Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff - Gizmodo Comments

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

blank — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 15:49:15 EST

@Bizzaro:
Legally it would actually be a battery, not an assault.
I'd wondered about that too because you're correct that the hosing would technically be a battery. But I think the trespass aspect of it casts it in a different light. A court might well find that spraying water on a trespasser does no permanent harm and is a reasonable and proportionate way to deal with the trespasser in the circumstances.
Or maybe not. We'd have to see what the courts would say.

blank

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Bhp9mm — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:52:32 EST

@Ghede: I hate to break it to you but drug dealers aren't that terribly difficult to spot. If someone hung out in front of your house (for example) all day long and people kept coming up to them and handing them money and getting small packages in return... You don't think you would be able to identify them as a drug dealer. Now imagine that happening every day of the week. You think you wouldn't be able to spot the drug dealer by sight? Would you want them there?

Kudos to him for finding a technological solution to a problem that plagues his business.

Bhp9mm

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

shawn_dude — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:39:53 EST

@ANoel: 'Rufus "The Grinch" Terrill would win many more supporters and likely get much more co-operation if instead of shreiking at the vagrants to "Fuck Off and Die" (or whatever) from his "Bumbot" and assaulting them with water, if he played music and sprayed soup.'

I think the idea is to keep his property clear of the sorts of folks that make potential customers afraid to get out of their car. Feeding the homeless would be like chumming the water for sharks. Great if you're a shark but doesn't do much for his customers during the feeding frenzy.

People often resort to these tactics after getting the run-around from local police. Although, if he squirted hot soup at them, I'm sure the police would arrest Terrill himself--a lot easier and safer for the cops than drug dealers and urine-soaked homeless.

shawn_dude

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

rushevents — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:03:22 EST

I can see why it would be successful. Drug dealers by their very nature will avoid unwanted attention - too easy to get arrested. The spotlight combined with the "I've just taken your picture - you better clear out before I call the cops." will work on all but the most psychotic.

rushevents

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Darrone — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 09:38:34 EST

@Lorne: If it's his private property, how is he defending a daycare? Is their a bar/daycare open that I'm not aware of? I damn sure hope so. A daycare open to 2am with taxis out front. Peeeerfect.

Darrone

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Aqua32 — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 03:44:26 EST

Well, if I were the bum, I'd sure get the heck out of dodge - after tipping it over.

Aqua32

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Bizzaro — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:40:51 EST

Legally speaking, spraying someone with water is an assault. Dufus has a right to demand someone leave his property but he cannot resort to self-help. Although spraying someone with water may seem harmless, there are circumstances where it could be dangerous. Even if it is not dangerous, it is humiliating and insulting. For that, the law views unwanted touching as an assault. Thus, Dufus could be criminally and civilly liable.

Bizzaro

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

TonyTriple — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:43:25 EST

@PeterPotamus:
Maybe he hates doin' the timewarp?

TonyTriple

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Red Right Hand — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:25:31 EST

needs a chainsaw

Red Right Hand

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Ghede — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:20:51 EST

Wow. This guy has the amazing ability to detect drug dealers and other criminals by mere sight. SOMEBODY GET HIM AND HIS ROBOT IN THE POLICE FORCE, NOW!

Ghede

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

spatchpatch — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:35:41 EST

"...if you can successfully fight crime screaming like a lunatic armed only with a squirt gun, more power to you."

Fantastic :)

spatchpatch

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

gadgetfanatic — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:27:23 EST

@lafond66: my thoughts exactly.

gadgetfanatic

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

markarian — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:18:17 EST

I'm going to laugh when a drunken group of hooligans tips this thing over and pisses on it. Or better yet, loads it up into a truck and sell it for parts. What is he going to do, call the cops? "Officer! This guy stole my security robot after I drenched him for smoking next to my bar!"

markarian

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

skulldriveshaft — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:15:13 EST

soooooooo....

when the bums/drug dealers kick the rc scooter over, will they be charged with vandalism?

i guess the camera could be used to take photos?

skulldriveshaft

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

SuppleMonkey — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:43:39 EST

I'd record sound bytes of ED-209 from RoboCop and play them through the loudspeaker at full volume.

That movie was made like 20 years ago and ED-209 STILL freaks me the hell out.

SuppleMonkey

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

redkamel — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:15:16 EST

how is it inhumane to warn bums to leave your property (bar or daycare center) from afar and then squirt them with water? I would not want to go talk to bums all the time. Lots of them are ok, but a few of them are full on psycho and could attack you (seen it happen many times, used to work for public services). All it takes is one scratch from a bum with hep b, c, scabies, oozing wound...

redkamel

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

scarbrtj — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:19:04 EST

Would any other city in America yield a "BumBot" but Atlanta? If you wanna see a whole bunch of BumBots in Atlanta, go to the Wild Mustang on a Saturday nite... guard your bum 'tho.

scarbrtj

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

ripfire — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:06:50 EST

Riff raff... street rat... I don't buy that. If only they'd look closer. Would they see a poor *** Brrllblrlblrlblbblrlb!

ripfire

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

fuzzycuffs — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:40:41 EST

Good. Vagrants should be round up and made to work in the salt mines.

To all those that are saying "I have every right to stand where I want," if you're on his private property, he has every right to expel you however he sees fit, aside from bodily damage. Loudspeaker and water canon are not bodily damage.

fuzzycuffs

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

92BuickLeSabre — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:23:46 EST

It's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt.

And sues him.

And he loses.

And then he loses the bar.

And then he's a homeless vagrant wandering around where the bar used to be.

And the day care calls the police to come deal with the guy wandering around hollerin' about what used to be.

And then it won't be fun and games anymore.

92BuickLeSabre

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

zoomie — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:07:18 EST

how effective is that thing against zombie hordes?

zoomie

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

an1m3fr33k — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:57:21 EST

@Poon: LOL

an1m3fr33k

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

m4ximusprim3 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:50:05 EST

I think it should definitely say "Smoke my meat, punk!" just before it lets loose.

m4ximusprim3

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

matto — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:47:13 EST

He needs to automate it with Roomba brains

matto

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

br8thw8 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:34:48 EST

@Darrone: Dude, you are upset because you think this is illegal? So you solution is to do somthing illegal by setting it on fire. What a maroon!

br8thw8

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

strider_mt2k — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:30:06 EST

Way to law down the law. (?)

He's Davros, it's a Dalek.

It's that simple!

strider_mt2k

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

vitamincm — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:28:20 EST

Are you going to do the follow up article when one of the drug dealers kills him.
I think the guy has a right to protect his business, but some a hole will shoot him.
Should be fun while it lasts.

vitamincm

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Manve — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:15:44 EST

if it was effective it would've been put out of service a long time ago.assuming that o'terril doesn't sleep with the remote control under his pillow(thoguh he probably does...)

Manve

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

zenpoet — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:14:29 EST

This reminds me of those remote water cannons that scare away birds.

I love the idea, so long as its used in a proper fashion.

The other side of me says provide a safe place for the homeless to go.

zenpoet

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Cross-eyedCyclops — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:12:45 EST

Leave Riff Raff alone, wage war on Magenta instead.

Cross-eyedCyclops

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

eatmonkeygood — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:02:20 EST

if they armed it with soap would it still be inhumane to use on the homeless?

eatmonkeygood

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Denver_80203 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:56:42 EST

He tells people to leave before firing. It's saving the police money. Not only should it be legal, it should be more wide spread.

It's just (boiling hot scalding -oops!) water.

Denver_80203

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

blank — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:51:37 EST

@Darrone:
The whole point of the thing is that it's on his private property as are the people he's targeting. So unless you're selling drugs or harassing customers in his parking lot, you got no beef with him.

blank

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

BenjaminWright — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:49:00 EST

The day is coming when people transact legal deals with robots concerning safety and privacy. See [hack-igations.blogspot.com]

BenjaminWright

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

ANoel — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:45:04 EST

This fucked up device should only be used on anyone who says "I welcome our ( fill in the blank ) Overlords".

ANoel

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

CraziestGadgets.com — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:44:37 EST

In the picture is the robot on the left or the right?

CraziestGadgets.com

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

lafond66 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:42:50 EST

he should mount an M16 on that thing.

lafond66

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

DustyButt — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:42:37 EST

@John: If he tried to call it Terril O's #81 would have lawyers all over him.

DustyButt

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

gadgetfanatic — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:38:01 EST

Replace the water gun with a small firearm or a taser, and I'd buy it.

gadgetfanatic

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

s0crates82 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:30:19 EST

@TonyTriple:

Cockney's not snooty, it's actually "low-brow".

I think they used the term Cockney because Whitechapelbonics was too long.

s0crates82

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

John — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:26:21 EST

god, his bar is really called "O'terrills"? He loses points for that.

John

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

TonyTriple — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:26:00 EST

All it needs is a tophat, monocle, and bulletproof coating. Then this would be the perfect crime fighting weapon.

Maybe a snooty turn-of-the-century cockney accent.

TonyTriple

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

dantaylor08 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:25:46 EST

Pretty sweet, but it could use some refinements, like a taser, baseball bat, and maybe a potato cannon. The squirt gun should also be upped to pressure-washer levels.

@Darrone loitering is against the law in most cities, and if you liked loitering around daycares I think you would deserve a squirt from the bumbot.

dantaylor08

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

BigViper — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:24:13 EST

@Darrone: i think your missing the point.. if your standing around ok if your standing around panning for change or selling drugs

odd as it appears to double as a chair.. think he picks up hookers from afar on that block and motors em back to his lair er bar...

BigViper

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

ANoel — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:20:49 EST

Rufus "The Grinch" Terrill would win many more supporters and likely get much more co-operation if instead of shreiking at the vagrants to "Fuck Off and Die" (or whatever) from his "Bumbot" and assaulting them with water, if he played music and sprayed soup.
Anyone else see any parallels here with the USA in the Middle East?

ANoel

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Darrone — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:19:46 EST

This thing should not be legal. If I'm standing around on a public street and this thing attacked me, I'm lighting it on fire. End of story.

Darrone

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

Poon — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:18:53 EST

He should advertise all over it. "EAT AT O'TERRILL'S" as He's blasting homeless people. Awesome.

Poon

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

The Lab — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:16:45 EST

I for one welcome our... nevermind, hardly a threat to humanity. Maybe if it could load vagrants into the meat smoker....

The Lab

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

MorganRW — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:15:26 EST

On Monday February 25, 2008, the Bumbot became self aware.

Ya know, this guy should get together with Wang and join forces to create the Ultimate Bumbot with breast message capabilities. Should be a hit with the lady patrons right?

MorganRW

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

SchruteBuck — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:15:24 EST

A bar and a day care? Good block.

SchruteBuck

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

John — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:13:37 EST

EXTERMINATE!!!!!!

John

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

MagnoliaBoy — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:13:15 EST

Good for him. I remember there was a bad stabbing in that dude's parking lot a few years back. Poor kid died when some crack head tried to rob him of like 20 dollars. I don't expect this will do much for the area though.

MagnoliaBoy

Homemade "BumBot" Wages War on Riff-Raff

takemetoyourtoaster — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:13:11 EST

cool but really too protective, imagine if he had a teenage daughter, actually he probably does

takemetoyourtoaster