Moral question of the day - stealing
By laglen
@laglen (19759)
United States
October 29, 2010 8:49am CST
First reaction would be - stealing is bad, I am no thief. But lets be honest here, have you ever taken an ink pen? how about towels from a hotel? an ashtray?
steal
/stil/ Show Spelled [steel] Show IPA ,verb, stole, sto·len, steal·ing, noun
–verb (used with object)
1.
to take (the property of another or others) without permission or right, esp. secretly or by force: A pickpocket stole his watch.
2.
to appropriate (ideas, credit, words, etc.) without right or acknowledgment.
3.
to take, get, or win insidiously, surreptitiously, subtly, or by chance: He stole my girlfriend.
4.
to move, bring, convey, or put secretly or quietly; smuggle (usually fol. by away, from, in, into, etc.): They stole the bicycle into the bedroom to surprise the child.
how about definition 4, have you ever taken a drink into the movies? or candy?
Think this one through. At what point is stealing ok?
Have you ever had somebody steal something from you then you steal it back? is that ok?
2 people like this
17 responses
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
29 Oct 10
We are no saint. Stealing is of course morally wrong but taking something from the hotel room is not stealing but taking a thing or two like soap, shampoo for stuff we have paid for is I think not considered a thief. I do take them for souvenir.
@rameshkumaar57 (5908)
• India
30 Oct 10
Yes, I am still stealing, if you say that taking the liquid soaps, or shampoos or the aftershaves, which are kept in the hotel rooms.Of course, I do not consider it as stealing, because they are given for our personal use.
Regarding taking of snacks into to the movies, because, here in India, you can bring your own stuff inside the movie hall.Stealing is bad, because it may be good for you, but just think of the person who has lost a valuable and precious thing.
Particularly, I hate people who steals somebodys girlfriends or wives. Just think of the family when you do this.
2 people like this
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
29 Oct 10
At one time or another we have all been guilty of taking something from the hotels and motels where we have stayed. Some don't think of it as stealing. they assume that they paid for the room so they are entitled to what is there. Stealing is wrong no matter how we try to rationalize it. We all pay the price in some form when others take what doesn't belong to them.2 people like this
@KingRezz101 (52)
• United States
29 Oct 10
Well of sourse stealing is bad and it gives us a negative feeling in essence. I have to admit I have stealen things but small things such as a mint or a piece of gum from a friend but nothing big to get me in trouble. I am usually a good person and the thought of being bad kills me inside sometimes.
2 people like this
@saqi78 (1402)
• Malaysia
29 Oct 10
I never did any stealing during my life time, but if it comes to definition, then it is hard to identify the stealing, because I can use some body ink pen without his permission and then give him back. But if you see it in the exact meaning then I can never do this cheap act...
Be happy and be a cause of happiness for others...
2 people like this
@vucina1234 (73)
•
29 Oct 10
nope i never stole anything.....i know you are taking about stealing small things but i never did stole any of small things to...i think most of people earn what they have doing a hard work(i mean honest people) so it would be unfair to use theirs hard work for your own profit,even if we talk about small things i feel its bad and i will never do it and never did.....but stealing something back from someone who stole it from you its something different and i dont consider it stealing because you are actually owner of that thing and its ok to take it back from stealer
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
29 Oct 10
I have stolen things in the past, but I try to be an honest person these days.. though sometimes it's not easy. No I don't take candy or soda into movies.. though I have in the past. I've had things taken from me but never had an opportunity to steal them back.. if I did I don't think that would be stealing if it's my own property I'm taking back.
Here's another question to ponder... If you find $20 in the road and no one around.. is it stealing if you keep the money?
2 people like this
@jb78000 (15139)
•
30 Oct 10
i steal lots of things. well, mainly carrots, but also pens, ashtrays, gold bullion, cars, towels, countries, castles, tanks. i could go on. however i don't think i have stolen any of these things, at least not deliberately, since i was a teenager. i seem to remember nicking several glasses from pubs back then.
1 person likes this
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
31 Oct 10
Stealing is not a good thing; it would be best to try to avoid such infractions. While most of the definitions are clear, the bringing of food into a movie would seem more self-defense than stealing, since it is the patron who is being stolen from in terms of ridiculously inordinate high prices. Fair pricing might help that situation some.
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
31 Oct 10
I do not like doing things surreptitiously, but I confess to getting hungry and thirsty during the few movies I see publicly. I just can't afford to pay those "captive audience" prices.
1 person likes this
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
29 Oct 10
Well there are times where I may have taken smaller things when I was younger I think. I might have swiped a piece of candy here or there but that was years and years ago. I am not defending what happened, but really, I can't deny that it did in fact happen. Of course, I doubt that there would be some moral outrage that I took a Hershey Kiss or a sucker or whatever.
I think that many people might have stolen little things. Right before they have known better. Sometimes it can be inadvertent. For example, someone leaves money lying around intending to return but someone else picks it up and takes it with them. That actually happened to me, which really taught me not to leave money lying out in the open or put down something even for a second in the public place. Still theft comes in many forms.
2 people like this
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
29 Oct 10
Thinking about 4, yes, as a kid, I remember sneaking in to the outdoor drive-in theater in the trunk of a car... But I've never knowingly stolen an ashtray, towel, etc., let alone stolen a watch or something of great value. I've taken things home, like pens, pencils, paper, etc. and haven't returned them, mostly because I use to work at home, sometimes, as much as I worked at work. But then I gave them the free use of my computer, printer, etc., so I see it as a toss.
2 people like this
@NoWayRo (1061)
• Romania
29 Oct 10
I've stolen lots of things in my life, and I don't feel bad about any of them.
I guess that's what they teach you in school - that stealing small bits from 10 sources, patching them together and citing references at the end is considered "research". Now I feel I don't have any opinions of my own, everything I say or write is stolen, and I don't even remember where I stole it from.
I've taken sweets into the movies - mostly ice cream, because they don't sell it inside, and water or juice into restaurants where I feel it's too expensive to buy such things.
I cheated on my income statement several years ago. Saved about $3 in the process, but still.
I'm stealing time from my employer by doing personal e-mails and even blogging during office hours.
I'm not saying any of these was ok. I can think of cases when it's ok to steal, but none of the above. But I don't feel guilty about these things either.
2 people like this
@hyde101 (7)
• Philippines
30 Oct 10
Ink pens? I've never considered stealing as a means of acquiring, but if you consider taking cheap ones left around your classroom desk possibly from someone from the class before mine, then I'm guilty...Happened to me quite often actually...every now and then someone looks for it, so I give it back. I tried to submit it to the teacher once, but was told to just keep it instead.
1 person likes this
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
29 Oct 10
no i had never stole anything i my life yea and i hope people can stop stealing other people stuff yea peace.
@stewiekillslois (64)
• Philippines
30 Oct 10
i'll be honest, i have taken little things like an ink pen, coins and whatnot. but its little things and mostly from our house..But never did i steal something from a convenient store, a mall or anywhere.
1 person likes this
