Will they throw me in a cage or steal my home over this? (Freedom Couch Pictures!)

by | Oct 18, 2008 | 82 comments

Freedom CouchIf you’ve been reading this blog you know that the people calling themselves the “City of Keene” have been threatening me over a couch in my tenants yard. The latest on the situation? They are demanding that I come back to their court on October 29th at 10am for a “trial”, that I did not consent to. When I tried to ask questions in their court, I was threatened with arrest. I was however, able to successfully make my offer to the “City of Keene”: I agree to remove the couch if they’ll agree to discharge this issue, to only prosecute me in the future if they have a victim, and if the original complaining party comes and meets me and talks to me, like an adult. Couch Enforcer Carl Patten says he attempted to persuade the woman to meet me, but she refused. A reason for her reticence might be that she’s frightened that I will find out who she is and retaliate against her by snitching her out to the government people. It’s quite a sad commentary on the state of neighborly relations these days. In case she’s reading this blog, I’d like to make it clear that I would never complain to the government people about anything she did on her property. If I cared about my neighbors’ property I would live in a deed restricted community. (more…)

Principles of Interacting with Potentially Violent Bureaucrats (usually cops)

by | Oct 15, 2008 | 10 comments

CopThis is a distillation of all of what I consider the best info on this topic that I have absorbed over the years. We have learned; now we must test, modify, test, modify…

Critique? Thoughts? Additions? Please post them to the Free Keene Forum discussion thread on this topic.

  • Record the scene on video, audio, porc411, or any combo of the three. Announce your recording upon the bureaucrat’s approach. Even if you have no cel signal, consider bluffing, “Hello officer, this conversation is being recorded and broadcast on the internet.” Betcha that will change his demeanor right up front. If he objects, claiming that is illegal or that he doesn’t consent, inform him that you “intend no disrespect”, but if he wishes to avoid being recorded, he should leave, otherwise as you are in public he is consenting by remaining in the vicinity of the microphone.
  • Keep your hands visible. These guys are either scared of you hurting them or they are worse, looking for an excuse to hurt you. Don’t give them the opportunity.
  • Questions are the most powerful thing you can do in an interaction with any bureaucrat. Questioning keeps you in the “master” role and prevents you from revealing info. It also turns the tables on them, as they are used to sheep answering just any question they ask.
  • If ordered to do something, make sure they realize what they are doing. I believe this is a paraphrase of Dave Ridley’s line, “Are you going to hurt me if I don’t?” (Or if you’re feeling particularly ballsy, try “Is that an order? I’ll happily fill your order but you will become liable for a bill in the amount of $XXX. Do you still with to place your order?”)
  • “Am I free to go?”, “Am I being detained” – Commit to memory and utilize.
  • If you are coerced into signing something, sign something like “Under Duress, All Rights Reserved”, just above your signature.
  • Don’t speak their language. Do not “understand”. These are people who talk in a language that sounds like English, but it’s not. It’s legalese. Their words can mean things different from the common understandings of them. If you don’t believe me, pick up a law dictionary and see for yourself. Unless you know the legal definitions of the words they use, you cannot “understand” them. (more…)