I gotta tweny dolla rock dat look like a foedy...lets party.
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I gotta tweny dolla rock dat look like a foedy...lets party.
I think the owner of that scrap yard - the Watson guy, he shouldn't be left out of this either. I bet he doesn't have an e-mail to his business lol after that story hit
Well being from minnesota, this article does have some truth..sad to say..my brothers junkie friends have been breaking into houses, stealing cars, n robbing ppl..those cash for gold places accept their stolen materials along with local yards.. One cash for gold place was buying cats off of junkies..the worst thing about it is the police wont listen to a word anyone says..if they actually did their job rather than writing seat belt tickets this state would be better off..
in conclusion, i will make the 40 min drive to this yard next week..i am more upset at the police on this story..i will send an email as im sure he wouldnt consider making a statement regarding his statistics..
Try Latimer county in Oklahoma! Sorry, Bear!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear
Winding Stair Mountains
I'm talking more like...Panola Mountain, Red Oak,Wilburton...etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear
I mean no disrespect towards you, however, you are making the same mistake the author did. Not one person here is saying that drug users do not scrap as a way to fund their addiction. That is completely undeniable. The biggest difference is saying that scrappers are drug users, and not "most drug users scrap." There is a tremendous difference here.Quote:
Originally Posted by scrappy888
On a slightly related note, I emailed that address that address that was provided by admin. This is what I wrote:
"Hello,
I recently read your article (Copper prices, meth linked to recent uptick in scrapping thefts - Post Bulletin) discussing how 9 out of 10 scappers are meth heads.
My name is James. I’m 26 years old, and am from Maine. I have a 9-5 (40 hours a week) job, pay all of my bills, pay my taxes, and have never touched a drug in my life.
This article’s content seriously offends me and the great group of people that I work with. All of us are legally, morally, and ethically trying to help recycle, offer services to others, and create additional income for ourselves and for our families.
Slandering an entire group of people; those of us who scrap, is completely unacceptable and ignorant.
Do a very high amount of meth (or other drug) users scrap to make additional money? Probably. Many drug users sell everything they own, and turn to stealing in order to fund their addiction. One of the easiest ways for them is to scrap. However, for you to imply that all scrappers are doing this because of drugs is completely inaccurate, offensive, (inaccurately) stereotyping, and is also slander, and a character assassination. A better way to word it is that “9 out of 10 meth users scrap”, not “9 out of 10 scrapers are meth users.””
Do you understand the difference? Or was this article simply written for a shock factor to get views? Or worse yet, is this something you actually believe based off the information you have received?
Again, this is completely unacceptable and I believe you should do more research on this article content, retract the sentiments towards scrappers being drug users, and publish more accurate information.
Thank you for your time,
-James, Maine"
I love it up through there Little
well said koldes...btw, original poster: the mainstream media isnt exactly the place to get actual factual info try to remember that or you may knee jerk so hard you fall over and some meth head will sneak over and steal your scrap!
Well, I didn't expect a response (and the wording to be changed on the article!) so quickly, but...
"From: Matt Russell [mailto:mrussell@postbulletin.com]
Sent: Friday, June 29, 2012 3:00 PM
To: James Ayotte
Subject: Re: Scappers being meth heads article
Hi James,
Thank you for your note and for taking the time to pass along your concerns about the article.
To address your point about offending all people who scrap, the article is not about scrap metal recycling in a general sense, but the particular issue of scrap metal thefts in Olmsted County, Minnesota. I believe the headline and the story make that clear, and your e-mail is the first comment of any kind I've heard from a reader about it.
After reading through the article again and considering the points you make, however, my editors and I have agreed to remove the term "scrappers" and replace it with "scrap metal thieves" throughout the article to be even more clear.
So thank you for pointing out how certain portions of the article could be seen differently than intended--I agree that scrap metal recycling is a perfectly acceptable thing to do, and in no way did I intend this article to apply to everyone who does that. I've been to the scrap yard myself, and my father-in-law takes things to the scrap yard all the time, so I wouldn't want to get him mad at me! :)
The quotes that you refer to come from the sheriff's investigator who works on scrapping thefts locally and from the recycling center manager who are closest to dealing with those issues in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and are not my personal opinions.
Again, this story is very narrowly about scrapping thefts in Olmsted County, Minnesota, something that has been identified as an increasing problem by local authorities.
Matt"
I wonder if anyone "linked" to this thread? ; )
I was thinking about it, but since I'm new here I didn't want to do so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bear
Today i definitely feel like the article wasnt lying. But man can they get some Ewaste :-D
I am way to high to respond to this....did you see the size of that CHICKEN!!!!
Here is a good one. Cops pulling people over for hauling scrap. I live in a small town. On a dead end street with a ppark at the end. The cops patrol it all the time. Last night as I was unloading my days haul, scale on tailgate weighing ram and cpu's the Man stops to ask me if I'll take 2 computers, a couple tv's and some other stuff. I tell him ya and give him a card. Funny when people know your true character they don't look at things the same way.
Young Guns. Great flick.Quote:
Originally Posted by totalfish
I recently did a farm cleanup for our local retired Sheriff. Good thing he didn't catch me..........oh wait, that was cash I put in his hand. What on Earth was I thinking? I could have used that money to get meth, instead of paying my repeat client. And another foolish move....I spent my profit on silly things like food, fuel, and my mortgage payment. Doh! That'll learn me.
Fired mine off tonight as follows:
Hello,
I was recently linked to the article you wrote about how 9 out of 10 scrappers use methamphetamine. I personally take offense to this statement. I am a mother of 3 and have been ''scrapping'' for 2 years now. I work on this 7 days a week to help put food on the table and pay bills. It also teaches my children, family and friends how important recycling is. I have, through hard work, a friendly face and perseverance built up a steady clientele of people who trust me to recycle their product safely. It is insulting to hear such a blanket statement made about scrappers when what it *should* have said was ''9 out of 10'' meth users get their drug money from selling scrap they stole. There is a big difference in that description don't you think?
Have you seen the economy lately? An increase in people turning in scrap is due to the increase in unemployed workers who need food every day. Scrapping brings me a weekly income which my family needs when jobs are scarce. I don't use drugs. What I do do though, is help clean up the environment and educate how important recycling really is and how it benefits everyone involved in the process from start to finish. I really hope you don't support Mr. Watson's stance on scrappers, if you do shame on you. Maybe you should have done a little more research before making such a blanket statement about scrap metal recyclers.
Copied below for reference are the comments I found most offensive.
Thank you,
Cindy Gesaman
"Ninety percent of people involved in scrapping use methamphetamine, Nelson estimates, and they often have warrants out for their arrest."
"It seems that it (the increase in scrapping) is really an increase in the number of people that are on drugs," Watson said. "A lot of the guys that come through, my personal belief would be that they are on meth."
One of the reasons why I keep my scrapping hobby to myself. Terrified of my landlord finding out & booting me out because he thinks I am a methhead.
Note: I do all my tearing down of scrap at my work & store it in my apartment in boxes.
I doubt you have much to worry about as long as you signed a good, valid lease and don't leave junk laying out all over your apartment. Generally, a landlord can't kick out a tenant arbitrarily based upon suspicion alone (unless of course the lease gives the landlord that right). I think if they honestly suspected that you were doing drugs, the first thing they would do is notify the police, and if they are worth their salt, they would easily see that there are no illicit activities going on inside your home.Quote:
Originally Posted by dirtymoney
Sure, some drug addicts like to steal copper when it is easy pickings. However, most serious scrap work is far to hard for those types. People don't become drug addicts and criminals in the first place if they are willing to lift 100lb hunks of metal all day.
Lol Koldes - you got a shoutout in my e-mail response!! :)
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for your note, and for taking the time to share your concerns. I did receive an e-mail late last week from another person who raised similar points, and after reviewing the article we have changed all references to "scrappers" with "scrap metal thieves" to make it even clearer that the article is focused on the growing problem of scrap metal thefts in Olmsted County, not on people who recycle scrap metal in general.
It surprised me to see the first message, because that was never the intent to have those comments by the investigator and recycling center manager apply in a such a broad sense.
Nothing in the article was intended to apply in general to people who recycle scrap metals. As I told the gentleman who sent me the message last week, I've been to the scrap yard myself in the past, and my father-in-law does it, as well, so I know that it's a perfectly fine thing to do. It's the thefts that are a problem, and that is solely what the article is about.
Thanks again,
Matt
I am on a month to month lease so thta means he can kick me out within a month's time. Plus my state doesnt have very many tenant's rights.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bamcis
It actually said 90 percent of people involved in scrap metal THEFTS use meth, not scrappers in general, that's quite a difference. Also he said that's an estimate so who knows if it's accurate.Quote:
Originally Posted by BohemianLush
That's because the article was updated after a few good folks here on SMF corrected the ignorant "journalist".Quote:
Originally Posted by beedubz
There is this little cafe within walking distance from my father in law's auto body shop. One day last week my wife and I were walking to it, and I noticed a sign above the bay door of a business close to his, at the end.
I don't fully remember what it said no, but by reading it, you could tell the owner had been robbed by a scrapper. The sign made it very clear that if any scrappers were seen or caught, the police would be called.
This is why, I dont ever do curbco anymore (that and the fact, is there is so many scrappers now)
saw this awhile back. thought it might be appropriate here...
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_SjE88gZDTi...s1600/Labs.jpg
This accusation makes me mad, and the moron who wrote it is a fkg idiot. It's a fact the the 'war" on drugs is BS, just like the war on "terror" and is used to generate revenue for police and law enforcement agencies, now they want to accuse scrappers of being drug addicts as an excuse to possibly pull them over and harass them, so they can find anything to generate bogus arrests and more revenue it seems. What's next, mandated drug testing and a costly scrappers "license"?Quote:
Originally Posted by joebob49
It's sickening, Some of us have to scrap to survive due to circumstances and they want to make arrests and money to keep their jobs...Think about it..No drug problems or "terror" problems and how many jobs would be lost. Hell, they'd be out having to scrap too!
Wasn't it Goering that said "People would rather believe a lie."?
I personally have not even drank alcohol in over two years. It interacts with my heart med.
Boy! I bet meth would tear my old ticker up!