Smart Car Tipping

[bradl]

(NOTE: Mods, this has potential to fall into PRSI. If it does, feel free to move it there.)

I admit that when I first heard this, I thought it was hilarious as it reminded me of of Lightning McQueen and Mater in a field of tractors. Then I started to read why they are doing it, and can understand why it's a growing trend in the hipster area.

Article graciously stolen from Slashdot:

Smart Car Tipping Trending In San Francisco
Posted by timothy on 09:30 AM April 8th, 2014
from the siphoning-next-the-gas-from-this-tesla dept.

Is it a crime of opportunity or another page in the current chapter of Anti-Tech movement in San Francisco? Either way, the new crime trending in San Francisco involves tipping Smart Cars on their side. While they only take 3 — 4 people to tip, this could just be kids simply having "fun" at the very expensive cost of car owners. Alternatively it could be part of a larger movement in San Francisco against anyone associated with HiTech, which is largely being blamed for neighborhood gentrification and rent spikes in recent years.

Some pictures:

More pictures are here. The main cause of this are evictions under the Ellis Act, which provides a legal way for some landlords who want to get out of the business without selling to another landlord. This allows them to evict tenants so they can walk themselves.

Has gentrification taken off in the areas you are in? If so, how are people handling it?

BL.

 

[Kissaragi]

Hope they find the people that are doing it and prosecute them!

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I hate when idiots vandalize or destroy people's property, but I have to admit those pictures are hilarious. LOL

 

[carjakester]

That is hilarious. But that really sucks for the owners, perhaps there will be something to prevent it from tipping, maybe an alarm if it starts to get lifted or some sort of.. Dare i say, kickstand.

 

[Mr. McMac]

Not funny at all. How would you feel if that was your car?

 

[ucfgrad93]

The main cause of this are evictions under the Ellis Act, which provides a legal way for some landlords who want to get out of the business without selling to another landlord. This allows them to evict tenants so they can walk themselves.

Some people will use any excuse to try and justify bad behavior. Chances are these cars don't even belong to the people who are responsible for the Ellis Act or the landlords that use it.

Not funny at all. How would you feel if that was your car?

Agreed.

Hope they find the people that are doing it and prosecute them!

Agreed.

 

[0007776]

That is hilarious. But that really sucks for the owners, perhaps there will be something to prevent it from tipping, maybe an alarm if it starts to get lifted or some sort of.. Dare i say, kickstand.

I don't really see how this is funny, even if it wasn't causing damage it still wouldn't be funny.

 

[firedept]

No humour in taking a car and damaging it. Bet insurance companies and police do not see it as funny either. Make the perpetrators pay for the damage. Might make them see the other side of the coin. I own a Mini and certainly would not want to find my car like this.

 

[Kissaragi]

I imagine the people finding this "hilarious" would be less amused by someone running keys down the side of their cars.

 

[carjakester]

I don't really see how this is funny, even if it wasn't causing damage it still wouldn't be funny.

I imagine the people finding this "hilarious" would be less amused by someone running keys down the side of their cars.

i just think it looks funny, as if the car just got blown over by the wind.

 

[Don't panic]

just vandalism pure and simple.
there is no justification for it.

 

[bradl]

i just think it looks funny, as if the car just got blown over by the wind.

This.

Note that I never said that I condoned or supported this; in fact, I don't. Just that the fact that 2 - 4 people actually had the guts to not only tip a car over, but put it in rather prone positions.

Note that I also said that I could understand their reasoning behind doing it, which is the problem of gentrification and Ellis Act evictions. Is it justified? no. It is still vandalism. what is happening to them sucks, and I get that. I empathize with the gentrification problem they are having, but not with their response to it. the owners of those cars have have no involvement in the issue.

All I basically said was that it looked funny, just like how the tractor tipping scene in Cars looked funny.

BL.

 

[AustinIllini]

gentrification problem they are having

It's debatable whether or not gentrification is a "problem" or not, but either way, it's not an excuse to commit blatant acts of vandalism.

 

[bradl]

It's debatable whether or not gentrification is a "problem" or not, but either way, it's not an excuse to commit blatant acts of vandalism.

Ahem:

I empathize with the gentrification problem they are having, but not with their response to it. the owners of those cars have have no involvement in the issue.

Underlined for emphasis. I see and understand the problem; their response to it isn't right. I get that, and have stated as such..

BL.

 

[localoid]

Is there any evidence that the SF car tipping incidents were a reaction to the so called " gentrification problem" or is that theory based entirely on speculation?

It's not exactly a "new" trend... Back in 2009, vandals were tossing smart cars in canals in Amsterdam.

 

[Kissaragi]

Is there any evidence that the SF car tipping incidents were a reaction to the so called " gentrification problem" or is that theory based entirely on speculation?

Seems a tenuous link at best that they are related. Its just vandals doing what they do best.

 

[tech4all]

I hate when idiots vandalize or destroy people's property, but I have to admit those pictures are hilarious. LOL

While wrong, they are a little funny. hehe

Not like anyone was hurt...

 

[Apple fanboy]

Not my thing. Car vandalism pushes every bodies car insurance premium up.

 

[Aspasia]

While wrong, they are a little funny. hehe

Not like anyone was hurt...

Maybe not physically injured, but certainly economically.

I don't find anything amusing about the actions of thugs.

 

[gnasher729]

Seems a tenuous link at best.

The link is that some idiot does something, and then more idiots go and copy it.

 

[Sun Baked]

I would rather have seen the "planking" variant of Smart Car tipping.

Where they actually move the Smart Cars to unusual/dangerous places and take pictures.

Of course you do have to wonder, how many Smart Cars will fit in the deans' office.

 

[yg17]

I want to laugh because I have a strong hatred of Smart cars, but I wouldn't be laughing if someone did it to my car, so.....

 

[The Doctor11]

Well thats stupid...

 

[vrDrew]

Its a truism, but probably 90% of criminal acts are prompted by opportunity. And the Smart Car certainly meets the criteria.

Simply put, with its light weight (approx. 1800 lbs), narrow track and short wheelbase; and relatively high center of gravity - the Smart is the go-to vehicle for the opportunistic tipper. A Bentley Continental is a far more egregious example of gentrification and nouveau riche excess - but its all but impossible to flip over by hand.

 

[snberk103]

While wrong, they are a little funny. hehe

Not like anyone was hurt...

No, of course no one was hurt. There were no workers who lost a day's pay dealing with a vandalized car. There were no medical appointments missed. No one missed a visit to aging parents or their sick kids in the hospital. No one lost $hundreds because of the insurance deductible, plus the extra expense of getting around without a car while theirs is fixed. Absolutley... no harm was done. Sigh.