Out the assholes. But do it the right way.

This whole mess is bringing out the best in most people but sadly, also amplifying the worst in others.

I’m talking specifically today about looters, thieves and jerks doing simply stupid, ignorant or awful things … and their acts being caught on video … and what next to do about it.

One such example was yesterday. I read about a local fellow here in Victoria who had someone spit on his Tesla. Probably an ignorant soul that thinks “rich people own Tesla’s” (ugh, when will THAT ignorance end?). The problem here is that not only is that a mischief offence but if that person turned out to have the virus, that would also be ASSAULT. Yep. Dumb move dude. You better hope you don’t have it, because he has your ignorant ass on video…

I checked in with a few folks to assemble my thoughts here. This was a collective effort and I appreciate their (anonymous) help and guidance.

WHAT

This is a crazy time. Some folks are angry, others are desperate and some are just plain shitty people absent of a moral compass. This is also a time of there being LOTS of video surveillance (buildings and now Tesla’s) and other technologies – AI is coming, Minority Report time is nearly upon us. Hang on to your hats.

Folks are getting caught in the act, evidence is being accumulated … and then shared. And then crowdsourcing kicks in and stuff can get off the rails, fast!

SO WHAT

Without a doubt, if you capture something illegal on video, you should report it. And crowdsourcing (posting to Facebook and other Social Media) is effective too – both in helping identify the culprit faster and in some cases, the guilty party simply turning themselves in, before things get too out of hand and their lives further unravel.

But as the initial sharing source, you also need to be smart about it and distance yourself from the impacts of sharing the footage. The point is … definitely get the information out there, but you don’t want your post to lead to violence or other problems.

NOW WHAT

So, after carefully accumulating some information from a few folks in the know, this is my strategy going forward and maybe you’ll want to make it yours… It is pretty short, but follow this order of things:

1. DO – File a police report FIRST and get a file number. This can be done online or over the phone with most police departments. If it is criminal, it should be filed anyways – but make this the FIRST step, not an after thought. This is then something you can also refer others to as evidence/crowdsourcing unfolds

2. DO – Post the evidence on social media but…

3. DO NOT encourage vigilantism … it may well happen, but don’t be the driving force or momentum behind it. Just get the information out there and step back. Let the police do their job and let crowdsourcing do its job … but maintain a safe distance

Yep, that’s it. The order is important.

Stay positive. Test negative!