[liberationtech] Vandalism and Video Surveillance

[Julian Oliver]

..on Mon, Mar 17, 2014 at 05:58:43AM -0400, Sean Alexandre wrote:
> We have a strange problem at our hackerspace, with minor vandalism. At first it
> seemed like someone was just being messy, but now it looks malicious.
> 
> As one simple example, we recently had a work day to organize the space. Parts
> were put in boxes based on what they were: hard drives, networking equipment,
> etc.  One box had phones, and had four simple touch-tone phones. Someone took
> each of them and put them randomly in other boxes.
> 
> There have been other things like this, some worse. We have another room with
> wood and metal working tools, and someone took tools and parts out of their
> containers and spread them around the room.
> 
> I have to say that I'm not at the space enough to give details on everything
> that's happened.  But, the general consensus now seems to be that what's
> happening is being done maliciously.
> 
> Some have spoken in favor of installing video cameras, to surveil the space, as
> a way to stop this.
> 
> Others, me included, really don't want to see video surveillance in the space.
> 
> Any thoughts on what to do?

Human beings are problem solving animals. So it follows that in the absense of
problems we can be relied on to create them. 

As such it's unrealistic to expect that malice, or simply mischief, won't emerge
within any projection of social responsibility. This has forever been the
weather of the Commons (not to mention Society) and so to expect immunity, lest
of all obedience, is to invite disappointment. 

And security cameras, fueling the challenge.

I would start with ensuring the 'vandals' don't feel so powerful for having done
that thing. Choose to defuse. Make a joke of it. Play back. 

After all, it's not like they're running off with property or burning down the
building. Seems to me like an invitation.

And they've probably already read your email to this list.

Cheers,

-- 
Julian Oliver
http://julianoliver.com
http://criticalengineering.org
PGP key: https://julianoliver.com/key.asc
Beware the auto-complete life.