Gather 'round gang, we've another mystery to solve!

[dug777]

I had noticed in the past that old monitors left on the verge for council pickup almost always have their VGA cable snipped off (looks like someone used something like bolt cutters or heavy tin-snips), but I guess I'd always assumed that the owners did it to prevent people using it again...

Cut to the other day...

Left a 17" CRT (convergence was funny) on the verge on Sunday night, and I noticed on my way in from work today that the VGA cable has been snipped off close to the bit where it enters the case...

Now I certainly didn't do this, my missus certainly didn't do it, and I'm reasonably sure the kitty didn't do it.

So, either:

Some strange soul is amassing a vast collection of snipped VGA cables and connectors (I can't imagine they'd be worth jack?), or

Someone 'vigilante' can't stand the thought of these monitors finding a new home (makes least sense of all), or

The council is doing it to prevent people taking them (I can't see why they'd care, but given I've seen it very regularly around here it seems the most likely option).

Anyway, I'm officially

Theories?

 

[intogamer]

Tainted lead cables?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: intogamer
Tainted lead cables?

As in 'they might leach in a landfill' tainted? Or 'kiddies might eat them' tainted?

Seems unlikely...but then what do I know about it?

 

[aircooled]

I don't know the reason why, but our disposal company requires we snip the cord on monitors before they pick them up.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: aircooled
I don't know the reason why, but our disposal company requires we snip the cord on monitors before they pick them up.

Looks more and more like council contractors then :thumbsup:

You guys are a wealth of info, keep it coming :beer:

 

[potato28]

I think they're doing it for the copper.

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: dug777

Originally posted by: intogamer
Tainted lead cables?

As in 'they might leach in a landfill' tainted? Or 'kiddies might eat them' tainted?

Seems unlikely...but then what do I know about it?

Exactly. Aussies are so clueless

 

[SoulAssassin]

Us Yankees have no clue what this verge and council you speak of is. The curb and the trash guys?

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin
Us Yankees have no clue what this verge and council you speak of is. The curb and the trash guys?

Verge=grassy strip between the kerb itself and people's houses...

Council=local government authority that provides the pickup service (in this case, the City of Nedlands)...

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: potato28
I think they're doing it for the copper.

Winnar!!

 

[bearxor]

I was like WTF is a 'Verge'. Thanks for explaining it. I just always called the whole thing the curb.

 

[AMCRambler]

So if you're on the verge of taking a dump, you're popping a squat in the grass median! Hahaha.

Does sound like they were taking the cables for the copper. They'd need a hell of a lot of it to make any money though. There's not much in a monitor cable. Plus you've got to strip all the insulation off.

 

[Vonkhan]

Copper

check out price index for metals

 

[alien42]

there have been some crack heads in my hood stealing copper from peoples AC units.

 

[Fritzo]

Heheh...you talk all funny and stuff.

 

[Tiamat]

:laugh: verge - i had to look that puppy up.

 

[Regs]

I didn't know the English and Ausie had such a language barrier. I might have to re-think my vacation.

 

[Crucial]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
So if you're on the verge of taking a dump, you're popping a squat in the grass median! Hahaha.

Does sound like they were taking the cables for the copper. They'd need a hell of a lot of it to make any money though. There's not much in a monitor cable. Plus you've got to strip all the insulation off.

You don't have to strip the insulation off. Around here cat5 and vga cables will get you about a dollar a pound as is. Maybe more since metals keep going up. If you do strip the insulation the bare stuff will get about $3.25/lb

 

[dug777]

Madness :shocked:

 

[OrganizedChaos]

Originally posted by: AMCRambler
So if you're on the verge of taking a dump, you're popping a squat in the grass median! Hahaha.

Does sound like they were taking the cables for the copper. They'd need a hell of a lot of it to make any money though. There's not much in a monitor cable. Plus you've got to strip all the insulation off.

they probably just burn it off

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Regs
I didn't know the English and Ausie had such a language barrier. I might have to re-think my vacation.

We both use verge...

 

[Shawn]

I was unable to understand any of the OP.

 

[biggestmuff]

The verge? The council? Where the fusk do you live, Naboo?

 

[sandorski]

G-g-g-g-ghosts!

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: Savij

Originally posted by: potato28
I think they're doing it for the copper.

Winnar!!

The cable is mostly plastic with thin small gauge copper/tin wires - not worth very much. There is considerably more copper on the degauss coil/deflection yoke/mainboard transformers. I guess snipping the cord just makes the CRT monitors easier to trash - nothing to snag on or worry about when you're tossing it into a truck.