June 15, 2016

IWSG Post Day Announcement / L - Looting + Excerpt




ATTENTION IWSGERS!

NEW IWSG Day Feature!

We’re revving up IWSG Day to make it more fun and interactive.

Every month we'll announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG Day post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say.The first IWSG Day question is for July 6th.

JULY 6TH QUESTION: What's the best thing someone has ever said about your writing?


Add this question and your answer to your July 6th IWSG Day post. And please visit other members to read their answers. If you’re not signed up, please join HERE

See you on July 6th!



Looting is a crime that always follows in the wake of a natural disaster or an intense situation (i.e. riots). People who seek to take advantage of good people will break into stores and houses and grab whatever they can get their greedy hands on.

What’s the most popular item looted? Alcohol. After that would come electronics and clothes. I’m sure we all remember the looting that took place in Ferguson in 2014 after the verdict came down, and the large crowd of people fighting their way into the liquor stores.

In Seismic Crimes, after the earthquake, a lot of looting goes on in San Francisco. Here’s a little teaser for you.

EXCERPT:

Beth took off at a run. As she ran, she noticed several shop windows had already been smashed. A glance into an electronics store revealed two men destroying display cases to get at the laptops and cell phones. A third stuffed random merchandise from shelves into a black trash bag.

She pushed her legs to take her faster, farther. Her heart ticked frantically, her thoughts tumbled in her head. Where do I go? How do I get out of here?

A group of woman teetered out of a shop on high heels, their arms piled high with designer jeans, tops, purses, and shoes. One of them even had a fist full of thongs.

Across the way, a looter slid a wide screen TV into the trunk of a car and hopped into the passenger seat. The car sped away with loud music blaring from its speakers.

To read more from Seismic Crimes, go to Amazon.



QUESTION: If you were in the middle of looting, what would you do?

56 comments:

  1. Will look forward to writing a answer to the question on July 8th,
    Yvonne.

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    1. July 6th. :) I'm looking forward to reading your answer.

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  2. I like the interactive question idea. I, too, look forward to writing a response for it.

    If I were in the middle of a looting situation, I would just look to get out of the looting, like I'm assuming Beth is doing in your excerpt.

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    1. I'm glad you like the interactive question. :)

      That is Beth’s plan in this excerpt. :)

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  3. I find it so strange that people loot after/ sometimes even minutes before a disaster. A big screen TV doesn't make up for losing someone, but to each his own I guess. I would still be hiding or making sure all my family is ok. The new IWSG idea is cool. It definitely shakes things up.

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    1. It does shake things up. :) I'd be hiding after/before a disaster, too. And if looting started, I'd stay hiding for longer.

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  4. I would get out or hunker down, just stay as safe as possible. Scary stuff.

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  5. I like what you guys are doing with IWSG; should be interesting to read how people respond to the various questions asked on a monthly basis.

    That is so interesting about alcohol being the #1 thing looted (but really if you are dealing with something major like a riot or an earthquake, maybe alcohol is the best thing, LOL :)

    I think I would have to get out of the way if I was among those that were looting. I think they would have a mob mentality and anything I said to them could potentially cause them to turn on me.

    betty

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    1. I think so, too. This will get everyone sharing and building more relationships with each other.

      You're probably right. I'd get out of dodge, too.

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  6. What? You want me to go back and answer questions? I'm on July of next year for iwsg lol I'd get the heck out of there if looting was going on.

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    1. You don't have to answer the question if you really don't want to, Pat. :) If you do answer the question, your reply can be short.

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  7. Stealing in general befuddles me. Looting? That's totally insane. If something isn't yours, why the heck do you feel like you have a right to it? But anyhoo... July 6th, eh? Guess I'd better write that on my calendar.

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    1. Looting is insane. Yes, the upcoming IWSG Day. :) It should be a fun one.

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  8. The IWSG question idea is a great development. Makes the next post less of a lottery for me.

    As for looting, I would sneak away in case they wanted to take my wheelchair. In my post-apocalyptic anthology there are looters all over the planet, mainly after food and fuel.

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    1. That was the idea. :)

      Food and fuel would be coveted in a post-apocalyptic world.

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  9. *Deep sigh* Humans... Why...? I have no idea what I'd do. I wouldn't be one of the ones looting, I hope. But could one stop it? Just one person? There would have to be a bunch working to stop them all.

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    1. I wouldn't be the one looting either. The only time I think I would was to survive. Like if the world was like The Walking Dead, and I'd only grab food.

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  10. I like the inclusion of the question. Though this initial one will require some thinking on my part.

    As for the excerpt. It's nice to know that woman will be well stocked in thongs for awhile. LOL
    That bit made me laugh.

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    1. They may involve some thinking. Hopefully this one will be a positive question for people to answer. :)

      Ha! That is nice to know, isn't it?

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  11. The addition of a monthly question is a great idea!
    Looters are a despicable lot, especially in the case of riots or natural disasters, things that folks might have recovered easier from if they hadn't been looted as well. Makes me hope the things they steal are cursed ;-) In the case of survival, I suppose it's understandable. Discovering needed food is more acceptable than destroying a building (or business) for the thrill.
    Thanks for such a thought-provoking post, Chrys! Great excerpt from Seismic Crimes, as well :-)

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    1. I'm glad you think so. I look forward to your answers as I know you'll make them your own.

      Ha. Like with the petrified rock? ;)

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  12. Interesting. I haven't considered looting when writing Isto. I probably should since there's an earthquake. Great excerpt!

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  13. People loot alcohol first? Go figure. Yes, I want to get arrested for stealing a six-pack of Bud...
    Next IWSG day should be fun.

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  14. I love the inclusion of the IWSG question. Great idea!!

    I've always thought it would be terrifying to be in the midst of a looting situation. Just seeing the chaos on tv makes me edgy.

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad you like the idea. :)

      Seeing the looting on TV makes me edgy too. I was afraid at home, many states away from what was happening in Ferguson.

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  15. Well, first let's just hope that I'm never in the middle of a "real" looting. But if I were...I'd seriously hit up a fast food place for some french fries. And not the skinny ones! The fat ones with the Cajun seasoning.

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  16. We have floods during torrential rains and there is huge looting of all shops. Our Govt declares State of Emergency and monitors the situation to combat looting.

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  17. So, I've got over 2 weeks to think of the answer. Excellent. Thanks, Chrys.

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  18. Great excerpt. And sad about all the looting during times of distress.

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  19. That is so true. I don't understand people like that. Do they really enjoy their loot, without feeling guilty? I suppose they do, which is sad. Interesting.

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    1. If I ever did something like that, I'd feel extremely guilty.

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  20. Love the new twist on IWSG! I'll try to remember. :)

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  21. That's an awesome way to make IWSG posts more interactive and original!

    I'd probably stay well out of the way in a looting situation, but if it were safe to lurk relatively unnoticed, I might look to see what was going on. It's probably a holdover from the days when I'd run with the crowd to watch fight in junior high and my first high school.

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    1. Sorry, that should say "fights" instead of "fight."

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  22. I would try to get away from the looting; things can really get out of control with no one to enforce order.

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  23. Hi Chrys - interesting idea - the Q and A scenario. I wouldn't loot ... and would definitely try and distance myself away from any trouble ... cheers Hilary

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  24. Cool idea for IWSG! As for looting, I'd get as far away as possible, and probably get guns. In Argentina, during the economic crisis where banks closed down and nobody had money, people went to nicer neighborhoods to loot private homes. They would steal milk and diapers and everyday items along with liquor and electronics, and innocent people were killed in the process. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Sad and scary at the same time.

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    1. Glad you like the question idea, Tanya. :) "and probably get guns" HAHA! Know that's good thinking.

      How terrible that people were killed. I imagine that was a frightening time.

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  25. That's a scary situation. Beth, no doubt will handle things like the heroine she is. (Can't wait to read). Seismic Crimes is on my kindle waiting for me. there was looting in our city a few years back when riots occurred after our hockey team lost the Stanley Cup. What a stupid reason to start a riot. It's an out of control crowd essentially. At least in Ferguson there was a reason that's worth a fight. Not saying it was right. Great scene you wrote, Chrys!

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    1. Sports fans can get very passionate. I don't understand the anger of losing myself, but I know it can get very dangerous.

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  26. I'll try to remember to answer the question next IWSG.
    Isn't it crazy how people start looting when something bad happens. Like, how is that going to help the situation? I suppose they aren't thinking that. They're only thinking of themselves.

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    1. We'll have more reminders for you. :)

      Exactly. It just makes everything worse.

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  27. Damn Looters. I would be terrified if I had to pass such a situation like your character in the excerpt Chrys. Wow after alcohol I was sure the next thing would be food. Guess that's how my mind works since I can only imagine myself in such a situation after the zombie apocalypse.

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    1. Yup. For a zombie apocalypse weapons and food would be looted the most.

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  28. I'm not surprised about electronics and clothes and food. (Alcohol is the top of the list? I thought chips and chocolates would be.) If I were in the middle of a looting, I'd probably just hurry home. I know, no guts, huh?

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    1. Chips and chocolates. You think like I do. ;)

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