Scrapper Smoked

**Meddle** · February-14-14, 06:38 PM

On Dec. 20th, 2013, Washtenaw County dispatch received an anonymous call about an electrocution. Deputies were dispatched to 300 N. Zeeb road to search the abandoned warehouse. Once inside, they discovered the body of 29-year-old Matthew Albert Vair. He was lying on the ground ear numerous power cabinets, which had their panels opened.

"They had been trying to scrap metal by removing electrical wire and must not have pulled the power. He touched the wires and was electrocuted.

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/...thers-arrested

**Hermod** · February-14-14, 06:59 PM

Hopefully he didn't contribute to the gene pool before he combusted.

**noise** · February-14-14, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by Hermod

Hopefully he didn't contribute to the gene pool before he combusted.

Yeah, screw all potentially desperate people who may resort to distasteful actions just to provide for their families.

GUSHI · February-14-14, 07:15 PM

God rest his soul,

**TKshreve** · February-14-14, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by noise

Yeah, screw all potentially desperate people who may resort to distasteful actions just to provide for their families.

How far does that excuse reach? Armed robbery? Extortion? Kidnapping? Murder? How do you know his actions weren't taking food off of somebody's table?

It's the concept of right and wrong.

At least we can safely say he was "potentially desperate".

**Zacha341** · February-14-14, 11:10 PM

Ah, yes, the 'nobility' of wealth redistribution. I'll consider that the next time I put a turn to the lock on any door containing my personal property on the other side.

Originally Posted by noise

Yeah, screw all potentially desperate people who may resort to distasteful actions just to provide for their families.

**DetroitPlanner** · February-14-14, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by noise

Yeah, screw all potentially desperate people who may resort to distasteful actions just to provide for their families.

If you read the article they have 4 other guys in custody. It is not just a lone guy trying to feed his kids. It is a crime ring.

**Zacha341** · February-15-14, 07:58 AM

Precisely. And we need only look about to see the ravages of this trade upon the city. My uncle tried to rehab a house, the sooner he could put something in it was stolen. These scrappers are 'relentless' -- sometimes to their own undoing as was the case with one of these four.

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

If you read the article they have 4 other guys in custody. It is not just a lone guy trying to feed his kids. It is a crime ring.

**Wesley Mouch** · February-15-14, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by noise

Yeah, screw all potentially desperate people who may resort to distasteful actions just to provide for their families.

Curious, noise. Why do you think he was providing for his family? You jump to this conclusion that there was nobility in his actions, but no evidence that he was a participant at his church, for example. You are outraged by the outrage of others. Others are outraged at this man's actions and his criminal history. Why?

**noise** · February-24-14, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

Curious, noise. Why do you think he was providing for his family? You jump to this conclusion that there was nobility in his actions, but no evidence that he was a participant at his church, for example. You are outraged by the outrage of others. Others are outraged at this man's actions and his criminal history. Why?

Sorry for bumping, but I forgot I replied to this thread and didn't address the comments to my post. Clearly it was not clear to some of the comprehension-challenged among us.

I have no idea whether or not this guy was providing for his family, which is why I never jumped to that conclusion. I thought it was obvious by my using the words "potentially" and "may".

I know I would resort to desperate measures to provide for my family. I don't automatically suggest desperate people are unworthy of life, which is my point of contention to a widespread assumption about the whole of "scrappers".

**aj3647** · February-15-14, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by noise

Yeah, screw all potentially desperate people who may resort to distasteful actions just to provide for their families.

You think he was doing that to put food on the table for his kids? Please tell me you aren't that naive.

**poobert** · February-15-14, 12:56 PM

When this board is too mean for poobert, you know it's fucked up.

Seriously, all you guys do are attack each other anymore. This place blows. Also, somebody died. By all accounts, he appears to have been a total shitbag. But human life still has meaning. Or so I thought.

Actual Detroit is somehow less mean-spirited than internet Detroit. And far more interesting.

**wolverine** · February-15-14, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by poobert

When this board is too mean for poobert, you know it's fucked up.

Seriously, all you guys do are attack each other anymore. This place blows. Also, somebody died. By all accounts, he appears to have been a total shitbag. But human life still has meaning. Or so I thought.

Actual Detroit is somehow less mean-spirited than internet Detroit. And far more interesting.

Don't twist things like that. There's a huge difference between memorializing an individual killed committing a crime or stating the unfortunate consequences.

The better situation would have been all of them arrested alive and doing 3000 hours of community service each to pay back society for their crimes. But it doesn't work like that. He chose his destiny and took the risks.

**astongraham** · February-16-14, 01:44 PM

So if he broke into your home, robbed your family and took your copper pipes, your attitude would be "poor guy, he just trying to provide for his family"?
I guess we should feel some for the guy killed during an armed robbery cause he has hungry kids at home? Forgotten Harvest provides food for the needy every first and third Wednesday at my church, also every first and third Thursday on Woodward in Detroits Boston Edison district. Sorry if I don't have any sympathy for those that die during the commission of a crime when help and assistance is so readily available.

**Stinger4me** · February-14-14, 07:56 PM

Electrolysis of the "GENE POOL". Poor choices make interesting stories.

**wolverine** · February-15-14, 12:08 AM

Some don't think about the other person trying to make a living and feed their family...the warehouse owner trying to protect their property from thieves and vandals.

**Hermod** · February-15-14, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by wolverine

Some don't think about the other person trying to make a living and feed their family...the warehouse owner trying to protect their property from thieves and vandals.

Don't you know that the warehouse owner is a rich plutocrat and everything he has was stolen, yes I say stolen, from the poor people of Detroit? The scrapers are just modern day Robin hoods seeking to redress centuries of wrongs and get the money back to the people to whom it rightfully belongs.

**Dan Wesson** · February-15-14, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by Hermod

Don't you know that the warehouse owner is a rich plutocrat and everything he has was stolen, yes I say stolen, from the poor people of Detroit? The scrapers are just modern day Robin hoods seeking to redress centuries of wrongs and get the money back to the people to whom it rightfully belongs.

Hell yeah!!

Proletariat's Unite!

Power to the Peons!

Down with the Man!

Ahem... cough, cough

Here....

Let me hold your coat for ya.

**Dan Wesson** · February-15-14, 10:29 AM

For informational purposes only...

It's not the voltage that kills ya, it's the current.

It don't take much at all.

**Meddle** · February-15-14, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Dan Wesson

For informational purposes only...

It's not the voltage that kills ya, it's the current.

It don't take much at all.

It's how much passes through you to ground. That's why a bird or squirrel can wander around all day on a 13,000 volt wire. The instant it gets close enough to any ground point [[eg. the tower) to transfer the current, it's charcoal city.

I've been hit several times by 110VAC, but because I wasn't fully grounded, all I got was a good tingle.

**Chinman** · February-15-14, 02:34 PM

Not Actually Dan Wesson...Voltage does NOT KILL...Amperage does! Touch a 12 volt battery to your tongue. it only has a small amount of amp's. As an Electrician, I'll let you and others know that Voltage is pressure. Amp are Power.

**Django** · February-15-14, 02:51 AM

Times are getting more desperate for people. Its easy to be an armchair judge when you have an armchair to sit in. Not saying it's right but just a sign of the times.

**sumas** · February-15-14, 03:34 AM

Originally Posted by Django

Times are getting more desperate for people. Its easy to be an armchair judge when you have an armchair to sit in. Not saying it's right but just a sign of the times.

Now I feel slightly bad since I bought a new armchair for Ron. As you know he is about the sweetest person in the world!

**Honky Tonk** · February-15-14, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by Django

Times are getting more desperate for people. Its easy to be an armchair judge when you have an armchair to sit in. Not saying it's right but just a sign of the times.

I agree. Sitting there on your ass painting a picture of a poor, poverty stricken, individual desperately needing food for his hungry chillen, is definately armchair judging.