RFID-Based Security System

That's true, when you post in a civilized, adult manner. If, on the other hand, you're going to attack someone with a barrage of childish abuse, don't you think it may be worth spending a little effort checking your assumptions first? All it would need is a simple question like "where do you live?". It makes me wonder how many of the abusive posters have ever been outside their own country.

What essential information? I outlined the problem and specified what sort of parameters I am dealing with. Of course I was ready to provide any further information that might be required. All anyone had to do was ask. Instead, they assumed I was some sort of paranoid survivalist nutcase living in a bunker.

knowledge, ability and finances to do what you ask for

You know nothing about me, my knowledge, abilities and finances so, once again, you are making assumptions. As for it being "close to impossible", I've received an idea (from Tom) that suggests how to go about it, so is he crazy too? It's true, I'm exploring an area that I'm not too familiar with, but so what? Who are you to curtail my interests?

Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy to discuss the moral and legal issues - in a calm and adult manner. If someone felt that I had missed a moral point or legal issue, all they had to do was tell me. Are you seriously contending that I am entirely to blame for the abusive posters? Would you abdocate them of responsibility for all for the words they typed?

I don't know. Call me crazy if you like (oh that's already been done several times), but I naively threw out some thoughts to see what other people made of them. I am not married to my ideas and am perfectly happy to have any impracticalities pointed out to me. That approach has worked well for me in my professional life as a database designer as well as in my recent occupation as a villa-builder. Of course my proposals would be illegal in the US, but that doesn't make them illegal everywhere. I could have pointed out I was in a different country, but are you seriously proposing that I deserved the treatment I got just because I ommitted that fact?

Well, I have received death-threats. What should I do? One option is to assume they are just empty words and to carry on as normal. Another is to turn tail and run - just sell up and flee the country (or stay and live in a bunker). Sorry, but neither option does it for me. I'm looking for a happy medium. Although the threats may never amount to anything, I feel it's prudent to take steps to protect myself and my property. I have some security in place, but it's not over the top. What would make it a lot more effective would be some sort of *early* warning system. Is that such an unreasonable thought to have? It's true, I don't know how to build such a thing, but that's why I posted to this group. Isn't that my right? Or has a new law been passed that I didn't know about?

As for bugging these people making me as bad as them: I don't think so. Is the US government as bad as Al-Qaeda because they listen in on telephone conversations as a matter of routine? Cue accusations of survivalist paranoia... They justify it on the grounds that it is a necessary evil in the name of protecting their country from terrorists. I am not proposing to listen to conversations, and I am not proposing tracking the movements of anyone. What I am proposing (or was looking for advice about) was some way to get a warning should one of these people decide to pay me a visit. Is that such an infringement upon their civil liberties? Bear in mind that they have threatened me and , in one case, my wife.

As I mentioned before, I am guilty of making an assumption myself - that my simple query (as unrealistic as it may be) wouldn't result in a torrent of kindergaten name-calling. Suffice to say that I've learned my lesson and will be a lot more careful in future.

I've wasted enough time on this already. It's not my job to educate people. If they want to carry on in a juvenile, narow-minded, way that's up to them. From now on, I'm only going to respond to posts that are relevant and courteous (like yours, by the way).

the

case.

Well, go to the local mob outfit and pay your protection money like everyone else does.

what

provide

survivalist

What else would one assume??

If your security is really that important you would *not* resort to some half-baked, unreliable, do-it-entirely-by-yourself plan that (incidentially) involves bravely venturing out and tampering with dangerous peoples wehicles.

That is egg-saktly what a nut would do!

In real life one would hire some help, at the very least getting a real security system designed by professional people installed - or/and even pay "other people" to get the scum off your back.

Are you honestly suggesting that people should make extra effort to check their assumptions before being childish? It's not a very realistic hope.

Essential information such as the country you live in? And from your first post, it is difficult to judge whether you fear a mafia hit squad, a governmental agency (maybe you are a wanted criminal?), or a pack of Jehovah's Witnesses who won't take no for an answer.

knowledge, ability and finances to do what you ask for

I know as much about your knowledge, abilities and finances as I need to

- you made it perfectly clear in your first couple of posts that you are not an electronics expert, you don't know much about RFID, and you are looking for a low-cost solution. While you missed some important information, you did the right thing in giving that information so we know what we are dealing with.

Feel free to do as you please as far as I am concerned.

If you really think people were being abusive and rude, then I can only assume you are new to Usenet and should avoid it until you've grown a thicker skin. Think about how your original post would read to people in this group (you did read through other threads here before posting, so that you knew it was the right group, didn't you?) - it sounds more than a little bit crazy, and like a wildly optimistic attempt at a technological solution to a sociological problem. So most of your answers are bound to be either nonsensical or non-technical.

And yes, I think you have very serious moral and legal issues to think through. People here will probably discuss them (nothing is really off-topic in this newsgroup), but I couldn't guarantee that it would be in a calm and adult manner!

I've been looking through this thread again, and I really can't see any post that seems to warrant the bleeding heart complaints. You claim to be dealing with death-threats, yet a few posts suggesting your ideas are nuts, or that you should get a dog, have reduced you to whining? If someone makes a Usenet post that you think is insulting, you have three choices - you can argue that they are wrong (seldom successful), you can flame back (also seldom helpful, but sometimes fun), or you can ignore them. Complaining about how nasty we all are and demanding apologies is not going to get you anywhere, and it's not going to get you helpful results.

I have no idea what would be a sensible solution for you - but I do know that some sort of tagging system is not the right way to go. How about trying to find appropriate people to ask (maybe your local embassy?), rather than an electronics newsgroup? Of course it is your right to post here, but it's also the right of others in this group to reply as they feel appropriate.

Obviously not.

Many would argue yes (although not just because of the bugging).

They can "justify" it on any grounds they like - it is still evil, and it doesn't protect anyone from anything. But this is a topic for another thread.

Yes, it is an infringement of their civil liberties - especially if it involves tagging them or their cars. Regardless of the ethical considerations, it's unlikely that a technical solution in itself is appropriate.

Remember, this is "our" group - if you want to join in, that's fine, but you play by "our" rules. Look at other threads here - when asking serious technical questions, you can expect serious technical answers. When asking bizarre questions, you can expect bizarre answers. This group is dominated by a few people with plenty of ideas and opinions - sometimes very useful, sometimes completely irrational*, and no amount of complaining or attempted "education" will change that.

( *irrational is, of course, defined as disagreeing with me.)

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I think the correct solution for your geographic reason is to arm yourself and/or hire a bodyguard.

Regardless of whether you live in Indonesia or the US, you still sound like a paranoid nutcase. And what you want to do is still technically impossible.

I guess sarcasm is wasted on the brain-dead. If you ask a stupid question, you have to expect a stupid answer. Go into sci.physics and ask how to make a cold fusion reactor for under $10, because you need it to power an emergency escape teleport system. You'll get the same sorts of replies (if any), for the same reason.

Barrett happens to make the best-known .50 sniper rifle, btw.

Well, that's essentially what you've presented.

Well, why else would they be out to get you?

Becuase you have provided us with insufficient information.

Good Luck! Rich

Pretty sad.

Good-Bye. Rich

No, you idiot!

If someone parks their motorbike in your grounds, without permission, and leaves it there, it's your motorbike to do with as you wish.

That'd be the time to get out the sledgehammer. Or maybe just paint it.

But you definitely need a spine.

Good Luck! Rich

Now, you're just being a dork.

Good-Bye. Rich

OK, but insufficient information leads to wrong conclusions and assumptions.

I'll rise above your abuse and insults and concentrate on the facts.

Whilst your approach may be appropriate in most Western countries, it would be disastrous here. I live in a tight-knit community. Rumours and gossip spread like wild-fire and people have a tendency to believe what they hear without checking out facts for themselves. That's not my imagination, nor is it something I necessarily agree with. It's just the way it is.

I am already viewed as being in a different, privileged, class to the locals. It doesn't take much to imagine how your suggested action could be twisted into the actions of a rich foreigner depriving a poor local man of his livelihood.

At the moment, with a few rare exceptions, I get on well with my neighbours and am well integrated into this community. This is because I take the time and trouble to honour and respect their way of life and don't resort to testosterone-fuelled acts of violence against people or property. This is probably helped by the fact that I don't feel the need to put other people down in order to compensate for my inadequacies.

I absolutely guarantee that, if I did something to damage someone's property, no matter what my "rights" may be, I would be judged to be in the wrong and a reasonably manageable problem would blow up out of all proportion.

I intend to live here in Indonesia for a long time - maybe for the rest of my life. Therefore, I have to think long-term. Of course it would be very satisfying to take a hammer to this guy's motorbike, just as it would be very satisfying to beat the living crap out of the guy who threatened my wife - but I am restrained by caution. I know you're not suggesting violence against a person, but let me tell you how it goes...

A foreigner beats up a local (or smashes his motorbike). The local responds in one of two ways. 1) He goes to the police. 2) He rounds up a posse to take revenge. In either case, he can use his wounds (or damaged bike) as "proof" that he has been seriously wronged. Whatever the outcome in the short term (let's assume I survive without going to jail for too long and without being hacked to death by a machete-wielding mob), my action would not be forgotten for a long long time. If someone loses face here, they are capable of harbouring the grudge for 20 years. Add to that the way that gossip spreads and maybe you get some idea as to why I think before I act.

In message , dated Mon, 4 Sep 2006, Android writes

How terribly dull. Are you posting to the wrong newsgroup? (;-)