people who say using a rake is cheating are like the jazz musicians of lockpicking: like yes, we get that you're brilliant, but you're absolutely insufferable to be around because all you do is talk shit, which btw doesn't make you better at your art

@yaelwrites Actual geniuses would know the use and limits of raking, it's the folks with a medium level in any skill I find to be the most insufferable to compensate for lack of confidence.

A rake isn't cheating if it works, it just means that the lock doesn't have security pins. You'll see Lockpicking Lawyer rake a cheap lock to demonstrate its lack of security pins. I often rake before single-pin picking.

Obviously to pick locks with security pins you want to master single-pin picking too.

@kyle I have only heard people say raking is cheating at lockpick villages.

@yaelwrites I imagine it's a case of advice coming from a good place, given badly. Any of those people in a speed competition would rake first.

The longer, and nicer form of the advice would be:

"Raking only works on low security locks and is a less important skill to master than single-pin picking. Even if it does work on a low-security lock, it would be better to practice single-pin picking on that lock instead so when you get to a lock raking doesn't work on, you have the skills you need."

@kyle I doubt it; I think it’s jerks who are upset to see women having limited success at something trivial

@yaelwrites Also, I used to watch the "Gringo Warrior" competition at DEF CON which was all about picking locks as fast as possible. EVERY contestant, even the amazingly skilled ones, raked furiously and only dropped to single-pin picking once that didn't work.