[Sauvblanc]

There's a very special place in hell for the people who did this:

It's NOT a Bluetooth headset!"

Poor kid. I feel so bad for him. I hope the shits who did this at least have the guts to return it after realizing their mistake.

I mean, come on!!! They should have used their two brain cells and come to the conclusion there's no freaking way a 4 year old would be in possession of a Bluetooth headset.

Fucking idiots.

[Capella]

Who in the world would think a kid that small had a headset? The mom, maybe, but not the child. And to steal it...that's a stupid, stupid person. I hope they see the article in a local paper and feel awful about what they did.

[Brad]

Since when have petty thieves been considered a paragon of critical thinking and intelligence?

It doesn't surprise me at all that a thief would think that kid was wearing a Bluetooth set.

[veryamusing]

The article says, "The boys probably thought they had grabbed a Bluetooth headset..."

It's also possible that they knew it was a $6,000 cochlear implant and were going to sell it.

Either way, .

[RowdyScot]

Originally Posted by veryamusing It's also possible that they knew it was a $6,000 cochlear implant and were going to sell it.

Then they deserve a lot worse than Hell.

[Bryson]

That would seem unlikely. It'd be a hell of an item to fence.

(The point being, that that's the only thing that would change their minds... If they're prepared to steal stuff off kids, then you betcha they're prepared to steal stuff off deaf kids. They just don't give a shit.)

[Banana]

Originally Posted by Brad Since when have petty thieves been considered a paragon of critical thinking and intelligence? It doesn't surprise me at all that a thief would think that kid was wearing a Bluetooth set.

Consider me surprised, but only because I thought that everyone can tell right off difference between a mainstream device and a medical device. Unless cochlear implant has since become more "mainstream" in sense that it looks like any other bluetooth set (and from what precious little I know, is very expensive so it's very rare anyway), it's clearly too medical-looking and thus is worthless.

Bryson is correct, not only that it'd be very problematic to fence it, you'd have to find someone who use the specific brand *and* model because there's just no incentive for the manufacturers to open up the hardware to follow a standard. It lives and dies with the implant, pretty much.

[scratt]

ear today, gone tomorrow.


Sorry, I couldn't resist.

[Sauvblanc]

There are some very telling visual clues that should, I think, allow people to differentiate between a headset and a cochlear implant speech processor.

Banana is right, even if they knew they were ripping off a processor, it would be a tough thing to fence. Not just finding someone who uses the specific brand *and* model, but the programs in each one are specific for the individual user. Plus the "rarity" of implants means that provenance is well established, if someone were to show up with a new CI one day, any self-respecting audiologist would be able to back-track it based on serial number and be able to arrest the dude for receiving stolen goods etc.

Brad does have a point though. I often tend to overestimate the intelligence of most people...

[Banana]

Interesting about that bit on processor being programmed specifically for an individual, just like ear molds; I wasn't sure about that, but it makes sense.

Still, it shows how FOMP! those thieves are...

[Moogs]

Baseball bats... that's all I'm sayin...

[Banana]

From my co-worker:

Don’t even think about it. - Lt. Uhura

[bassplayinMacFiend]

Originally Posted by Banana Consider me surprised, but only because I thought that everyone can tell right off difference between a mainstream device and a medical device.

Unfortunately this isn't the case. A school principal in the US ripped an insulin pump off a girl thinking she was wearing a pager in violation of a no pager policy in the school, then refused to give it back for some time.

Found an article about it --> http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2002/06/01/3026.html

Guess it's more common than I thought: --> http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs...D=200551019009

[Capella]

Originally Posted by bassplayinMacFiend Found an article about it --> http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/2002/06/01/3026.html Guess it's more common than I thought: --> http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs...D=200551019009

Both those articles took place in Florida? I'm actually not surprised. I mean, asthma inhalers are clearly medical (what can you confuse an inhaler for?), and yet every time I had gym I'd have to explain yet again that yes I needed to carry it with me during class, in case my breathing went weird. I have no trouble believing something that looks like a non-medical device gets constantly challenged.

[Banana]

That totally sucks. No reprimand? What a bunch of fucktards. This has to be old boys network at work here. Seriously, can't they think it a bit more through.

"Geez, I shouldn't pull on it- suppose she was telling truth? Maybe I could ask nicely and take a good look at it then google it to make sure"

Just... wow.

I guess I was wrong to assume that any average schizmo would know the difference between medical devices and a fun device.

[popantique]

That's just sick and depressing. Sometimes I hate people.

Originally Posted by bassplayinMacFiend Unfortunately this isn't the case. A school principal in the US ripped an insulin pump off a girl thinking she was wearing a pager in violation of a no pager policy in the school, then refused to give it back for some time.[/url]

Not related to medical devices, but that reminds me of a story about a teacher in texas who hacked off her student's hair.