Vending machine disguise may or may not fool criminals

How anyone could think that a cloth vending machine would fool even the stupidest of criminals is beyond us, but we guess if the convertible skirt / vending machine is going to be made somewhere, it might as well be in Japan. The New York Times has the write-up of Aya Tsukioka clothing designs, intended to provide the vulnerable with ways of avoiding thieves and other evil folk: beyond the Coke machine, there's a purse shaped like a manhole, and a child's backpack that looks like a fire hydrant. Here, we just carry guns.

[Thanks, Ross M.]

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Oct 21st 2007 12:55PM]

I wonder what would happen if a hobo thought someone left their shoes under that 'vending machine' and tried to take em'.

[dv @ Oct 21st 2007 6:42PM]

that vending machine suit would make a fantastic halloween costume. where can i order one?

[Wesburl @ Oct 22nd 2007 1:36PM]

Vending machines kill 3 times more people than sharks.

True Story

[Liam @ Oct 21st 2007 12:58PM]

I'd rather live in a country where everyone carries portable vending machine disguises, than one where they all carry guns.

[Andrew @ Oct 25th 2007 6:22PM]

then leave.

[C. T. @ Oct 21st 2007 2:01PM]

I'm glad I live in a country where law-abiding citizens can defend themselves, instead of resorting to absurd tactics like this.

[Philip S @ Oct 21st 2007 2:33PM]

When law-abiding citizens carry guns, crime goes down. Who would you rob, someone with a gun, or someone without a gun?

"An armed society is a polite society."

[Leoedin @ Oct 21st 2007 2:41PM]

You quote yourself to death with pro-gun "good society" propeganda, but that fact is, the proof is in the pudding.

Statistics show that you're not less likely to be attacked because you live in a country with guns, and in a country with guns (eg US), you're far more likely to die than in one without guns if you are attacked.

I personally think less things should be banned, including guns, but saying little tidbits about guns reducing crime is simply wrong.

[Paul @ Oct 21st 2007 3:25PM]

I actually did a sociology research essay on this topic, we compared the US to Japan (extremely strict), Canada (pretty strict), and Australia (pretty strict, but not as strict as Canada). From looking at all the data we found from other statistical surveys we saw that the Gun laws did not have much of an effect on the homicide rate, instead it is more how the society perceives the ownership of guns.

It seems cliche but in Japan you are actually more likely to be attacked with a sharp object, like a knife than a gun because they see guns as a cheap way out, also the entire family network over there means they are more self policing.

Another thing we found is that there are A TON of conflicting studies on the subject, you could say pretty much whatever you want and find a study to back it up.

[Leoedin @ Oct 21st 2007 4:27PM]

A good point, and probably true. I was going to include statistics in my comment, but from a google search they varied so much that I including one (eg from an anti gun website) would be an open invitation to include others from the NRA that contradict that.

However, all the statistics showed that the US is certainly no safer than any other modern European or Asian country with strict gun laws, so the "guns make me safer" argument just cannot stand.

[Jeff @ Oct 21st 2007 7:46PM]

"It seems cliche but in Japan you are actually more likely to be attacked with a sharp object, like a knife than a gun because they see guns as a cheap way out,"

You're conveniently omitting the fact that you also have about 1/7 the risk of being attacked with *anything*.

Obviously, if guns are not available, you have removed one method of attacking someone. The issue is, that's a method that's responsible for 10,000 deaths per year in the United States. Japan has approximately 20 deaths per year from firearms, and those deaths are not "made up" through other means - they just have fewer violent deaths and injuries.

Fewer guns means less violence. It is just that simple. It doesn't take a "study" to figure that out, just a cursory glance at the crime stats.

[emjoi @ Oct 22nd 2007 3:43AM]

Guns don't kill people.
People dressed as Coke machines kill people.

[Wesburl @ Oct 22nd 2007 1:34PM]

Thats actually kind of funny....

Check out Switzerland, and how the fact that everybody has a rifle deters criminals from using theirs. Whereas the British ban of guns increased crime rate.

Reason being... in Switzerland the victims get a gun (as well as the criminals)... but in Britain only the criminals get guns. Its because the criminals do not obey the law... imagine that
O RLY?!?!

So summarized.... when you ban weapons it benefits criminals (gives them the one up).

Good Game

[Ignacio @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:28PM]

A smallish car collision. The two guys blame each other, ends up in a fight, people standing by end up separating them, they both end with black eyes.

Same situation, one of them having a gun.

The problem with having a gun available, is that you risk doing something very dangerous very easily.

[Wesburl @ Oct 24th 2007 12:08PM]

The chances of that are very remote. Furthermore, making certain things available will always increase risk, but can also decrease risks of other things. An example would be cars... Its kinda hard to combat stupid, especially in hypothetical situations. Ill use the car example you just said...

A smallish car collision. The two guys blame each other, ends up in a fight, people standing by end up separating them, they both end with black eyes.

Same situation, except one of them is stupid and decides to use his car as a weapon (and run over the guy or anyone around). Yes, I know its crazy to think that a vehicle is a weapon... but it can be used as one. Point in case being the WHAT IF OMGZORS doesn't produce statistics...

[Geof @ Feb 15th 2008 4:17PM]

I struggled through all of this. I found that people who like guns want guns and the people who don't like guns don't. The people who like guns then they and everyone else is safer because they have them. On this basis thermonuclear weapons should be compulsory for everyone.

[Kris S. @ Oct 21st 2007 12:59PM]

Guns ftw!

USA # 1!

[peter @ Oct 21st 2007 1:08PM]

unstoppable urge in my head telling me to punch it in the groin..

[Shawn @ Oct 21st 2007 1:10PM]

what if the criminal becomes thirsty?

[splat-da-da-ding-dong-patatata-brrrring! @ Oct 21st 2007 6:44PM]

i think you could manage to scare the shit out of a criminal by leaping out at them if they approach you, the vending machine.

[nate @ Oct 21st 2007 1:13PM]

i thought it was going to be about a vending machine disguise that tricked people into putting their money into it

[dantheman-000 @ Oct 21st 2007 5:13PM]

That is what i thought at first...

[yoshi @ Oct 21st 2007 6:14PM]

And out would pour Mountain Dew. Or something the same ... uh ... color.

[KC @ Oct 21st 2007 1:16PM]

Do they do Halloween in Japan?

[Tim @ Oct 21st 2007 1:40PM]

Every day.

[Andrew @ Oct 25th 2007 6:22PM]

I'd rather live in a country where EVERYone carries guns than one where guns are outlawed, and only criminals (who already unconcerned with law breaking, hence the title "criminal") carry guns.

[Greg @ Oct 21st 2007 1:28PM]

the purse is shaped like a sewer cover "manhole cover", not a hubcap...

[Grant @ Oct 21st 2007 1:39PM]

i love that she fit that entire vending machine cover under her skirt, I'm really curious as to wear she found the extra space to store something the size of 2 tablecloths in there.

[Neebs @ Oct 21st 2007 1:55PM]

Happy Halloween?

[Dan @ Oct 21st 2007 2:12PM]

I dig the vending machine costume. Using those fold-up spring wire pieces, one could make it pop into existence. We need several versions for the states. Great for Halloween, especially if there's a quick and easy way for hands to come out and for food and drink to get to face. There should be a better ATM disguise.

[Le Master @ Oct 21st 2007 2:19PM]

When the criminals reach up to steal a soda, the closest thing they're going to get to one is a cherry pop.

[PhilJ @ Oct 21st 2007 2:24PM]

In imperial Japan, machines vend you!

What'll they come up with next?

[cruci fiction @ Oct 21st 2007 4:21PM]

Correlation != Causation

Japanese people likely eat more rice per capita than Americans, which obviously is the reason why their crime rate is lower.

[o29 @ Oct 21st 2007 2:49PM]

From the article:

"She said her vending machine disguise was inspired by a trick used by the ancient ninja, who cloaked themselves in black blankets at night."

[rench @ Oct 21st 2007 3:03PM]

Solid Snake would love this disguise!

[Chris @ Oct 21st 2007 3:59PM]

He prefers a soaked cardboard box.

[Dahk @ Oct 21st 2007 4:50PM]

Naw, he seems to be liking the huge metal can thing nowadays.

I don't think this soft material would be appropriate for knocking people down with anyway =).

[Steve @ Oct 21st 2007 3:05PM]

Pepper spray does the trick nicely. Some dumb fucking punk kid of 16 or 17 and half my size, pulled a knife of me one night about two years ago and demanded my wallet and jacket. What he got was a face full of burning and seven shades of shit kicked out of him. After which I relieved him of HIS wallet, jacket, keys, iPod, cell phone and left him there. I still use the iPod today. Who says two wrongs don't make a right? I got mugged and scored and iPod out of the deal! I'll also bet he never tried THAT stunt again.

[Twitchy @ Oct 21st 2007 5:56PM]

Hahaha, that's not 2 wrongs = right, that's poetic justice. He probably nicked half the stuff you relievedc him of, plus he got a whole lotta pain for his troubles. Good on you mate!

[derX @ Oct 22nd 2007 12:42AM]

"What he got was a face full of burning and seven shades of shit kicked out of him."

I just reread your post, I don't know if I just perused over it or what but....

THAT LINE = GOLD.

[tekdemon @ Oct 22nd 2007 2:01AM]

Unfortunately, our neighborhood mugger/rapist apparently carries pepper spray himself =(

[rasbill @ Oct 21st 2007 5:35PM]

one more reason to be checking soda machines for change

[Clayton @ Oct 21st 2007 4:58PM]

I'd put it over a real pop machine.

[suv4x4 @ Oct 21st 2007 4:58PM]

Unless I woke up in a cartoon universe today, where all characters have memory span of average 2 seconds, I honestly can't believe someone is even trying to explain this is a bad disguise: how on Earth would even the most realistic disguise help you with criminals in the first place?

Did you all people had lobotomy recently or something?

This has GOT to be a joke/parody article, or some experimental fashion statement.

[spil @ Oct 21st 2007 6:25PM]

Apparently someone had grammar lobotomy.

[dantheman-000 @ Oct 21st 2007 5:13PM]

"Ha now you can't see me"

[derX @ Oct 21st 2007 5:09PM]

Wait, this is supposed to be a disguise?

Am I the only person who would wonder what happened to the lady in front of me and why there is a Coke vending machine in the crosswalk?

[suv4x4 @ Oct 21st 2007 6:58PM]

Nah, me too. My best theory so far is we're some kind of super geniuses or something.

Let's go on a rampage in Japan, they got nothing on us.

[Ed @ Oct 21st 2007 7:09PM]

OMG. That dude with the lazy eye who ransomed the phone for 200K would probably of stood there for 20 minutes trying to "insert" his dollar bill.

LMAO.

[Jeff @ Oct 21st 2007 7:49PM]

Something seems like it was probably lost in translation here. A lot of articles I see written about Japan in this country seem to assume they're all a bunch of weirdo dummies, when most of the time the stuff being written about was intended as a joke - sometimes on the writer of the article.

I actually doubt any of this stuff is intended to fool anyone. I think it's more likely some form of performance art, or just a way of these people getting themselves written up in the western media.

Yes, I did read the article.