While some would consider this kind of thing the natural evolution of the Candid Camera type humor (combined with slapstick), Shows like Fear Factor, Pranked, Punked, Jackass etc. are not my idea of good fun.
The have the advantage of being "productions", using actors, and being shot on closed sets (if the director has ANY sense at all).
Such things done "on the street" in real life, with real people who aren't "in on it", could easily lead to all kinds of grief.
When I saw the title of the thread, I though it was going to be about those MORONS who give a first,time shooter (usually a pretty girl) waaay too much gun, so they can film, and laugh at the results.
These staged "pranks" are a valid concern as well. But not in the life endangering fashion of the fake monster/terrorist/psycho attacks.
Unannounced security exercises carry a significant risk as well. Even with announced exercises, there is often somebody who doesn't get the word.
For example, at a place I used to work, a secured industrial complex protected by professional paramilitary armed security (actually a govt agency), they were running an "exercise" one night. I think facility management knew it was going on, but no one bothered to inform the rest of the workers. Probably because we weren't supposed to be involved....
Graveyard shift. One of our pipefitters goes out to the lay-down yard to look for some material. Sees a guy running, coming towards him, being chased by security. As the "bad guy" got next to the pipe racks, the fitter stepped out and dropped him. Seems like a couple feet of nuclear grade schedule 40 isn't just a scrap, its a tool as well.
"Here you go, boys! I got him for ya!"
The responding patrolmen were suitably appreciative.
Management, on the other hand, had kittens. After that exercise, we were both always informed, and on lockdown in the building when training exercises were being conducted. We were given a written procedure for what to do if we had to open a door, or go outside. A guard would be posted on the door, before we could open it!
A couple years later, I got told a story by one of the guys who worked in the shift office. A similar situation, back shift, and patrol was running an exercise. We needed to open a bay door so a forklift could go out, pick up some materials and bring them in. Had to wait on a guard for the door.
After being stalled for close to an hour, and it becoming time critical, or part of the process would have to be shut down, the shift manager called the patrol Lt. and supposedly told them that if they didn't get him the guard right away, he would tell xxxxxxx (me, by name!
I was on shift that night) that I could "play" and could keep any of the guns I could catch!
The guard arrived within 3 minutes.
My boss was a good guy.
The have the advantage of being "productions", using actors, and being shot on closed sets (if the director has ANY sense at all).
Such things done "on the street" in real life, with real people who aren't "in on it", could easily lead to all kinds of grief.
When I saw the title of the thread, I though it was going to be about those MORONS who give a first,time shooter (usually a pretty girl) waaay too much gun, so they can film, and laugh at the results.
These staged "pranks" are a valid concern as well. But not in the life endangering fashion of the fake monster/terrorist/psycho attacks.
Unannounced security exercises carry a significant risk as well. Even with announced exercises, there is often somebody who doesn't get the word.
For example, at a place I used to work, a secured industrial complex protected by professional paramilitary armed security (actually a govt agency), they were running an "exercise" one night. I think facility management knew it was going on, but no one bothered to inform the rest of the workers. Probably because we weren't supposed to be involved....
Graveyard shift. One of our pipefitters goes out to the lay-down yard to look for some material. Sees a guy running, coming towards him, being chased by security. As the "bad guy" got next to the pipe racks, the fitter stepped out and dropped him. Seems like a couple feet of nuclear grade schedule 40 isn't just a scrap, its a tool as well.
"Here you go, boys! I got him for ya!"
The responding patrolmen were suitably appreciative.
Management, on the other hand, had kittens. After that exercise, we were both always informed, and on lockdown in the building when training exercises were being conducted. We were given a written procedure for what to do if we had to open a door, or go outside. A guard would be posted on the door, before we could open it!
A couple years later, I got told a story by one of the guys who worked in the shift office. A similar situation, back shift, and patrol was running an exercise. We needed to open a bay door so a forklift could go out, pick up some materials and bring them in. Had to wait on a guard for the door.
After being stalled for close to an hour, and it becoming time critical, or part of the process would have to be shut down, the shift manager called the patrol Lt. and supposedly told them that if they didn't get him the guard right away, he would tell xxxxxxx (me, by name!
I was on shift that night) that I could "play" and could keep any of the guns I could catch! The guard arrived within 3 minutes.
My boss was a good guy.
