Vandals, Worst Year

[blackshadow]

I not surprise CR was vandalized last week. This very come problem with all BCFS vessels. This year seems worst then ever.

The Vandals that hit CR may have moved on next vessel. As between Tuesday night and midday Wednesday a number of Vandals struck the Quinitsa. There were new signs placed up Tuesday night and by midday Wednesday these were damaged. There were damages to newly done over lounges as well. These Vandals had it planned as all cameras in the areas were taken out operation first and now there is about $10 000 in damages to vessel. I heard BCFS has good picture of these Vandals whom got the cameras and heard BCFS is looking at forwarding the pictures to RCMP. It there is a person reading this forum whom knows the person or persons tell them what was written here.

By the way Kahloke was also hit yesterday too.

[Northern Exploration]

So someone with inside knowledge of the ferries. It will be interesting to see what changes are done and how visible security will be now.

[Mike C]

Worst year ever!

[Curtis]

Okay, What the ****!! Some group of people really hates the Ferries. Are they mad at the high prices? Is this their way of revenge? What? WHAT?!!

[Mike C]

Something meaningful now...

Here's the Anti-Poverty Committee page: apc.resist.ca/

I don't see anything about the ferries on there, but you never know...

[kerryssi]

Vandalism seems to come in waves. There is none for a while then suddenly there is a lot for a short time.

[kerryssi]

It may not have been vandalism. It may have just been the Manager of Spare Change and his mindless minions out on a raid.

[kerryssi]

I can't find anyone on the ferry's who seem to know about any vandalism. I can assure you that no crew member would take part in or condone any such action. Despite being demeaned and harassed by management the crews still take pride in their ships and work, even if management refuses to recognize that fact.

[Low Light Mike]

Jul 18, 2008 10:30:18 GMT -8 kerryssi said:

I can't find anyone on the ferry's who seem to know about any vandalism. I can assure you that no crew member would take part in or condone any such action. Despite being demeaned and harassed by management the crews still take pride in their ships and work, even if management refuses to recognize that fact.

(Hyperbole-police responding to hyperbolic incident in this post)

I'll counter you and say that I believe that each of the following is possible at BCFS, and may actually happen:

1) A crew member could be angry about something, and could do some sort of vandalism. It happens in most large workplaces re disgruntled employees, even if only rarely.

2) A manager could be good and not be demeaning nor harassing, and could recognize the work that crews do. This likely does happen, even if only seemingly rarely to some.

And would you be willing to sign a performance-bond where you give assurance that no crew member would ever do an act of vandalism? How can you control the actions of hundreds of employees who are all individuals with their own sense of free-will?

As you can see, I'm simply challenging the extremities of your comments. I know where you're coming from, and why you're saying this. But my hyperbolic-thermometer went into the red-zone, and so I needed to speak up.

[kerryssi]

To my knowledge there has never been an act of vandalism performed by a ferry employee. The problem with vandalizing a ferry or terminal is that you are not getting at the company but rather your fellow employees. They really are all in the same boat.
There are a couple of good managers i have met. One quit and another got warned by upper management to get with the program. BCFS management is a very strange culture.

[Neil]

Jul 18, 2008 20:58:59 GMT -8 kerryssi said:

There are a couple of good managers i have met.

I'll bet you've had root canals that hurt less than that admission.
Chances are virtually nil that any employees would vandalize their boats- we just don't have a large history of unprofessional conduct by BC Ferries staff. I doubt that vandalism would be politically motivated, either. When I see a smashed bus shelter I don't assume that someone has a grudge against Translink. Even if a slogan was found scrawled on a ferry, it likely would just mean that it occurred to the mindless opportunists to write something that pertained to the fact that they were on a ferry. Wouldn't make it political.

Blackshadow has mentioned a couple of other vandalism examples recently. Since every arcane interest seems to consider itself a 'community' these days, maybe there's even a 'vandal community', and word is getting around about overnighting ferries being an easy touch. Hopefully, nailing ferries won't become a source of accomplishment, like 'tagging' prominent public surfaces is to the graffitti morons.

[Low Light Mike]

Jul 18, 2008 21:56:18 GMT -8 Neil said:

...maybe there's even a 'vandal community'

There was a vandal community in Europe in the fifth-century AD, living on the banks of the river Danube.

There were also vandal communities in North Africa, Gaul and Iberia.

In later years, they changed the spelling of their name to "Vandellas", after Martha Reeves became the leader of the community. Later on, they were dancing in the street with nowhere to run.

[Neil]

"The coastal towns of southern Spain fell into Vandal hands and with them the ships in their harbours."- (Everyday Life of the Barbarians, by Michael Todd)

Ee gad, Mr Horn, perhaps you've hit on something. This could be the first wave of a new Vandal uprising. Imagine, a horde of marauders, all spending their $100 climate change bonanza on knives and spray paint...

[kerryssi]

They are called "Taggers" these days. I do know of vandalism at terminals and docks but it is infrequent and always from outside the company.
I have a very good dentist, the root canal was no problem, bonus....she is attractive as well.

[kerryssi]

Sorry if I sound negative about management all the time but trying to find something positive is like trying to say something positive about Hannibal Lecter ( He was a good cook? )
Hannibal was charming, until you got to know him, and his appetites.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Jul 19, 2008 8:19:47 GMT -8 kerryssi said:

Sorry if I sound negative about management all the time but trying to find something positive is like trying to say something positive about Hannibal Lecter ( He was a good cook? )
Hannibal was charming, until you got to know him, and his appetites.

Well, I have to give it to him that he like brainy people with good hearts!

[Deleted]

what did they do to the CR like grafetie

[Low Light Mike]

Here is the very brief story in the July 21, 2008 Nanaimo Daily News:

www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=13e3e4f6-31fd-433a-8164-6dbd3dfaea01
============

Vandals slash seats on ferry
The Daily News
Published: Monday, July 21, 2008

Vandals slashed the coverings of eight chairs on B.C. Ferries Coastal Renaissance, which runs from Departure Bay, on July 7.

Spokeswoman Deb Marshall said no one has been caught or charged over the incident "at this time" and she doesn't know the cost of the damage. "But whatever the costs, it all goes back to passenger fares," she said.

© The Daily News (Nanaimo) 2008
===========================

[Scott]

Don't they have insurance? Why is it that they have to remind us every time something costs them that we're the ones who have to pay for it?? They should have some billboards - "Experience our Awesome New Ferries - You're Paying for it" ... or maybe some warning posters - "Please Don't Travel to Galiano Island on Saturday or else We'll Have to Pay Another Worker and YOU Have to Pay For It".

[Mike C]

Onboard the Quinitsa there was graffiti throughout the ship, and a few signs, mentioning non-working taps and a closed lounge...

[Neil]

Jul 21, 2008 19:55:37 GMT -8 Low Light Mike said:

Spokeswoman Deb Marshall said no one has been caught or charged over the incident "at this time" and she doesn't know the cost of the damage. "But whatever the costs, it all goes back to passenger fares," she said.

What an odd thing for her to say. Eight seats get slashed, and they're going to raise fares? Or maybe she's warning vandal customers, "Don't slash, or we'll raise the fares". Strange reaction.

[Mike C]

If you see anyone vandalizing ferries, do the right thing.

Be a man; do the right thing! ;D

[Neil]

Jul 23, 2008 10:34:55 GMT -8 @4roads said:

No, they would not raise fares solely on vandalizing eight seats.
But repairs cost money and like any company, added costs of replacement are passed to the consumer. That's exactly what she meant.
But if there was a noticeable fare increase attributed to a large
volume of vandalism, who is more important in this picture? The ordinary passengers or those who did the vandalism?

I still thought it was an odd and inappropriate remark by Ms. Marshall. Vandals couldn't care less that their moronic handiwork contributes to increased fares. The rest of the public, especially those island residents who've been gouged by a succession of exorbitant fare increases, with the worst still to come, don't need to hear offhand comments about how ripped seats might help to justify even higher rates. I think the public is getting the perception that if BC Ferries goes to Martin Crilly and tells him that White Spot is raising the price of triple-O sauce, he'll okay a fare hike. They need to be tactful in referring to fare increases and the reasons for them, and not instantly link them, even vaguely, to relatively isolated cases of vandalism.

[kerryssi]

Slashing seats is the kind of mindless destruction which is not aimed at any specific target. It is a common problem in theaters, buses, etc. It is just as mindless and undirected as graffiti.