Support NeoGAF

[NecrosaroIII]

https://kotaku.com/mtg-aftermath-leaks-pinkertons-wotc-magic-the-gathering-1850368923

TL;DR A youtuber bought Magic the Gathering cards for its latest set. He was sent instead a set of cards that weren't supposed to be released until early May.

Wizards of the Coast found out and legit sent mercs to go intimidate him and his wife into returning the cards.

 

[Lasha]

Do Pinkerton agents have any real authority? Could the streamer have shut the door and told them to get the real police?

 

[CrankyJay™]

Pinkertons still exist or is just an edgy way of saying law officers?

 

[poppabk]

Pinkerton Detectives are still a thing? Thought they were a Wild West type of deal.

 

[Power Pro]

WTF, the guy actually gave them the product back, even though he had no obligation to, and played nice with WOTC? I would've sued their ass for everything I could.

 

[Woggleman]

It was John Marston's great great grandson.

 

[DeepEnigma]

 

[AJUMP23]

Wizards of the coast is a terrible company. Stop buying their stuff.

 

[SegaShack]

Do Pinkerton agents have any real authority? Could the streamer have shut the door and told them to get the real police?

No they don't have any authority the guy should've told them to pound sand.

 

[Mossybrew]

Wizards of the coast is a terrible company. Stop buying their stuff.

They could be run by satan himself but I'm still gonna buy magic cards, sorry.

 

[SJRB]

This company is just the absolute worst. Just nothing but contempt for their userbase.

 

[Kadve]

Pinkerton Detectives are still a thing? Thought they were a Wild West type of deal.

It has become slang for strikebreakers and corporate hired thugs in general but yes they are still around and with a very bad reputation. Focusing more on the before mentioned stuff.

Do Pinkerton agents have any real authority? Could the streamer have shut the door and told them to get the real police?

Obviosity not. The streamer also weren't under NDA so he wasn't even committing a crime by revealing the cards. And while i'm not sure which country he is from, by American law WOC was actually stealing the stuff from him as corporations can't demand back stuff sent by accident back (it was part of a common scam back in the day).

 

[Power Pro]

It has become slang for strikebreakers and corporate hired thugs in general but yes they are still around and with a very bad reputation. Focusing more on the before mentioned stuff.


Obviosity not. The streamer also weren't under NDA so he wasn't even committing a crime by revealing the cards. And while i'm not sure which country he is from, by American law WOC was actually stealing the stuff from him as corporations can't demand stuff sent by accident back (it was part of a common scam back in the day).

This is what I'm talking about, he didn't make any agreement to keep things under wraps until a certain date. He was well within his rights to keep the cards, and show and read one of them in detail on stream. The fact that he bent over backwards for them kinda pisses me off that he didn't stand up for his rights, especially when they pulled this intimidation tactic on him.

 

[NecrosaroIII]

This is what I'm talking about, he didn't make any agreement to keep things under wraps until a certain date. He was well within his rights to keep the cards, and show and read one of them in detail on stream. The fact that he bent over backwards for them kinda pisses me off that he didn't stand up for his rights, especially when they pulled this intimidation tactic on him.

It IS pretty fucked up. It's not like the set even comes out that long from now.

 

[Kadve]

This is what I'm talking about, he didn't make any agreement to keep things under wraps until a certain date. He was well within his rights to keep the cards, and show and read one of them in detail on stream. The fact that he bent over backwards for them kinda pisses me off that he didn't stand up for his rights, especially when they pulled this intimidation tactic on him.

I think most people would give in though when a big guy knocks on the door, flashes some important looking badge and starts talking about jail time and fines unless he gives up the cards. Its no real difference from debt collectors who technically has no authority either. But most people will give them the money anyway.

 

[TheDreadBaron]

I think most people would give in though when a big guy knocks on the door, flashes some important looking badge and starts talking about jail time and fines unless he gives up the cards. Its no real difference from debt collectors who technically has no authority either. But most people will give them the money anyway.

Yeah, they pull silly bullshit to try to trick you. Had a server show up at my house looking for someone else, interrogated me about it through the door, he was wearing a backwards hat that said police on it. His attitude of authority and a little sticker on his hat made me want to answer his questions, then after he left I realized he had no actual authority.

 

[AlteredForms]

Pinkerton agents, what is this the damn 1800s?

 

[TheInfamousKira]

This is kind of a closed loop paradox, because the only reason WotC feels confident enough to pull stunts like these is because the only people who turn into blubbering messes over a candy van full of mall cops shouting at them are people who play MtG competitively. It's perfect, it's like they've made a business off of manipulating timid nerds, but they're also tending a timid nerd farm across the street.

 

[GMCamaro]

 

[Dr. Claus]

Yeah, they pull silly bullshit to try to trick you. Had a server show up at my house looking for someone else, interrogated me about it through the door, he was wearing a backwards hat that said police on it. His attitude of authority and a little sticker on his hat made me want to answer his questions, then after he left I realized he had no actual authority.

"Hello, am I under arrest? Do you have a warrant?"

If "No" to both: "Have a good day. If you need anything else, contact my lawyer."

It is beyond simple.

 

[jason10mm]

Please, the signal boost from this is worth more than the cards.

Totally planed to build hype.

 

[ReBurn]

Should have told the Pinkertons to come back with real police and a search warrant or go fuck themselves. Then I would have called my lawyer to get to work on the lawsuit suit against WOTC for harassing me with paid thugs and defaming me by making me out to be a thief. Assuming the guy wasn't in on it.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

Anyone who still plays Magic needs to wake the fuck up.

 

[Lasha]

Yeah, they pull silly bullshit to try to trick you. Had a server show up at my house looking for someone else, interrogated me about it through the door, he was wearing a backwards hat that said police on it. His attitude of authority and a little sticker on his hat made me want to answer his questions, then after he left I realized he had no actual authority.

I'm thankful that impersonating authorities is a cut and dry offense where I live. If a cop or govt official shows up at my door I ask for identification and call to confirm before entertaining any questions.

 

[Sleepwalker]

So glad i'm not into any of these card games sold by these scumbags, hopefully they go under.

I would've sued the shit out of them.

 

[lethial]

Imagine a couple of discord mods showing up to muscle you about fantasy game cards.

 

[BlackTron]

WotC made this guys wife cry by sending intimidating looking dudes to his house talking about stolen product and jail time. As if you needed any more reasons not to respect WotC. FUCK. THEM.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

I would have told them to get the fuck off of my lawn and to go get fucked, a in even more intimidating way. If that doesn't work, then you must inject The American way into the conversation.(it happened here, lol)

 

[LordCBH]

I’d have told them to fuck off. I’d have also told them to tell WOTC that I’d sell my cards I bought to them for a reasonably high price.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

Go get a real cop, a warrant, and the hippity hoppety fuck off my property until you do.

I haven't bought anything from WotC since the OGL debacle, this just galvanizes that decision.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

I’d have told them to fuck off. I’d have also told them to tell WOTC that I’d sell my cards I bought to them for a reasonably high price.

I would have sold it back to them at a HIGH Price.... Stranga. Then, told them to fuck right off.

 

[AlteredForms]

I would have sold it back to them at a HIGH Price.... Stranga. Then, told them to fuck right off.

 

[Tams]

If WotC had asked nicely and politely, and perhaps thrown in a sweetner, then sure he should have sent them back.

But that isn't what happened, so he should have called the police and/or shown them two barrels because 'Merica.

Fuck Wizards of the Coast.

 

[NecrosaroIII]

What was stopping him from "defending his castle" so to speak? From what he described, they basically forced their way into his house.

 

[DeepEnigma]

What was stopping him from "defending his castle" so to speak? From what he described, they basically forced their way into his house.

Himself.

 

[AJUMP23]

What was stopping him from "defending his castle" so to speak? From what he described, they basically forced their way into his house.

He showed discretion. But what a crazy thing to do to send out intimidators because you made a mistake.

 

[Kraz]

Lucky the cards didn't end up redirected from the 3:10 to Yuma to Charlie Prince. He hates Pinkertons.

 

[DeafTourette]

Pinkerton Detectives are still a thing? Thought they were a Wild West type of deal.

https://pinkerton.com/

 

[Amory]

lol i would've told them to fuck off.

you sent me the product, I didn't steal it. if i'm inclined to give it back out of the goodness of my heart, fine, but not if you're gonna come be a dick about it

 

[AJUMP23]

Pinkerton Detectives are still a thing? Thought they were a Wild West type of deal.

It is still the wild west out there.

 

[TheDreadBaron]

"Hello, am I under arrest? Do you have a warrant?"

If "No" to both: "Have a good day. If you need anything else, contact my lawyer."

It is beyond simple.

I mean the point that I was making is that people can project a false aura of authority and use people’s willingness to cooperate with authority to pressure others into behaving a certain way. Like that psycho who called into a McDonalds over the phone and got the manager to make an employee strip naked and perform sexual acts by pretending he was a cop, all over the phone. Easiest thing in the world to say after the fact what someone should have done instead, when there isn’t that pressure of authority in the moment. If only I always had you in my life to tell me after the fact what I should have done instead and how it’s beyond simple.

 

[Deleted member 1159]

You shouldn’t allow an actual cop in your house without a lawful warrant, much less a private security company. “Get the fuck off my property” is the only thing he should’ve said to them.

 

[Lunarorbit]

Hasbro sucks. What a shitty heavy handed company. On the back of all the bs that d&d players had to deal with recently.

If they had made my wife cry I would have kicked them off the property. That youtuber must be a nice guy cause that's totally illegal for them to intimidate private citizens like that. They have zero authority outside of internal business dealings with Hasbro.

 

[Dr. Claus]

I mean the point that I was making is that people can project a false aura of authority and use people’s willingness to cooperate with authority to pressure others into behaving a certain way. Like that psycho who called into a McDonalds over the phone and got the manager to make an employee strip naked and perform sexual acts by pretending he was a cop, all over the phone. Easiest thing in the world to say after the fact what someone should have done instead, when there isn’t that pressure of authority in the moment. If only I always had you in my life to tell me after the fact what I should have done instead and how it’s beyond simple.

Its called using your brain, mate. Critical thought. It really isn't hard.

And those people from McDonalds? Fucking retards.

 

[TheDreadBaron]

Its called using your brain, mate. Critical thought. It really isn't hard.

And those people from McDonalds? Fucking retards.

Well my last post got moderated with the parental admonishment of “enough”

Clearly I took it personally, but you have to admit it’s pretty low hanging fruit to call victims of psychological manipulation retards. I hope it makes you feel really smart though.

Could we also maybe think about moderating the word retard, or is that too snowflakey of me?

 

[NecrosaroIII]

It's a shame WotC is the owners of the DND brand. As stewards of the brand, they've done okay. 3 and 3.5 were pretty legit. 4 sucked, but 5 was pretty awesome until Tasha's Cauldron came out and then they started become weird with the rules and what-not. I think that's when the Twitter crowd started barking at them.

And now they're pulling all sorts of shit. It's a shame. You hate to see it. Maybe we can hire the Pinkertons to intimidate WotC into selling DND

 

[Dr. Claus]

Well my last post got moderated with the parental admonishment of “enough”

Clearly I took it personally, but you have to admit it’s pretty low hanging fruit to call victims of psychological manipulation retards. I hope it makes you feel really smart though.

The only people I referred to as "retards" in the post were the folks you mentioned from the McDonald's incident. Because they are. You can pretty it up with as many buzzwords as you like "psychological manipulation" "power dynamics" or whatever. Those people are too stupid and should not be allowed to have children.

Your situation? Not retarded and is, quite frankly, understandable if you are unfamiliar with the laws and actions that officers have. Hence why I posted what I posted. An Officer cannot legally threaten or demand info and if they truly were an officer, you have options such as asking for a search warrant or if you are under arrest.

Could we also maybe think about moderating the word retard, or is that too snowflakey of me?

Don't be retarded. Nothing wrong with the word.

 

[TheDreadBaron]

Don't be retarded. Nothing wrong with the word.

I used to say “fucking retarded” all the time to express my displeasure, seemed to have the appropriate sting. Then I got older and met some people and realized there’s a whole segment of the population that considers it a pretty serious slur, and it sounds real ignorant to go blasting it all around town. Food for thought.

 

[Dr. Claus]

I used to say “fucking retarded” all the time to express my displeasure, seemed to have the appropriate sting. Then I got older and met some people and realized there’s a whole segment of the population that considers it a pretty serious slur, and it sounds real ignorant to go blasting it all around town. Food for thought.

Good thing this isn't ResetEra or Twitter where people get easily triggered over simple words. If you are easily bothered by it, then block me and move on.

 

[CGNoire]

I used to say “fucking retarded” all the time to express my displeasure, seemed to have the appropriate sting. Then I got older and met some people and realized there’s a whole segment of the population that considers it a pretty serious slur, and it sounds real ignorant to go blasting it all around town. Food for thought.

Do you have any retarded friends?
Have you ever invited a retard to join your group?
Have you ever invited a retard to any of your parties?
Have you ever invited them to join you and your friends for any engagement ever in your life?
Have you gone out of your way to be friend to a retarded person you saw alone?
In school did you include them?
Have you ever heard a retarded person complain about the use of the word retarded? Or is it allways some other person (social activist) telling you to shut up?

What Im saying is why are you acting like you care about retarded people if you dont even invite them into your spaces which is lightyears more important to them feeling belonging then people not using the r-word. I have never seen any evidence in my life that retarded people even care about the term.....its allways others who want to seem as PC as possible complaining about it.

If you really want to help the retarded spend some time with them (there fucking lonely) and stop policing others language.