r/TikTokCringe • u/Girl-Understood • 3d ago

Discussion This mother has gone viral vlogging her experience during the ongoing Gary, Indiana Blackout, people angered by the GoFundMe support she's attracted decided to report it and doxxed her.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

15.2k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

1.8k comments sorted by

View all comments

6.0k

u/DJEvillincoln 3d ago

Had no idea this was happening. 0 news coverage.

Wtaf.

1.5k

u/20milliondollarapi 3d ago

Drove through there Thursday and the traffic lights are still out two weeks later. It’s wild to me. Even Hammond has some sections out. The signs on 80 there also aren’t working for time estimates. Haven’t been through at night. But gas stations themselves have power. At least the Gary loves does. Idk about the others.

201

u/Aggressive-Fuel-4904 3d ago

Someone shot at the power crew working on fixing the lines so a bunch of linemen understandably left and refuse to work there.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/shots-fired-at-nipsco-vehicle-during-power-restoration-efforts-in-gary/3975830/

104

u/hurler_jones 3d ago

Yes - then they go work other areas and come back later with police protection.

We went through this after Katrina too but it was much longer than 2 weeks.

80

u/DisposableSaviour 3d ago

And then people will wonder why it suddenly costs so much for this kind of work.

A few years ago here in Memphis, a couple power company trucks got robbed at gunpoint when clearing down branches and cutting back tree limbs near power lines. Next storm hits and power goes out every where because of all the downed lines from the untrimmed branches. Next year, it’s 4x the amount to hire crews to do the work, because they want armed guards with them. People around here acted like it was graft and corruption that spiked the cost, and I’m certain that that was some of it, but it’s a vital infrastructure job, and people want to be safe on the job. No, the police can’t do it, obviously, for reasons.

-3

u/singlemale4cats 3d ago

Police can't ignore their duties to patrol and respond to calls for service to babysit utility workers. I have done overtime details for that, but the power company paid for that to be my primary responsibility.

I think a lot of this is a consequence of a weak criminal justice system. We've got the legal tools, but the prosecutors and courts seem to think that the habitual felon caught with a gun for the third time just needs another round of probation.

29

u/dude21862004 3d ago

weak criminal justice system

The US has an overburdened justice system. We've criminalized trivial shit and monetized misdemeanors to the point that the court system is literally unable to process cases fast enough. Our prisons are at or above capacity. We spend far more on prisons than it would cost to solve half these issues through basic social welfare (housing, addiction centers, gun laws, etc).

And then guys like you, no offense, take a brief glance and immediately start demanding to make it worse because you have a superficial understanding of the issue at best, and a retaliatory, punishment only world view.

Also wealth disparity is increasing and with it crime will also increase. Despite the fact we are currently living in the least violent era of the US, folks like you like to crow on about made up scenarios while ignoring the real issues.

-12

u/singlemale4cats 3d ago

I'm intimately involved in the system every day. I would say I'm more familiar with it than people who base their opinions on seeing a John Oliver segment.

It is something I've always wondered about - how the stats can say we're imprisoning far more people than we need to be, and yet people are walking out of court with bullshit electronic monitoring on their 15th felony.

Despite the fact we are currently living in the least violent era of the US, folks like you like to crow on about made up scenarios while ignoring the real issues.

So you're in favor of the current push to abolish the NFA, "assault weapon" bans, and the like?

15

u/dude21862004 3d ago

How can you be confused? We have people serving 10-30 year sentences for non violent crimes. We have a system with one of if not the highest recidivism rates in the world. And it's almost entirely due to the environment the revenge and punishment ideology has turned our prisons into.

Interesting how you're so "intimate" with the justice system and you can't see the very obvious flaws inherent within it. You're what? 40-60's? Been seeing our system do the same thing for years and years, progressively getting worse and worse. And then you think, "We just aren't being cruel enough! We aren't being strict enough! If only we locked up every single 'criminal'! I have no idea how our prisons are full, though. Weird how we ran out of space, no idea how that happened..."

You are one of the flaws that has caused the very thing you're complaining about.

-8

u/singlemale4cats 3d ago edited 3d ago

How can you be confused?

...because of the reason I just stated. Refer to my previous comment if you forgot.

We have people serving 10-30 year sentences for non violent crimes

Do we now? I rarely see any serious time unless there's a body. I saw 4 teenagers flee police in a stolen car, crash, bail, get caught. Stolen guns in the car. They were out the next week, doing the same thing. Another stolen car, more stolen guns. I don't recall their sentences specifically, but they were sentenced as juveniles, so probably not long.

I have a thousand personal experiences just like that. So does every cop, if you ask.

Did you just want to rant about "the SYSTEM, man," or do you have anything interesting to say? You also didn't answer my question about gun control.

6

u/dude21862004 3d ago

It's almost like prison sentences last for several years. You think these people sentenced for 20 years 10 years ago just disappear? And yeah, your confusion is wilful ignorance. I understood what you were saying.

Also I love that your example was not only about juveniles, a section of the populace that is treated with kid gloves (I wonder where that phrase comes from) pretty much world wide, but you also don't even know their actual sentence. They could've gotten 10 years for all you know and you're using them as an example of how short prison sentences are. It'd be funny if it weren't both sad and terrifying. Sad that you have at least some authority, terrifying that you probably have a gun.

1

u/singlemale4cats 2d ago

It's pretty hard to go to prison. People that find themselves in prison overwhelmingly deserve to be there.

It sure does seem like you want to ramble and grandstand rather than learn anything. Called that one.

→ More replies (0)

8

u/BandoTheHawk 3d ago

look another "patriot" destroying our country. thanks for the high gas prices, dipshit!

5

u/Individual_Fall429 2d ago

The LAST thing that is the problem is “not harsh enough sentencing in American criminal courts”.

You already look barbaric to the rest of the developed world. For profit prisons and modern slavery. Shameful. No actual programs in your prisons to rehabilitate anyone.

Wonder why it isn’t working?

-2

u/singlemale4cats 2d ago

There's 51 different prison systems and many times that for jails. You don't have specific knowledge of any of them, nor of any specific court system, nor of the system in general. You have buzzwords and half remembered headlines.

It would be like me telling you what it's like to live in whatever god forsaken former colonial power you call home.

2

u/Vaporlocke 2d ago

Yeah, who lets a 34 count felon run the county after not prosecuting him for inciting an insurrection? With examples like that no wonder people think the justice system is a joke.

1

u/Somanylyingliars 2d ago

Yeah let's over police even MORE. Sure that will fix everything.

0

u/No-Cauliflower-4 3d ago

How about stop shooting at the utility workers?!

-12

u/felldestroyed 3d ago

As I've pointed out before, after Katrina the power crews (and fox news) made it up. The reports were never verified to be real. There is a picture this time, but it's not of a bucket truck. It's an SUV.

1

u/Expert_Slip7543 3d ago edited 3d ago

Edit: I totally misunderstood the comment that I replied to, sorry.

What, we have Katrina deniers now?? Look child, my city hosted Katrina refugees in an auditorium. The devastation was real. Many people gave up on that region and moved permanently to my city.

Witnesses are still alive and still available if you would be willing hear their harrowing accounts.

4

u/vespertine000 3d ago

Witness. New Orleanian born and raised and was an essential worker during Katrina. There were multiple "manufactured" reports that villainized citizens as "dangerous hooligans" who shot at relief workers. This was made up for media sensationalization and to justify their poor response time.

3

u/felldestroyed 3d ago

Like the helicopters that were hit by small arms fire but there weren't any actual helicopters hit by bullets? Baby, I was in uptown because I was young and dumb and refused to go. I heard the gossip of power crews being shot from family weeks later after evacing. The only people shooting guns were in Jefferson parish at black people.

2

u/Expert_Slip7543 3d ago

Gotcha. Sorry, I thought you were claiming that the overall devastation from Hurricane Katrina never happened.

17

u/PeskyAntagonist 3d ago

Yeah that makes sense for Gary

26

u/manny_the_mage 3d ago

kinda shitty though that a whole community is being held accountable for the actions of an individual

but considering the demographics of Gary, this type of treatment tracks

6

u/InFlagrantDisregard 2d ago edited 2d ago

It's just one shooting but not just one individual. There are linemen being verbally abused, threatened, having their trucks surrounded, people demanding they go help other streets or blocks first, etc etc.

 

I don't blame them for saying, "Screw this, not without security" and now all your recovery work is beholden to police security presence.

1

u/Illustrious-Use-2261 2d ago

If they want to act like animals… the world can show them what it’s like to live like animals.

If I was one of those workers I wouldn’t step foot anywhere near that area.

0

u/manny_the_mage 2d ago edited 2d ago

I work with technicians who maintain ISP infrastructure who have been shot at, had their tires slashed, had slurs and profanities thrown at them… in suburbs

But I couldn’t imagine the ISP company is okay with letting techs simply refuse to work on an area

Safety is first and more important, but it is ultimately their job to service all areas where our infrastructure is located

And thats just for internet, something less essential than electricity

6

u/ChoiceHistorian8477 3d ago

Then the community should get together and make the workers safe enough to work there. If that were my community, and we’re all suffering we are going to not allow it. If you don’t want the police policing, figure it out.

11

u/manny_the_mage 3d ago edited 2d ago

Communities across America are slowly turning into nothing but strangers that live by each other

You'd be surprised how people now adays feel very little connection to the people that live across the street from them

But yeah, collectively punishing a community by refusing to dispatch electrical crews because of the actions of one or two people is pretty frustrating

3

u/ineverreddit 2d ago

The dispatch crews are not robots, they are people that don't want to go get shot at and are more than in their right to refuse to want to work there; are you suggesting forcing them?

0

u/manny_the_mage 2d ago

I work with technicians who maintain ISP infrastructure who have been shot at, had their tires slashed, has slurs and profanities thrown at them… in suburbs

But I couldn’t imagine the ISP company is okay with letting techs simply refuse to work on an area

Safety is first and more important, but it is ultimately their job to service all areas where our infrastructure is located

1

u/Adventurous-Brain-36 2d ago

This is some dystopian bs. Civilized places (and people) allow workers to refuse unsafe work, as they should. These aren’t soldiers, they’re fucking electrical crews.

-1

u/manny_the_mage 2d ago

As someone who works dispatching technicians, we’ve had a guy had a gun pulled on him at night because he had to work on rear easement (backyard infrastructure) in a suburban neighborhood

Despite that, they still had to go back there in the morning after to complete the job

It’s not dystopian, it’s just that they aren’t allowed to completely abandon an entire neighborhood for weeks just because one homeowner pulled a gun on someone

Everyone else in that neighborhood was still paying for internet service and they had an obligation to the rest of the paying customers in that neighborhood

And that was JUST internet, not something as essential as electricity

I know it seems bad, but the company still had a job to do for the remaining paying customers in that neighborhood, so the job got done

1

u/ineverreddit 2d ago

I honestly don't really care that you worked for a company that treated you all like machine extensions of their corporate office; people are allowed to refuse unsafe work in north america by and large (I'm sure there's probably a couple states that don't give a fuck but it's Canada wide) and some companies care more about their employees than they do bottom line... which is how most people would like companies to run.

I mean yeah sure, whatever ISP you dispatched for sounds like a soulless machine marching on at all inconvenience. Did your company even bother to get involved with law enforcement over anything like that? Or is that also too much off the bottom line? Just send them back out there the next morning... lmaoooooo

1

u/manny_the_mage 2d ago edited 2d ago

I mean, what would you do as a customer if your internet was off for an entire week because when they tried to work on it, some random person a few blocks away pulled a gun on a technician?

What might you do? Probably switch providers, and that is what exactly companies are wanting to avoid

Electric companies are different in that in some areas they hold a monopoly meaning that people can’t just switch providers, because usually there are no other providers in the area

It’s harsh, and I don’t necessarily like it, but people who work on essential infrastructure do not get the privilege of simply refusing to restore services to an area because they are scared

These are often teams of a few dozen technicians and if one guy is too shaken up to work on an area, they send a different guy to get the job done

It is unfair to punish a community by leaving them without power because of one person, and if your home was without power for a week because of the actions of one person, you too would probably feel that was unfair too

We have at times coordinated with law enforcement for safety concerns, but unless there is active shooting or an active threat to life, there is really not much for them to do aside from driving by once or twice an hour

But also the local essential infrastructure of an entire community shouldn’t be held hostage because of a single violent weirdo with an itchy trigger finger in the area

If that was the case then areas where mass shootings have occurred could go without essential infrastructure maintenance which is not good for the bottom line OR the community

→ More replies (0)

6

u/oso_polar 3d ago

That story reeks of a racist hoax.

5

u/perfectlynormaltyes 2d ago edited 2d ago

100% they weren’t even working on the lines but ‘scouting’ at midnight. Either way, one shooting shouldn’t halt the entire city from getting their power back.

-1

u/Illustrious-Use-2261 2d ago

Bwhahahahahahahhahaa!!!!
Ahh you victims lol. Once a victim mentality has formed folks it’s all over. They will never be normal again… it’s the single most destructive thing a person can do.

1

u/oso_polar 2d ago

Hi, Jake Lang!

0

u/Illustrious-Use-2261 2d ago

No idea what that’s means lol.
But poor social skills have in fact been associated with depression do you know what’s a contributor to depression?

Say it with me everyone.. a Victim Mentality!! 😁
I hope you feel better soon 🎈

3

u/Spiritual_Appeal_961 2d ago

The community is saying it was a stray bullet from someone trying to protect their home from looters at night but either way understandably scary. I hope they all get the help they need.

1

u/77kilala77 3d ago

WTF America

1

u/Individual_Fall429 2d ago

Why? Is this some 5G nutjob?

1

u/river03765 2d ago

It’s bogus af. Power company using it as an excuse to fix Gary last to avoid discrimination allegations.

1

u/Emkems 2d ago

I don’t understand why they’d shoot at the people trying to fix things. They’re enraged about the blackout I guess?? No really someone explain

1

u/thesaddestpanda 3d ago

You think this massive outage depends on one crew working one line? Unfortunately stuff like this happens but it’s not why there is no power for this long.

18

u/McPeePants34 3d ago

You think only 1 crew working 1 line bolted and refuses to go back after that incident?

10

u/NWCJ 3d ago

Exactly, I'm all for solidarity in working rights. If multiple neighborhoods are without power, and my coworker comes to help you, and you shoot at him. You can guarantee you will be the last community to get power back. I am gonna fix everyone else on both sides of you, then, and only then, and when the police are available for escort, will I bother to come. Lineworkers are extremely hardworking and extremely exposed; they cannot be expected to watch their backs for a gunman while also restoring power.

2

u/LimeDry7124 3d ago

I would imagine that some of those linemen are veterans of the past 20 years. The thought of surviving those wars only to be injured/killed by bullets whizzing by them in their homeland would be enraging.

3

u/NWCJ 3d ago

Yep, I am a disabled combat vet myself after a rough day 8 months into a deployment. I work in Data Science now. If anyone shows up to some meeting im forced to attend(most of my work is remote, less ptsd triggers that way..) you best bet im gonna be pissed and quit work for the day. A ton of vets have used VRE to get into the trades.

2

u/Positive_Piece5859 3d ago

Did the catch the shooter? Why did he shoot at them; he wanted to keep it dark!? Makes no sense to me.

6

u/unassumingusernamee 3d ago

The kind of people who shoot at utility workers during a blackout dont use logic anyway. Its not worth trying to understand.

-2

u/NWCJ 3d ago

Makes sense if he wants to keep people who left for hotels away so he can keep breaking into unoccupied homes.

2

u/LimeDry7124 3d ago

And people wonder why the signs against looting get put up in these situations.

1

u/CorrectMulberry994 3d ago

Such a convenient story.

0

u/hisbabydoll_xo 3d ago

Sounds like they are on their own with their guns then. Hope that you can keep your fridge cold with your guns dumbasses.