A UK man plugged his iPhone into the train to charge it and arrested for 'abstracting electricity.'

network world ^ | 13 July 2015 | john pease

[PapaBear3625]

That may be so, but charging an iPhone consumes about a tenth of a penny of electricity, at average power prices.

[thackney]

A Transport for London spokeswoman told the Evening Standard that “on board London Overground trains” have “signs near the plug points state they are for ‘cleaners use only and not for public use’.” Yet Lee said, “I just sat down and plugged my phone in because there were no signs saying not to.”

[11th Commandment]

Do you want to have a society that arrests someone for charging a cell phone on a 8 minute train ride

I want a society that people do not feel entitled to take what is not theirs! The problem is people feel they are entitled things and other people pay for it. Yes, this is small, but then people want other free stuff like health care. But I guess if we give free OBAMA phones why not free electricity to charge em. Then free board band to to surf in public housing (see FR post today).

[varyouga]

With more automation and advanced energy, everything will eventually be free to make and take.

The philosophy of scarcity and commodification will go out the window

[11th Commandment]

The philosophy of scarcity and commodification will go out the window

Not until with get rid of liberals and progressives that screw up the free market to make things "fairer" or "equal". That always results in an abundance of scarcity.

[discostu]

Probably housekeeping convenience. One of the interesting things about cell phones in the modern world is that people seem to think any exposed outlet is fair game, even on a Broadway stage. And yeah it’s negligible amounts of electricity, but that entitlement attitude just keeps on growing.

[HereInTheHeartland]

Equating charging a cell phone with getting free healthcare is faulty logic.
Charging this guy is extremely legalistic. It is the govt (in the UK); seeking to control and lord over people.

[I want the USA back]

Meanwhile the UK allows bearded savage sexual predators to roam and prey on White girls.

[Marko413]

Anything that is out in the open for the public is assumed to be available for the public unless a sign is posted. This is true of electrical outlets, trash cans, bathrooms, whatever you want. If the outlets are just for staff, then they should have signs saying just for staff. It’s not stealing if you put these outlets there and people use them because most of the time, businesses offer these options as a perk of their service. If anyone is to blame, it is businesses that offer these things as perks that set a standard for everyone of what to expect.

[11th Commandment]

Really, you can’t see free electricity to charge free phones, to free broad band, in your free house, with free food to free healthcare?

[DesertRhino]

“With more automation and advanced energy, everything will eventually be free to make and take.
The philosophy of scarcity and commodification will go out the window”

You better take it easy there. Who said you could think freely anyway?/

[DesertRhino]

Yes, its obvious that someone on a train using a fraction of a cent of electricity is exactly the same as free healthcare./

Besides, there is not enough information. Was it an electric train? Or was it a diesel electric? If it was a diesel electric, then the on board generators make excess juice and it isn’t stored or ever used. It is only used to power on the train and that’s it. All excess is waste.

I want answers.

[The Truth Will Make You Free]

I am going to take an unpopular view. What right do people have to think they can plug their personal device into any open plug? I see this at the airport and waiting rooms all the time. It is stealing pure and simple. This is the taker philosophy which is ruining the entire world.

1)Taxes in the ticket price cover this sort of thing; 2) Most airports have free charging stations; 3) The cost to the airport is so small in the overall budget as to be insignificant; 4) The cost of collecting such small payments would be greater than the cost of electricity used; 5) Efforts to reduce electricity costs in other areas such as A/C would have bigger payback; 6) Customers would obviously complain about being "nickeled and dimed" if efforts were made to collect payment; 7) Etc.

[az_gila]

I remember in the 60’s a camping friend plugged his electric razor into the light bulb socket in a phone box in the Isle of Man.

The cops got him and said the charge was something like “Stealing the Queen's electricity” since the phone company was nationalized at that time...:^)

IIRC they just gave him a warning.

[11th Commandment]

I might otherwise agree with your five points except the receptacle was marked "NOT FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION". So clearly he stole the electricity. Now we can debate on the arrest vs fine etc; however, since this guy went public he clearly thinks he is entitled to have others pay for his stuff and this is the mentality I object to!

[justa-hairyape]

Some places, like coffee shops, install the plugs for customers to use. And they do not label them as for use. It is just assumed.

[samtheman]

I wonder how much worthless bureaucrats are stealing from the UK every second in pay and benefits.

[CARDINALRULES]

Well at least it was a real outlet and not a fake one like that idiot tried to use on a stage.

Well if this is such a big deal they should put some type of locking covers on the outlets.