Humanities desk
< January 20	<< Dec \| January \| Feb >>	January 22 >

Welcome to the Wikipedia Humanities Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is a transcluded archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

January 21[edit]

"Cold water flat"[edit]

I had always thought that a "cold water flat" was exactly, what the expression means: a flat without hot water -unless you heat it on a stove, etc.. Wikipedia also has this definition and adds missing central heating; but recently I came upon the reference (forgot where), that this wasn't or is no longer strictly speaking the case. Is the expression now used for flats that once where "slum- dwellings", but are no longer? Or is this new idea simply wrong?--Ralfdetlef (talk) 14:28, 21 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

In the UK I've only encountered the term in references (fact and fiction) to the pre-1960s, and would be surprised to see it employed today. I can't speak for other countries, but currently in the UK any dwelling without access to running hot water would be classed as "unfit for human habitation" and it would be illegal to rent it out. Central heating is not legally mandatory (and in the early 1980s I rented a flat in Scotland without it), but heating of some sort (such as radiant electric heaters) has to be present. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.197.179.175 (talk) 20:10, 21 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

1942 or 1945[edit]

Everywhere it is written that Subhas Chandra Bose died in 1945, but this article is from 1942

https://www.nytimes.com/1942/03/29/archives/indian-aiding-axis-reported-killed-subhas-chandra-bose-is-said-to.html Rambo XTerminator (talk) 14:34, 21 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I would just assume that the 1942 NYT report was incorrect. It happens, even with very reliable sources. Blueboar (talk) 15:53, 21 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

"On January 25th, Bose's family announced his disappearance. Subhas Chandra Bose remained somewhat of a mystery for over a year. Various rumours about him surfaced: he was staying at a retreat in the Himalayas; he was making secret deals with the Japanese; then, finally, on March 28, 1942, Reuters announced that he had been killed in a plance crash off Japan. Reuter's news release prophesied an event to come three years later." ([1]) --Soman (talk) 17:35, 21 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

"In the spring of 1942 , there was a Reuters gaffe about the supposed death of Subhas Chandra Bose in an air accident . The whole nation was shaken with grief . The congress President and Gandhi sent telegrams of condolence to the aged mother of Bose . When the allegedly dead Indian leader broadcast a talk from Radio Berlin , there was an effort to disclaim responsibility for the report . Reuters thus did not command any respect from Prime Minister Nehru ." ([2]) --Soman (talk) 17:45, 21 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

And indeed, you'll find Bose in the List of premature obituaries. --142.112.220.65 (talk) 09:19, 22 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

He's listed there now; he was added after this discussion began. --Metropolitan90 (talk) 20:32, 23 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Oh. --142.112.220.65 (talk) 23:31, 23 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Players Ball[edit]

If the "Players Ball" is an annual gathering of pimps, how come the police don't arrest everyone there? In the US, as I understand it, pimping/procurement is illegal everywhere. Isn't attending a convention of pimps reasonable suspicion of committing this crime? How come the attendees aren't all investigated, arrested, and tried? Or is the word "pimp" metaphorical? 135.180.244.18 (talk) 23:04, 21 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

How do you know they aren't investigated? Aside from that, what do they do at those conventions besides talking? Freedom of speech, ya know? ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 23:35, 21 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

A person's mere presence at such an event cannot be considered evidence of guilt of a crime. The arresting authorities would likely be massively sued for false arrest. --Lambiam 08:15, 22 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

To be kept in mind also is that mere suspicion of having committed a crime is not enough to arrest someone. The police need to have enough evidence to turn the case over to a prosecutor who will lay charges. A suspect cannot be held for more than a short time if there are no formal charges against him/her. --Xuxl (talk) 16:14, 22 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Also, there wouldn't just be pimps at such a ball, there would also be innocent friends of pimps. (Which would make a good band name.) --jpgordon^{𝄢𝄆𝄐𝄇} 16:52, 22 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Police have limited resources, and do not investigate every crime. Violent crime tends to take up the bulk of investigation resources, while certain types of drug crimes, because of their potential for revenue generation (especially with U.S. laws around civil forfeiture). Nuisance crimes, like prostitution, petty theft, minor drug use, vandalism, etc. do not often get investigated. That's just the way it is. --Jayron 32 13:33, 23 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

It would be nice to live in a society where the Police's resources were sufficient to investigate every crime. Are there any such today, outside of very small, isolated communities? {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.199.212.198 (talk) 08:17, 24 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

You have to approach the issue from the other end: Are there any places, big or small, where there is sufficiently limited crime that the police can investigate every case they're presented with? --Ouro (blah blah) 03:33, 25 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

NB the original question is about pimps, who are frequently violent or coercive, rather than mere nuisances. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 14:16, 25 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Regarding the original question - the police have to know where and when the ball is held to arrest the participants. If it's held in a private venue and not advertised except by personal invitation, they may not know. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 14:16, 25 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]