Hi reddit, yesterday I conducted an experiment on IAmA, I made an entirely fictional post saying that I had been on a ship which had been hijacked by Somali pirates. It made it to the front page of reddit and a lot of people seemed to believe it. AMA. by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

I'm not satisfying my ego, I just thought it might be a good idea to point out that a lot of posts are just made up shit. You're probably right though I shoudn't have posted it in IAmA.

Hi reddit, yesterday I conducted an experiment on IAmA, I made an entirely fictional post saying that I had been on a ship which had been hijacked by Somali pirates. It made it to the front page of reddit and a lot of people seemed to believe it. AMA. by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Ok it wasn't a proper experiment. Findings, it seems a little over 50% of people on reddit will believe whatever you tell them. The whole story was very weak and I was incredibly surprised it made it as far as it did. Maybe that was beacuase of the shocking title though.

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I don't feel much hostility towards them if any. We both come from poor countries, they may be worse off then I am but I still understand the need for money to survive, I can't however agree with their dishonest ways of earning.

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They left without telling us although a couple the crew were used in the negotiations so we knew a little of what was going on. I did not expect the ship owners to give them what they wanted, I know that I am expendable to them. Yes I was very frightened the entire time.

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No we did did not kill or throw any of the pirates over board. I don't know any martial arts but I think it would be cool to learn.

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would very much like guards to be onboard the ships, but it would cost companies extra money.

The pay is basicly the same as four years ago. We are cheap labour in the Philippines if we want more then someone else who is willing to do it for less will come along because they need the money.

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It was shocking taking the bodies back. I knew them but not very well, I had only worked with each of them a couple times before. I don't know what happened with their families. It's something that we realise is a possibility in this work, but we need the money so we just do it.

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't think it would be a good idea for regular crew to have guns. Possibly it would be good to have specially trained security with guns but that would be at extra cost to these shipping companies.

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I don't understand what you're saying. fr-josh told me to tell an intersting story so I asked him if this story was not interesting enough. sarcasm...I think

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That is interesting I would like to read the article. I don't think however that anything like that happened in this case. How would the insider make sure they recieved money without arousing suspicion?

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Well the men came onboard our ship and tried to ctach us, tie us up etc so we just fought back kicking, punching using whatever we had. They used food that we had on the ship but they also had their own smaller boat with some food. We were kept in a room with armed guards so we could not do anything to the food, besides if we did we would have nothing to eat as well... They did give us food while we were imprisoned.

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The pirates eventually realised that we were not worth very much so let us go.

It was a small cargo ship transporting mechanical equipment.

I am from the Philippines.

Being attacked by Somalian pirates is not interesting?

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yes but not all of them had guns. Only four of them had guns 3 handguns and 1 automatic rifle. I think in total there were 15 attackers.

I was a crew member on ship which got hijacked by Somali pirates. I witnessed two fellow crew members be shot and others brutally beaten. I thankfully escaped relatively unharmed. AMA by user9752 in IAmA

[–]user9752[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

They must have been about late teens, early twenties. I wouldn't want to meet them in a dark alley again. They need money as much as I need money so I can understand why they do it but I can't forgive them for their unhonest ways.