How I lost my backpack with passports and laptop
Losing a backpack containing passports, laptop, wallet and keys while drunk abroad prompts wider reflection on how vulnerable travelers are to theft and simple carelessness, and how much harder passports are to replace than phones or laptops. Commenters share contrasting experiences from London, Japan, Dubai and elsewhere, highlighting differences in crime, policing, CCTV effectiveness and cultural norms around safety, as well as practical tactics like dressing down, splitting valuables, using AirTags and keeping offline backups of IDs and 2FA. The thread also scrutinizes the author’s use of phenibut and alcohol, segueing into a broader debate over drug harms, libertarian versus paternalistic regulation, and where society should draw the line on protecting people from their own risky choices.
Passports, Phones, and “Life Support Devices”
- Some treat their backpack or phone as a “life support device,” but several note this breaks down for international travel.
- One camp would rather be stuck abroad with a working phone than a passport, citing ability to call family, embassy, arrange money, etc.
- Others say passports are uniquely hard to replace and phones are annoying but survivable; they highlight the lack of true backup for passports.
- Practical tips include memorizing at least one contact, relying on hotels/friends, and keeping IDs separate rather than all in one bag.
Phenibut, Side Effects, and Drug Policy
- Many were unfamiliar with phenibut; others describe it as a powerful GABAergic anti-anxiety agent, “too good to be true” and very risky.
- Anecdotes mention severe withdrawal, overuse horror stories, possible long-term cognitive issues, and its ban in some places.
- One user reports strong social-anxiety relief if used no more than once a week and never redosed same day.
- Debate: paternalistic bans vs bodily autonomy.
- Pro-ban side: society and families bear the costs; some people misuse anything available and need “nannying.”
- Anti-ban / libertarian side: risky behavior is tolerated in many domains (motorcycles, skydiving, alcohol); bans easily slide into broader rights violations.
- Others argue for nuanced regulation between “order online freely” and outright prohibition.
Theft, Urban Safety, and CCTV
- Multiple stories of bags stolen or lost in London pubs and returned only partially, if at all; author is seen as unusually lucky.
- Some describe long-standing petty theft in London, the need to keep a foot through bag straps, dress down, and hide signs of expensive devices.
- Comments suggest police often treat property crime as low priority; overflowing prisons and underfunded forces are cited.
- CCTV is often low-quality, short-retention, or unused; it may help with insurance more than catching thieves.
Travel Security and Digital Resilience
- Strategies: reduce the number of critical items carried together, keep passports on-body in inner pockets, and use decoy/old-looking bags and cases.
- AirTags (or similar trackers) in bags and wallets are praised as a major quality-of-life upgrade.
- Some travelers print critical info (IDs, reservations, maps) as backup; others rely on cloud-stored scans plus a device.
- There’s an extended side-thread on 2FA:
- Some offload 2FA to password managers or avoid it when possible.
- One argument claims strong unique passwords alone are usually enough and 2FA is mostly “security theater,” while others strongly disagree.
- Various backup schemes are discussed (spare phones, microSD with encrypted data, yubikeys, trusted contacts, even lawyers holding secrets).
Lost-and-Found and “Pay It Forward”
- Several recount passports, wallets, and bags being found and returned thanks to address/phone info inside, sometimes with cash missing but documents intact.
- Stories span London, Toronto, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea, Germany, and US towns.
- Many highlight how unexpectedly honest finders—and the decision to “do the right thing”—can completely change the outcome, reinforcing a “pay it forward” ethic.