Bonsai theft trial

[Bonsai Nut]

And in the US, about 2.1% are not foreigners.

I'm not sure about your definition of "foreigner". How many hundred years do you need to go back? Are the Welsh foreigners in the UK because many date their heritage to the Romans? Are the Celts foreigners? Perhaps the Normans are foreigners? Where do you draw the line? FWIW many of the countries my ancestors emigrated from no longer exist. Pomerania? Prussia? Mecklenburg?

And FWIW my mother-in-law is 1/2 Blackfoot. Is that what you are referring to?

 

[Brain Treez]

14.3%

How many immigrants are in the United States? | USAFacts

About 47.8 million immigrants in 2023. This represents approximately 14.3% of the population, or about 1 in 7 residents in the United States. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents. This includes people who became US citizens, are authorized to come to the US (e.g., for work), or are...

usafacts.org

I think they were suggesting that 97.9% of people in America are foreigners. (The 2.1% being Native American)

 

[Sansokuu]

Oh for crying out loud the Dems didn’t legalize thect under $950. That amount is used by STATE LAWS to determine punishment levels. Under $900 or whatever the state determines petty theft and grand larcency Petty theft is a misdemeanor (as in fine, public service) while larcency is a felony (as in prison time)

And fwiw. Never been to Japan but have heard that many crimes there including murder aren’t reported as crimes as such. Don’t know if that’s true though

I have heard from firsthand accounts on reddit of people getting sexually assaulted and police just shrugging because they were foreigners, even with evidence, even with pointing out the perpetrator. A lot of people get away with that stuff. Honestly the reason why these guys are going to trial is probably because they had so many crimes stacked against them.. outstaying visas, attempting to grow pot, but I’m just speculating.

 

[Gabler]

firsthand accounts on reddit

There's no such thing.

 

[Paradox]

I think they were suggesting that 97.9% of people in America are foreigners. (The 2.1% being Native American)

Which is complete BS. I know US history wasnt good to native Americans but I was born here, and my parents were born here, I am not a foreigner

 

[Brain Treez]

Which is complete BS. I know US history wasnt good to native Americans but I was born here, and my parents were born here, I am not a foreigner

I agree with you! I was just clarifying what they were saying.

Either way, seems this thread is veering head first into unpleasant territory...

 

[Glaucus]

14.3%

How many immigrants are in the United States? | USAFacts

About 47.8 million immigrants in 2023. This represents approximately 14.3% of the population, or about 1 in 7 residents in the United States. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents. This includes people who became US citizens, are authorized to come to the US (e.g., for work), or are...

usafacts.org

"According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the current total population of Native Americans in the United States is 6.79 million, which is about 2.09% of the entire population."

Native American Population by State 2025

Discover population, economy, health, and more with the most comprehensive global statistics at your fingertips.

worldpopulationreview.com

Which is complete BS. I know US history wasnt good to native Americans but I was born here, and my parents were born here, I am not a foreigner

Plenty of far right people in the US and Europe want to deport people that were born in said country and have citizenship in said country, but are considered to be 'foreigners'. Which includes AfD in Germany and Trump in the US. So not sure you should be safe.
Maybe you are safe if both your parents were born in the US? Or if you are not black, Asian, or Mexican?

I agree it is complete bullshit. But unless you are one of those 2.1% native Americans in the US, or 5% first nation people in Canada, you shouldn't be calling others 'foreigners'
Just saying that considering Japan is about 2% gaikokujin and the US is about 2% not native Americans, maybe Japan's problem isn't those 2%. Even if they mistakenly eat on public transport.

We just saw in Germany where people in the counties with the least 'foreigners' vote for the most anti-foreigner party. I am kinda sick hearing about the 'foreigner bad'-thing when I open a bonsai forum.

 

[Gabler]

I am kinda sick hearing about the 'foreigner bad'-thing when I open a bonsai forum.

I am kinda sick of hearing you construe other users' posts in bad faith. No one said foreigners are bad. When in doubt, assume no malice. (That applies to the internet, not strangers in dark alleys at night.)

 

[Nybonsai12]

Too many threads keep taking this trajectory and it fookin stinks.

 

[ralfish]

"Woman arrested, accused of stealing bonsai in New Orleans":

https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2024/12/12/woman-arrested-stealing-bonsai-new-orleans

"Phong Yang, 36, Accused Of Stealing Rare Bonsai Trees Worth Thousands":

Phong Yang, 36, Accused Of Stealing Rare Bonsai Trees Worth Thousands

Investigators say that Phong Yang stole Bonsai trees worth nearly $14,000 in one incident, and worth almost $8,800 in a different incident -- both were taken from the same residence, and one of the trees stolen was believed to be more than 250 years old.

www.cbsnews.com

"The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested 35-year-old Troy Stuart after allegedly being caught prowling near where two bonsai trees worth $7,000 were stolen days earlier."

Florida man with underwear around neck found prowling near $7K bonsai tree theft: Cops

Cops found a Florida man wearing a pair of underwear around his neck prowling near where two bonsai trees worth $7,000 were stolen days earlier, a press release said.

lawandcrime.com

Stop saying police 'won't even investigate'. It's a lie.
Yes, these minor thefts are often not solved. Police work isn't magic.
You need evidence or leads. Sadly, it is not possible to solve every crime. And maybe some police departments are indeed underfunded. But claims like these are silly and not helpful.

There was a time on this forum where people claimed these thefts didn't happen in Japan. Or, only happened in the US. It seems that myth was successfully busted. But now we have a new one.

from personal experience of theft of bonsai and local police doing zero, its not a lie. The rcmp (local to BC) wouldn't take any info other than everything about me. air tags and cameras now in place.

 

[Glaucus]

I am kinda sick of hearing you construe other users' posts in bad faith. No one said foreigners are bad. When in doubt, assume no malice. (That applies to the internet, not strangers in dark alleys at night.)

People on this forum are politically illiterate. They need this. If you don't like it, you can leave!
The person called himself a racist. What do you want me to say? They even said they shouldn't have said it.

I have been on this forum for 15+ years. Maybe it is time some of you old geezers finally learn. If you see yourself disagree with what I say, then simply change your opinion right there and then. Easy!

I never said police always investigate. I had police steal my bike in BC and they did completely handle my report. It was worth less than a high end bonsai.
So that's 1 for 1 for literally the same police department.

 

[Gabler]

I have been on this forum for 15+ years. Maybe it is time some of you old geezers finally learn. If you see yourself disagree with what I say, then simply change your opinion right there and then. Easy!

I'm 29 years old. I guess that makes me an old geezer.

 

[JudyB]

I went out of my way NOT to say it was. Just that there's something shady happening.

One of the auction sites does have rules about imports, or at least enforces the rules. Another doesn't (either have the rules or bother to enforce them) and that's where one of the players who's particularly egregious is operating. Even went so far as to point out that he doesn't operate on the other site. (Assumptions can be made as to whether he CAN operate there anymore, but I don't have any facts.)

There was a pretty big kerfuffle about the time of Kokufu involving folks talking cryptically about these imports who then were either banned from facebook shortly after or popped up again with new profiles. Its a pretty interesting story that I can't wait to hear is resolved.

I only know about the import ban on the larger site, I don't really look at the other one. They should also institute a policy, or this is going to continue to be an issue. Of course the selling on the individuals timeline will still happen (and I don't know anything about the marketplace) so it I guess is up to the buyer to use their moral compass.
I had not heard about the conversation about it on FB, but now I'm curious.

When it comes to material entering the USA illegally I have seen trees that were confirmed as stolen and those that have not been identified as stolen to my knowledge. That said, based on what I was told, the USDA is familiar with some of the routes that many of these trees are taking to enter the USA illegally and there is a general assumption that the majority of the material is not stolen

I would not think that the visible ones on FB and such are stolen as they would be too identifiable. So I am assuming that they are just deciding not to enforce the laws about illegal importing? I know that it has been enforced in the past.

 

[The Barber]

People on this forum are politically illiterate. They need this. If you don't like it, you can leave!

I'm pretty certain most people would be happy to see a thread without you squatting and taking a dump on it. Stick to Reddit, trolls are more welcome there.

I love this forum, and all of the people here, even if I don't agree politcally. I still love it here. Know why? Because it is a bonsai forum, and that doesn't mean anything here.

Don't know why any member is allowed to make a statement like this basically telling forum members on a non political forum to leave if they don't agree with your politics. That's like showing up to my barbershop, spewing your politics, and then asking people to leave if they don't like your politics. Personally I'd escort your dumbass out the door. It isn't the place for it! This forum was created for us to share our love for bonsai, not to listen to you troll people. Maybe you're the one who should leave Glaucus, and take your toxicity with you.

Life is short, you may as well waste it all arguing the politics of a country you're not from with complete strangers from that country Glaucus. Oddly enough, none of us care about the politics of yours.

 

[Time Wizard]

Oddly enough, none of us care about the politics of yours.

Lmao, get his ass

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Plenty of far right people in the US and Europe want to deport people that were born in said country and have citizenship in said country, but are considered to be 'foreforeigners'

You speak as if you know what it's like to live where ILLEGAL immigrants are constantly breaking the laws of your nation in order to enter your country in droves, where child trafficking runs rampant as innocent lives disappear into the void because of the greed and heartlessness of cartels.

I am kinda sick hearing about the 'foreigner bad'-thing when I open a bonsai forum.

I don't know...
...maybe do yourself a favor and...
...don't open any bonsai forum again. Ever. Then you wouldn't have to put up with all these idiots who believe in the sovereignty of nations and the rule of law. Just a helpful suggestion.

CHEERS!

 

[Glaucus]

I'm pretty certain most people would be happy to see a thread without you squatting and taking a dump on it. Stick to Reddit, trolls are more welcome there.

I love this forum, and all of the people here, even if I don't agree politcally. I still love it here. Know why? Because it is a bonsai forum, and that doesn't mean anything here.

Don't know why any member is allowed to make a statement like this basically telling forum members on a non political forum to leave if they don't agree with your politics. That's like showing up to my barbershop, spewing your politics, and then asking people to leave if they don't like your politics. Personally I'd escort your dumbass out the door. It isn't the place for it! This forum was created for us to share our love for bonsai, not to listen to you troll people. Maybe you're the one who should leave Glaucus, and take your toxicity with you.

Life is short, you may as well waste it all arguing the politics of a country you're not from with complete strangers from that country Glaucus. Oddly enough, none of us care about the politics of yours.

Go leave! Liar!

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Can we vote this guy off the island? Or is that too political of a solution?

 

[Glaucus]

I'm pretty certain most people would be happy to see a thread without you squatting and taking a dump on it. Stick to Reddit, trolls are more welcome there.

I love this forum, and all of the people here, even if I don't agree politcally. I still love it here. Know why? Because it is a bonsai forum, and that doesn't mean anything here.

Don't know why any member is allowed to make a statement like this basically telling forum members on a non political forum to leave if they don't agree with your politics. That's like showing up to my barbershop, spewing your politics, and then asking people to leave if they don't like your politics. Personally I'd escort your dumbass out the door. It isn't the place for it! This forum was created for us to share our love for bonsai, not to listen to you troll people. Maybe you're the one who should leave Glaucus, and take your toxicity with you.

Life is short, you may as well waste it all arguing the politics of a country you're not from with complete strangers from that country Glaucus. Oddly enough, none of us care about the politics of yours.

You can't find a Trump voter as a barber in Kentucky and gently voice your disagreement with them. But you can find me here, go out of your way, on a bonsai forum, and call me toxic.

You are a spineless hypocritical coward. The worst type of person.

We just have some very bad people here, on our little bonsai forum. Rotten people. And they need to be called out.

And what Desert O'Piñon just said, is also factually incorrect. But the jeer with how they are voicing it, shows they are 100% bad faith and there's no point in even correcting these people anymore. They need to be shown the door.

 

[Gabler]

You can't find a Trump voter as a barber in Kentucky and gently voice your disagreement with them. But you can find me here, go out of your way, on a bonsai forum, and call me toxic.

You are a spineless hypocritical coward. The worst type of person.

We just have some very bad people here, on our little bonsai forum. Rotten people. And they need to be called out.

And what Desert O'Piñon just said, is also factually incorrect. But the jeer with how they are voicing it, shows they are 100% bad faith and there's no point in even correcting these people anymore. They need to be shown the door.

I'm praying for you.