Do you hide your expensive stuff away when dating/etc ?

[Psi]

Ignore the hot crazy matrix at your peril

[hugo]

For example, the lady that lives down the street looks nice enough to date, but I worry about her background and peer-group, they are much closer to the criminal side of life around this small city, than I want to be.

So I'm being hesitant to talk to her, because if she came to my house, she'd see all my nice electronics gear, and then probably tell her friends. Now anyone can have shady connections, but I just assume avoid the 'scarier' folks when possible.

So how do you people deal with such matters ??

This reminds me of something:
-"Our babies will be smart and beautiful."
-"Not to mention imaginary."

[Muxr]

hide your jelly bean parts my friend

[wilfred]

For example, the lady that lives down the street looks nice enough to date, but I worry about her background and peer-group, they are much closer to the criminal side of life around this small city, than I want to be.

So I'm being hesitant to talk to her, because if she came to my house, she'd see all my nice electronics gear, and then probably tell her friends. Now anyone can have shady connections, but I just assume avoid the 'scarier' folks when possible.

So how do you people deal with such matters ??

Until you approach her you don't even know she is interested. She might see your stuff and think I don't want to get involved with a test equipment hoarder. What is the worst that could happen? Not interested probably, but she could be an electronics nerd. Then you find her borrowing your tools. OK that's not likely but my point is you just don't know. Without knowing what you're actually worried about with these people it is hard to see your fears as reasonable. Are house break-ins  a common problem in your street?

[NiHaoMike]

There's a good reason the first date should be in a public location. A hackerspace would be perfect if you're really sure she's into tech stuff.

[pcprogrammer]

just tell her your bed*s not made/roof collapsed/house burned down and you have to go to her house.

Not going to work because she lives down the street   

the lady that lives down the street looks nice enough to date

I would not worry about a new girlfriend or friend if that is your fancy, to lead to getting your stuff stolen. Worry about the longer term consequences, you having to dump your stuff because your partner is nagging about it taking up to much space or it being worthless crap.   

[NE666]

Seeing as we're into the memes and aphorisms phase:

the lady that lives down the street

"Never shit on your own doorstep."

[Zero999]

For example, the lady that lives down the street looks nice enough to date, but I worry about her background and peer-group, they are much closer to the criminal side of life around this small city, than I want to be.

So I'm being hesitant to talk to her, because if she came to my house, she'd see all my nice electronics gear, and then probably tell her friends. Now anyone can have shady connections, but I just assume avoid the 'scarier' folks when possible.

So how do you people deal with such matters ??

Sorry, this is a sill question. I think you honestly know what the right answer is and you're just seeking confirmation/attention.

Obviously, steer clear, is the right answer. If you're really desperate to have sex with her, meet her in a public place first, then book a hotel room if she's up for it. I still don't recommend the latter, but if you do, then take precautions, i.e. watch your drink, don't get drunk, tell a friend where you're going to be and wear a condom etc. Lastly, don't fall in love with her, for goodness sake.

[temperance]

I think you should reconsider and get to know her. Perhaps the crowd you worry about can be persuaded to venture into test equipment. To me, this sounds like an ideal situation. Keep us updated.

[langwadt]

For example, the lady that lives down the street looks nice enough to date, but I worry about her background and peer-group, they are much closer to the criminal side of life around this small city, than I want to be.

So I'm being hesitant to talk to her, because if she came to my house, she'd see all my nice electronics gear, and then probably tell her friends. Now anyone can have shady connections, but I just assume avoid the 'scarier' folks when possible.

So how do you people deal with such matters ??

Sorry, this is a sill question. I think you honestly know what the right answer is and you're just seeking confirmation/attention.

Obviously, steer clear, is the right answer. If you're really desperate to have sex with her, meet her in a public place first, then book a hotel room if she's up for it. I still don't recommend the latter, but if you do, then take precautions, i.e. watch your drink, don't get drunk, tell a friend where you're going to be and wear a condom etc. Lastly, don't fall in love with her, for goodness sake.

if that desperate rent or diy seems like the better safer option

[Renate]

This thread has drifted from a possibly humorous vein to a bit of questionable taste and misogyny.

[temperance]

if that desperate rent or diy seems like the better safer option

I presume you are referring to the test equipment.

[pcprogrammer]

I presume you are referring to the test equipment.

That is one way of calling a ........   

[Xena E]

Not all EEs are jerks, but in this case it's advisable ☺️

[Zero999]

This thread has drifted from a possibly humorous vein to a bit of questionable taste and misogyny.

Where?  I see just as much misandry as misogyny here.

What triggered you? Read the posts again. People here are poking fun at men, just as much as women.

The main prejudice I see is from the OP being worried about the kinds of people the woman he's attracted to associates herself with. Whether this is fair or not, it's certainly understandable.

[m k]

This thread has drifted from a possibly humorous vein to a bit of questionable taste and misogyny.

Do you put stuff out of site, if so then why?

I don't do that, but I put them away from dust and dirt, and rain, it's practically same thing.
Sometimes I just cover them, but many times that's not very practical.
If item has a place that is out of site the out of site part is secondary, primary is that it is there, occupying the place that is its place, for now.

If many people arrange same stuff, all may think that everything is in order, but nothing can be found, sort of.
Life can be difficult.

[John B]

So how do you people deal with such matters ??

I think lambs should avoid wandering into a kebab shop.

[Smokey]

This thread has drifted from a possibly humorous vein to a bit of questionable taste and misogyny.

Virtue signal badge unlocked!  Ally status refreshed. 

[bdunham7]

Virtue signal badge unlocked!  Ally status refreshed.

IDK, I'm all for politically incorrect humor but some of the comments here are a bit cringey to me, even in a thread that was a bit cringey in the first place.  Funny stories are one thing, casual references to women as a four-letter word is another.  I suppose everyone has their own lines between humor and cringe.

[John B]

The loss of ability in forming moral distinctions between women has been disastrous for society.

On one hand we have the OP, a real person, contemplating a decision that could actually fuck up his life. Seriously, if you think a woman is, or associates with "criminal elements" (what are we talking, drugs etc?), then don't touch it with a 100ft pole. Not only is she a massive red flag alone, she probably has a circle of male acquaintances that she would likely weaponise.

On the other hand we have commentators concerned that a hypothetical female reader might take offence because they identify too closely with the woman in the story.

FFS priorities 

[David Aurora]

There's a lot to unpack in this. And at the end of the day I feel like these are questions for a therapist rather than an electronics forum. And I say that with absolutely no negative connotations or stigma, I'm a huge fan of therapy and go semi regularly myself whether I feel good, bad or in between just to maintain my mental health like I would my physical health. It's never a bad idea to understand why you think the way you do and question whether you are seeing things from the right perspective.

It doesn't sound like a particularly healthy outlook on dating for talking to a crush to lead to a fear of getting robbed. Either:

- You know for a fact this person is bad news, in which case it's a rational fear but very much worth analysing why you're even entertaining the idea of dating her then
- You don't know for certain that this person is dodgy, meaning it's an irrational fear that should be looked into and understood

And I don't know whether it's just communication style that's throwing me here, but statements about her "background", saying things like she "looks nice enough to date" and (the big one) the inference that if you talk to her she's automatically going to want to come back to your house all need some reflection. I could be wrong, but the way your post reads it doesn't sound like you actually know her at all, just that you've seen her and thought she was attractive?

[Xena E]

Yup.
Just ask her out, get rejected, then get on with your life.

[pcprogrammer]

Life is full of uncertainties and what kind of life is it when you live it in constant fear of whatever.

Instead of asking her out directly, first try to just talk to her casually. See what she is like and sparks more interest in you than just a tingle in the little head men often seem to think with.

Long term relation is way more than sex and as such there has to be a wider compatibility between two partners.

[Zero999]

Yup.
Just ask her out, get rejected, then get on with your life.

I think the OP might have a fear of not being rejected, which might seem odd, but it makes sense. Perhaps he's had a bad experience before? Maybe she's the type he normally goes for and that has led to trouble in the past?

[Psi]

I setup a hidden webcam and recorded video/sound in my lab when we had an open home. 
It was funny seeing and hearing peoples reactions to coming across an electronics lab.
I highly recommend it if you have an open home, not just in case someone steals something but just for entertainment.