I just have to share this

[featured_spectre]

I just packaged up a utility tool to send off to woodcutter. So I have a rough cylinder wrapped in copious brown tape in hand.

 

Wandered into my local Post Office where the usual lady was training a lad as Holiday cover. This lady and I have danced the dance before and so I don't usually get asked awkward questions now but today she was back to the rule book.

 

"Now you have to ask him what's in the parcel"

 

"Nothing on the restricted or prohibited list" says I ( well rehearsed)

 

"I have to ask you what it is!"

 

"No you don't. You can't ask me that but you need to know it's not restricted or prohibited"

 

"I need to know what it is"

 

"Ok. It's a Sex Aid"

 

"Is it powered by lithium batteries"

 

"No, by fairy dust"

 

"That will be £3.90, second class recorded"

 

"Thank you very much"

 

By which point there were people around me almost incontinent with laughter.

[abillybob]

Haha, I feel your pain though, sometimes you don't want the people asking you what's inside the package, it feels like they're violating your privacy!!

[Little-Miss]

*canned laughter*

[6Foot2]

I...No you don't. You can't ask me that but you need to know it's not restricted or prohibited...

 

Talking of things restricted or prohibited The UK Border Agency is using signs like this:

 

http://i.snag.gy/40UUH.jpg

 

While this is a serious matter I think that The Border Agency could have used a better name for the item 8^th down on the list: Perhaps Shurikens or Throwing Stars?

[MatthewL]

I went to the post office a few weeks ago in town and I was quizzed and I was well put out by it as my local village post office (due to close soon I am told) never bother asking really. In fact all I was posting was a book!

[eyetea]

Talking of things restricted or prohibited The UK Border Agency is using signs like this:

 

http://i.snag.gy/40UUH.jpg

 

While this is a serious matter I think that The Border Agency could have used a better name for the item 8^th down on the list: Perhaps Shurikens or Throwing Stars?

 

 

 

?

[sparkeh]

While this is a serious matter I think that The Border Agency could have used a better name for the item 8^th down on the list: Perhaps Shurikens or Throwing Stars?

Mmm good luck getting The Death Star into your luggage.

[Bompalompalomp]

Talking of things restricted or prohibited The UK Border Agency is using signs like this:

 

http://i.snag.gy/40UUH.jpg

 

 

I understand absolutely every one of those bans except for even mild pepper spray. My mum was mugged the other week (of my £20 and an expired debit card haha, thankfully it wasn't payday), but was pushed into a wall and she suffers from MS and arthritis, so she was in pain and was shaking for days. If it were up to me she'd carry a mild pepper spray in her pocket, but I'm settling for a can of this red tag paint (that's not effective if you miss, whereas pepper spray is) but it's somehow legal despite the fact that it pretty much shoots it into their eyes at force.

[Garacesh]

Mmm good luck getting The Death Star into your luggage.

Pretty sure if you owned one of those you wouldn't be using commercial airliners. Or answering to the UK Boarder Agency.

 

I understand absolutely every one of those bans except for even mild pepper spray. My mum was mugged the other week (of my £20 and an expired debit card haha, thankfully it wasn't payday), but was pushed into a wall and she suffers from MS and arthritis, so she was in pain and was shaking for days. If it were up to me she'd carry a mild pepper spray in her pocket, but I'm settling for a can of this red tag paint (that's not effective if you miss, whereas pepper spray is) but it's somehow legal despite the fact that it pretty much shoots it into their eyes at force.

Oh bloody hell. Some people are scum!

I didn't actually realise pepper spray/mace was illegal. That's a bit silly, unless maybe people can have severe allergic reactions to it? Is that possible?

 

@nephilim I'm going to be sending a parcel to the states, soon.. I wonder if I'll get asked the same questions? Might have to say the same thing.

Edited September 16, 2014 by Garacesh

[featured_spectre]

You probably will as the restrictions in the US are worse than here...so good luck!

[Garacesh]

I wonder if there are restrictions in the states of actually importing adult toys? That would be a bummer.. Tell them it's a sex toy to make them stop asking what's inside, then have the parcel rejected because the states won't let it in xD

[Andrew_C]

Anything you carry intending to use it as a weapon is illegal.

[sparkeh]

Anything you carry intending to use it as a weapon is illegal.

A spoon?

[Bompalompalomp]

I didn't actually realise pepper spray/mace was illegal. That's a bit silly, unless maybe people can have severe allergic reactions to it? Is that possible?

 

There have been known cases of people being harmed by pepper spray (and tear gas, etc.) used by police at protests, etc. But those are different sprays to ones available commercially, a lot stronger and pretty much intended to cause lots of pain. But police carry huge cannisters to those, and that's generally what causes it I think.

 

Not sure about any known allergies, but I think asthma would be a big problem with them. Though for the intended purposes that I'd have one, you'd be a fool to be mugging people while asthmatic or about to have a heart attack.

[featured_spectre]

Make your own...the juice from a habanero in an atomiser is pretty effective at neutralising people. It gives a burning sensation wherever it touches.

[Bompalompalomp]

Make your own...the juice from a habanero in an atomiser is pretty effective at neutralising people. It gives a burning sensation wherever it touches.

 

Speaking of allergies, my ex was seriously allergic to spicy peppers (among lots of other things, like almost every fruit, penicillin and chocolate).

I have a very, very funny story about me eating jalapenos for dinner and forgetting to wash my hands and brush my teeth. I won't tell it.

[6Foot2]

A spoon?

 

[Garacesh]

There have been known cases of people being harmed by pepper spray (and tear gas, etc.) used by police at protests, etc. But those are different sprays to ones available commercially, a lot stronger and pretty much intended to cause lots of pain. But police carry huge cannisters to those, and that's generally what causes it I think.

 

Not sure about any known allergies, but I think asthma would be a big problem with them. Though for the intended purposes that I'd have one, you'd be a fool to be mugging people while asthmatic or about to have a heart attack.

Well, true. But at the risk of sounding like an old fart, it's the namby pamby sue culture, I guess? If someone mugs me and I pepper spray them, "All I wanted was (his) wallet and I didn't intend to hurt (him). But then (he) pepper sprayed me and I had an allergic reaction and went into anaphylactic shock. (He) almost killed me! Unreasonable force!".. It's like if your dog attacks somebody robbing your house.

 

Make your own...the juice from a habanero in an atomiser is pretty effective at neutralising people. It gives a burning sensation wherever it touches.

Would that not class under manufacturing your own offensive weapon and be just as illegal?

Edited September 16, 2014 by Garacesh

[featured_spectre]

No, because it isn't as concentrated as pepper spray commercially available. It still hurts, but isn't as potent. Plus it would be in an atomiser, not in a direct spray.

[Hefferzzzz]

There have been known cases of people being harmed by pepper spray (and tear gas, etc.) used by police at protests, etc. But those are different sprays to ones available commercially, a lot stronger and pretty much intended to cause lots of pain. But police carry huge cannisters to those, and that's generally what causes it I think.

 

Not sure about any known allergies, but I think asthma would be a big problem with them. Though for the intended purposes that I'd have one, you'd be a fool to be mugging people while asthmatic or about to have a heart attack.

The CS spray used by police forces is in the form of a hand-held aerosol canister containing a 5% solution of CS dissolved in methyl isobutyl ketone and propelled by pressurized nitrogen.^[54] The CS spray used by UK police is generally more concentrated than that used by American police forces.^[55] The liquid stream is directed where the user points the canister, being accurate up to 4 metres.

For an officer to be authorised to carry CS spray as part of their personal protection equipment, they have to have completed a training course in use of the spray, which includes being sprayed with a 3% solution of CS. They are also trained in helping the incapacitated person recover once successfully restrained.^[54]

Under UK firearm law, CS and other incapacitant sprays are classed as prohibited weapons, making it unlawful for a member of the public to possess them.^[56]

[Andrew_C]

A spoon? Yes, if you intend to use it as a weapon. Bananas too...

[Garacesh]

Under UK firearm law, CS and other incapacitant sprays are classed as prohibited weapons, making it unlawful for a member of the public to possess them.^[56]

I would not have thought mace was classed as a firearm. I guess technically it does combine some method of accelerant with some form of projectile with the intention of injuring, incapacitating or otherwise subduing another person.. But firearm? Just doesn't feel right.

[6Foot2]

A spoon?

 

Another reference to a spoon as a weapon:

 

 

[Like the one previous it is also from a Robin Hood story]

[plexer]

I just packaged up a utility tool to send off to woodcutter. So I have a rough cylinder wrapped in copious brown tape in hand.

 

Wandered into my local Post Office where the usual lady was training a lad as Holiday cover. This lady and I have danced the dance before and so I don't usually get asked awkward questions now but today she was back to the rule book.

 

"Now you have to ask him what's in the parcel"

 

"Nothing on the restricted or prohibited list" says I ( well rehearsed)

 

"I have to ask you what it is!"

 

"No you don't. You can't ask me that but you need to know it's not restricted or prohibited"

 

"I need to know what it is"

 

"Ok. It's a Sex Aid"

 

"Is it powered by lithium batteries"

 

"No, by fairy dust"

 

"That will be £3.90, second class recorded"

 

"Thank you very much"

 

By which point there were people around me almost incontinent with laughter.

 

Be nice if you shared where this story came from rather than make it come over as if it's you.

 

Ben

[Andrew_C]

You don't suppose Getty Jokes are going to be after him for $1000 do you?