven't finished
> drafting the workshop weekend statement yet. :)
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 6:43 PM, Michael Scroggins
> <michaeljscroggins at gmail.com <mailto:michaeljscroggins at gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> I must have missed something in the email chain as I am
> unaware of the Workshop Weekend letter. Of course, you are
> right that the two letters should match, especially in front
> of the media. I can't help to think, though, that this is an
> opportunity to drive home the broader point that neither
> curiosity nor association is a crime.
>
>
>
> Eddan Katz wrote:
>> Seems to me like sticking to correcting the misuse of the
>> word unconscionable can be respectful to the police chief and
>> informative about the difference between skills and criminal
>> intent.
>>
>> If Sudo Room does a separate statement, it should follow on
>> Workshop Weekend's letter and support its posture and position.
>>
>> There'll be TV cameras there this weekend - we can feel
>> pretty confident about that. It would be very useful to share
>> a common understanding in order not to have our purpose
>> misrepresented.
>>
>>
>> sent from eddan.com <http://eddan.com>
>>
>> On Feb 28, 2013, at 6:07 PM, Michael Scroggins
>> <michaeljscroggins at gmail.com
>> <mailto:michaeljscroggins at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>>> I think a statement is well and proper. I also think arguing
>>> the right to disinterest inquiry is the proper line.
>>>
>>> To the earlier back and forth about "known gang members" ...
>>> one of the differences between the people at SudoRoom and
>>> "known gang members" is simply that to be classified as
>>> "known" is to be stripped of your right to disinterested
>>> inquiry. All of your actions having been prejudged as
>>> interested and malicious.
>>>
>>> If the letter is worded right we can make a statement about
>>> the lock picking class and about the direction policing in
>>> Oakland has taken.
>>>
>>>
>>> Michael
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Eddan Katz wrote:
>>>> J.D. - do you think there should be an additional statement
>>>> from Sudo Room?
>>>>
>>>> Before we proceed any further - does anyone have objections
>>>> to writing such a letter or signing on to it? What the
>>>> statement says is another matter for which Sudo member
>>>> objections should also feel empowered to raise. Comments
>>>> can be made anonymously on the etherpad or on IRC, if
>>>> someone isn't comfortable doing it on the list.
>>>>
>>>> sent from eddan.com <http://eddan.com>
>>>>
>>>> On Feb 28, 2013, at 5:15 PM, "J.D. Zamfirescu"
>>>> <zamfire at gmail.com <mailto:zamfire at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Yeah, we were hoping to publish it tonight. Let me try to
>>>>> draft something and send it on?
>>>>>
>>>>> Part of me is concerned about editing a public statement
>>>>> on a public list...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 5:14 PM, Eddan <eddan at clear.net
>>>>> <mailto:eddan at clear.net>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> J.D. - where were you thinking of publishing this letter?
>>>>>
>>>>> I think it would make for a stronger and more
>>>>> thoughtful response if there was a collective voice
>>>>> signing on to it either as a group or listed as
>>>>> individuals.
>>>>>
>>>>> With the help of the collective editorial prowess of
>>>>> the Sudo list, do you think you would be ready to
>>>>> publish it before tomorrow morning?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 5:09 PM, Eddan
>>>>> <eddan at clear.net <mailto:eddan at clear.net>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I think the question is, rather - Can you get
>>>>> hired by a locksmith company without knowing how
>>>>> to pick a lock?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 5:01 PM,
>>>>> <thadwooster at gmail.com
>>>>> <mailto:thadwooster at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I could be totally wrong on this, but I
>>>>> believe locksmiths are required to be bonded,
>>>>> fingerprinted and licensed.
>>>>>
>>>>> On Feb 28, 2013, at 4:59 PM, rusty lindgren wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> WTF #@*)DKLJ
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I sent an email to that newb at the
>>>>>> newspaper... UM, where do they think
>>>>>> locksmiths learn stuff? Should they have to
>>>>>> pay to become a locksmith???
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So stupid.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 4:56 PM, Marina Kukso
>>>>>> <marina.kukso at gmail.com
>>>>>> <mailto:marina.kukso at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ftfy!: THIS is unconscionable.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 4:50 PM, Eddan
>>>>>> <eddan at clear.net
>>>>>> <mailto:eddan at clear.net>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Now, this requires a response. Has
>>>>>> anybody started drafting something?
>>>>>> If not, I will.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ...
>>>>>> Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan
>>>>>> <http://www.sfgate.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=bayarea&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Howard+Jordan%22> was
>>>>>> not pleased.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "I'm in shock that people would
>>>>>> provide a class to teach people a
>>>>>> skill to violate the law," Jordan
>>>>>> said. "It's unconscionable."
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Lock-pick instructor Michael Fitzhugh
>>>>>> <http://www.sfgate.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=bayarea&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Michael+Fitzhugh%22> is
>>>>>> a member of TOOOL (The Open
>>>>>> Organisation Of Lockpickers
>>>>>> <http://www.sfgate.com/?controllerName=search&action=search&channel=bayarea&search=1&inlineLink=1&query=%22Open+Organisation+Of+Lockpickers%22>),
>>>>>> a Netherlands-based outfit that
>>>>>> teaches and holds national and
>>>>>> international lock-picking events
>>>>>> annually. In their world, lock
>>>>>> picking is done for sport and
>>>>>> bragging rights. But, he says, it's
>>>>>> also a useful tool if you lock
>>>>>> yourself out of your home.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Jordan has a more conventional
>>>>>> solution to that problem: "Call
>>>>>> a locksmith!"
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Quan-s-wrong-note-on-lock-picking-class-4318130.php
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Even worse than Quan, this guy's so
>>>>>> desperate to change the subject about
>>>>>> the incompetence of the OPD in news
>>>>>> story after news story.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Unconscionable!?! This coming from a
>>>>>> police department that was about to
>>>>>> go into an unprecedented federal
>>>>>> receivership for its failure to
>>>>>> reform; not to mention a police
>>>>>> department seared with a global
>>>>>> reputation for brutality, racism, and
>>>>>> excessive means; and whose
>>>>>> fundamental miscalculations and
>>>>>> mismanagement of the response to
>>>>>> Occupy cost the city millions of dollars.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> sudo-discuss mailing list
>>>>>> sudo-discuss at lists.sudoroom.org
>>>>>> <mailto:sudo-discuss at lists.sudoroom.org>
>>>>>> http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Cheers,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rusty Lindgren
>>>>>> **
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>> sudo-discuss at lists.sudoroom.org
>>>>>> <mailto:sudo-discuss at lists.sudoroom.org>
>>>>>> http://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
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