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Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
We Hate When That Happens!
Security Systems And The Culture Of Fear
Brinks: Home Security For Modern Day Damsels In Distress

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La Chica Lucy
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
Honestly, with the amount of false alarms (I've researched this for my PD), if you want to prevent a break-in, you're just as safe as having an alarm sign on your property - it's the sign that deters most (residential) burglars. Although even with businesses, the false alarm rate is quite high and a lot of police departments waste a lot of time responding to false alarms.

Also: Sarah Haskins fucking rules. #sarahhaskins
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marvel girl
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
RE: AJ... If he was at her house, how did he not realize she had a security system? And really, she probably would have let him into the house if he had said he left something behind. He really didn't need to break the window. Stupidest commercial ever maybe. #sarahhaskins
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clevernamehere
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
Here is my alarm story.

I was 14 and babysitting a two year old who did a runner while I was changing him. The door slammed closed behind me, but clever girl that I am, I managed to climb in a window with the naked two year old. Feeling quite proud of myself for getting back in the house, I went back to changing the kid until their was a knock on the door (small town, police come fast). The obviously very bored police were annoyed that I didn't have any id, being 14 and all. The finally decided I wasn't a teenage mother burglar when I suggested we go to my mom's house 2 blocks away so she could vouch for me.

And the family never had me babysit again. #sarahhaskins
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ImperfectLit.Woman
11/14/09

@clevernamehere: Wow, and maybe its a good thing they never asked you to babysit since they didn't seem to be so understanding. #sarahhaskins
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GoldenRatioφ (aka -girl11)
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
A woman in LA was just murdered by an abusive boyfriend while the police were outside investigating the domestic violence call she put in to them. They witnessed the stabbing through the window, and were able to shoot and kill her attacker. Of course, she still died.

So, no, women are not safe anywhere, and I'm not sure a call from Rick with Broadview is really going to deter a stalker/violent ex or acquaintance.

Alarms may, however, deter burglars. But instead of portraying that, these ads just play on our fear of men, even though I really doubt they help to deter violent men. #sarahhaskins
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DearJamie
11/13/09

@GoldenRatioφ (aka -girl11): The people who make these ads aren't really trying to portray an accurate image of what happens when your house gets broken into, like you said. They are counting on women who have been assaulted, raped, beaten, mugged, etc, before to see the ads and be scared into buying an alarm for a sense of false security in case their attacker/rapist/what have you returns. Honestly, when I think of ways that someone could break into my house to try and rape me or kill me, for whatever reason, I think of them silently coming in through an unlocked window, and trying to find an unlocked door. Not fully kicking my front door down, alerting me and my security system that I'm about to be raped/killed. I hate these ads. Why don't they ever show some dude alone at night in his bed, and then the front door gets kicked in and the alarm goes off? Women aren't the only ones who are targeted for these types of crimes. And why don't they ever show a criminal trying to silently come into your house, I don't know, maybe just to steal all your shit? Ughh. #sarahhaskins
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AlmostDream
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
I just can't get over how weird the setups are for these commercials. Don't normal robbers break into houses to steal from you? So wouldn't they be more inclined to do that when you were out??

Basically the only reason any of these guys could be breaking in is to rape the women inside and it just seems like there are easier, and less prison-ending, ways to do that than kicking in strangers doors in broad daylight, setting off their obnoxiously loud alarm.

For example, AJ could have just rang the doorbell and claimed he forgot his jacket or something. But maybe he just enjoys the physical challenge. #sarahhaskins
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Little Bumble Bee aka:Alwaystheangel
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
This is one of the Best Target Women, thanks Sarah! #sarahhaskins
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ImperfectLit.Woman
11/14/09

@Alwaystheangel: It is.I love how she asks him what he's wearing at the end. #sarahhaskins
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Dakota_55
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
ah sarah haskins you are so funny. can you imagine how much she must be to drink with? did anyone else notice that she is wearing an engagement ring on 'the' finger? did i miss something? #sarahhaskins
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ImperfectLit.Woman
11/14/09

@Dakota_55: No I didn't. I'm going to see if I can spot it and lucky guy. #sarahhaskins
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Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
Rape fables. Rables! Raples? #sarahhaskins
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awinoforever
11/13/09

@Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!: i love sarah haskins for calling those ads for what they really are - rables it is!

don't even get me started on her 'university of looking like a caucasian burglar'
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toastandlove
11/13/09

@awinoforever: My boyfriend graduated summa cum laude from U of LaCB.

Scruffy half-beard? Check. Hoodie? Check. #sarahhaskins
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pear.shaped.Sara
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
Y'all, here's a security measure I've taken recently that had never before crossed my mind and I thought I would share:

I have a garage door opener for my parents' house when I visit. Now, when I go inside, I take the opener with me – the neighborhood has had a sudden spree of people smashing the windows of cars parked in driveways and then using the openers to get into the garage/house. #sarahhaskins
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valhalla_i_am_coming
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
Having worked for Brinks/Broadview years ago, I can assure ya'll that NOBODY in the call center looks like that guy. Or is that well-spoken, with or without a script. #sarahhaskins
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maggiethecat
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
As fear mongering as these ads are, alarm systems act as a deterrent to many thugs who want to break in and steal all of your shit, no matter what your hovel looks like from the outside (evidence that you are poor and do not have anything worth stealing). As the crime rates rise dramatically and robbers are emboldened in our area to attack you if you're home during a burglary, I am shopping alarm systems now (and after being robbed 3 f'n times and having my car broken into in front of me by some crazy man). I also subscribe to the theory that nothing deters like the sound of pumping a 12 gauge. In Texas, if you so much as see a foot coming through the window you can blow it off. #sarahhaskins
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funnyface
11/13/09

@maggiethecat: My mom's house was robbed twice. With an alarm system. Sure, lock your doors, have a deadbolt, etc, but if someone wants to get into the house, they're getting in, alarm or no alarm. #sarahhaskins
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maggiethecat
11/13/09

@funnyface: they got in through the window in mine. my friend's house has an alarm system and it is so loud it made my stomach hurt when we set it off. I can't imagine many people thinking clearly with that going off- enough to go through the house opening up every cabinet and drawer- perusing my wares to pick the cream of the paltry crop of my crap like the last asshole did. I'll bet it deters the leisurely thrashing that my place got. At night if you hear that alarm go off, at least you have enough notice to jump out the window and run. #sarahhaskins
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karmasutra är svensk
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
I just saw a guy who's been stalking me for months and has almost assaulted me multiple times across the street. I'm scared!

I just saw a guy who has been reported in my neighborhood as a potential threat. I'm scared!

I just saw a guy who seems to be acting somewhat sketchily. I'm scared!

I just saw a guy. I'm scared!

Honestly, these commercials bring the legitimate down to the outright absurd. #sarahhaskins
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esthergreenwood
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
I don't understand why they're always running upstairs.

I would be out the back door or in the kitchen with a knife and/or gun.

"Hello Broadview? What? The call is coming from inside the house??!!" #sarahhaskins
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Pizza!Pizza!Pizza!
11/13/09

@esthergreenwood: Total horror movie newbies. #sarahhaskins
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clevernamehere
11/13/09

@esthergreenwood: To be fair to the soccer lady, her yard has a rather high fence. Locking yourself in an upstairs room with a phone seems like a better plan than trying to scale a fence with your 8 year old in tow. #sarahhaskins
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Cairn
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
These ads are insane, but what's interesting is how different groups see them. For example, the empowered woman crowd thinks they infantalize women. Go to any libertarian forum, and they think the ads infantalize *everybody*. (More specifically, you need to shoot the robber yourself, and not wait for the police.) #sarahhaskins
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pantsless economist...access RESTORED
11/13/09

@Cairn: In a libertarian ad, the robber is a metaphor for the government. #sarahhaskins
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funnyface
11/13/09

In reply to Sarah Haskins Targets Scary Home Security Ads
Not only is AJ the creepy date way likelier to drug your drink than he is to kick your door in, I heard on like NPR or PBS (because let's face it, I get almost all my info from one of those two) about what a cost these alarm systems are to taxpayers. Every time the alarm goes off and police or fire people have to respond, it costs the taxpayers money, and most of the things they have to respond to with these alarms are false alarms.

Onto the general idea of being a woman and never being safe: that's so where I'm at this week. I've heard of four assaults on my campus in the last 2 weeks, on the dark streets I walk daily. I'm really freaked out and had a breakdown in a parking garage Wednesday night. All the school seems to say is "be vigilant." As if we women are ever NOT effing vigilant. I'm always vigilant. Being vigilant is exhausting. #sarahhaskins
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Caeristhiona
11/13/09

@funnyface: Amen to that. I remember trying to explain to my boyfriend why I needed him to go with me to the grocery store after dark, or else just call in pizza for dinner. It never occured to him that there would be any problem walking around alone after dark in our cute little beachside village -- he does it all the time -- and he thought I was just being lazy and not wanting to go shop.

But then again, rape statistics don't usually apply to him. #sarahhaskins
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Little Bumble Bee aka:Alwaystheangel
11/13/09

@funnyface: I know what you mean. I just got a security bar installed on my bedroon window. Theres a rapist in my area that has been sneaking through women's bedroom windows or forcing their way through the door after the woman opens them. My parent's friend has a gun license and he bought me some (illegal for me to possess) pepper spray for when I walk the dark alley from campus back to my home. I can't believe that I even feel the need to do this, but I'd rather take the risk of getting in trouble with the law for assaulting someone with my illegal pepper spray than getting raped. #sarahhaskins
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elvy
11/13/09

@funnyface: "Being vigilant is exhausting." Totally agree with you there. The other day I refused to walk down a dark creepy street; I was with my husband. I am just so conditioned to be on guard all the time...
and it pisses me off that I can walk anywhere I want, as long as I have a "big strong" man by my side. #sarahhaskins
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funnyface
11/13/09

@Alwaystheangel: It sucks that pepper spray is illegal where you live! It's legal where I am, and I'm planning to get some this weekend. #sarahhaskins
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funnyface
11/13/09

@elvy: I feel ya. My boss has offered to give me rides so I don't have to walk to the parking deck in the dark ever again, but it pisses me off that I would NEED that. The fact that society is so stacked against women thus that we always have to wonder if we're safe pisses me off. #sarahhaskins
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Little Bumble Bee aka:Alwaystheangel
11/13/09

@funnyface: Canada= no concealed weapons. Most of the time I am glad for that law, key word is "most" lol #sarahhaskins
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