how do you view theft?

[breadisfunny]

im not asking from a legal standpoint im asking from a moral/ethical standpoint.
do you take a hard stance against theft and believe any stealing is stealing no matter what?
do you think it depends on the circumstances/situation?
or do you believe people should be free to take whatever they want?(in a "the strong dominate the weak" type viewpoint)
also if you could please post why you believe so.

JUST TO CLARIFY THIS ISNT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE MORALITY OF ANY ONE TYPE OF THEFT/PERCEIVED THEFT BUT THEFT IN GENERAL.

[Deleted]

If a person steals out of desperate need in circumstances of poverty, i cannot condone it - but neither can i condemn them.

Outside that, where it's already cruelly punished in third world nations (Think fingers&hands cut, beatings, burnings, ect) i think of it as extremely petty.

[Deleted]

Theft to me depends what is stolen. In my job theft is extremely common and expected, any Military kit not permanently marked will usually be nicked, in return you nick someone elses, it is a big circle that ends when people wise up and mark it in permanent ink. Personal items and money are massively off limits though, theres a big difference between nicking an issue jacket and a mobile phone.

[Deleted]

It's bad.

[Itisamuh]

My view on theft is the same as any other crime; a person who does it is worthless. If I caught someone stealing in my house, I would gun them down in an instant and make the world a better place. Nobody has the right to steal from others, except insurance companies.

[Austilias]

I don't condone it. It's very easy to take a Jean Valjeane/Les Misérables point of view that thieves only steal out of necessity, be it a loaf of bread or otherwise; but the reality today is hardly comparable to the era in which such a dramatic piece was set. The likes of the London Riots indeed, proved the opposite to be true; that many people proudly maintain a looter's mentality, and should not be painted as any sort of victim.

[Roose]

It is hard to blame someone that is starving for trying to live. Not as common as it once was, but still very relevant today.

[Forgettable]

I don't condone it for selfish or jealous reasons, like my guildy who had his entire apartment looted and left with nothing. And while I think that stealing from the rich and giving to the poor (ala Robin Hood) is ok if the rich person is abusive/greedy, I know that such actions will never fix the core issue.

[Symphonic]

As sorry as I felt for Jean Valjean, he shouldn't have stolen.

Or Aladdin.

[THE Bigzoman]

As sorry as I felt for Jean Valjean, he shouldn't have stolen.

Or Aladdin.

How many people find themselves in a situation similar to Aladdin in first world countries? Honestly.

[Deleted]

Theft is always wrong.. however the real question here is what is a theft? If you take something and the original remains intact, its not really stealing in my book so it's ok. For personal use anyway.

[Jayburner]

I stole some tylenol back in the winter of '90. I was desperate to cure this massive headache from a flu i had and I had no money.

[poser765]

Theft is always wrong.. however the real question here is what is a theft? If you take something and the original remains intact, its not really stealing in my book so it's ok. For personal use anyway.

Pirate ALL the things!

[Deleted]

Theft is always wrong.. however the real question here is what is a theft? If you take something and the original remains intact, its not really stealing in my book so it's ok. For personal use anyway.

How about you not try turning this into piracy discussion? We already had that a million times.

[Garnier Fructis]

It depends. Is it considered theft to steal back something that was stolen from you?

[Deleted]

tough one, i can turn a blind eye to a starving person stealing a banana from a supermarket and similar situation, but i could never agree with someone stealing someones TV just because they want one, or taking someones money.
in like 90% of cases of theft i disagree with it.

[Spectral]

I understand theft out of desperation, particularly petty theft.

I fucking hate people that make careers out of theft. If I caught someone trying to steal my bike, for example, I'd hope they get the absolute maximum penalty available by law. These people are horrible, destructive pieces of shit that aren't fit to participate in society.

[Forgettable]

It depends. Is it considered theft to steal back something that was stolen from you?

Nope. Certainly not.

[v2prwsmb45yhuq3wj23vpjk]

My view on theft is the same as any other crime; a person who does it is worthless. If I caught someone stealing in my house, I would gun them down in an instant and make the world a better place. Nobody has the right to steal from others, except insurance companies.

Some day you'll go to prison and that's where you will stay.

[Austilias]

Some day you'll go to prison and that's where you will stay.

Depending on where he lives, that's debatable. Having been burgled three times in the past (thus far), I can't say I have any pity for burglars and whatever fates may befall them.