To think criminals are very common?

I think its what you define as a serious crime or criminal and what the circumstances of the crime were maybe? Would I grass on someone who accepted a free Tesco shop, no, do I think someone who got arrested for smoking a joint in the park when they were 16 is a criminal even though its illegal, no I don’t.
Would I shun a sex offender and grass them up absolutely.
If my friend Jane went to prison for stabbing and killing someone who was trying to kill her, is she a criminal imo… no. If she did it in cold blood then yes she would be a criminal.

Google tells me it's only 25%. So that's okay 🤨

It depends on what you mean by criminal, OP. I've broken the law many a few times in minor ways, but do steer clear of people I know to have committed crimes that would attract more than a small fine if prosecuted. And of sex offenders, even though they rarely get punished.

People rarely tell everyone they have a criminal conviction! All the same, Mumsnetters often seem amazingly - erm, naïve if posts here can be believed. They're not suspicious enough where it matters, yet see a benefit cheat on every corner. I'd love to know if the benefit watchers are the same people who never wonder where their kids get their designer gear, how their teacher friends can afford the big house and posh cars, or why their lovely male friend never has a girlfriend or boyfriend ...

Speaking from the whiter than white, moral high ground I can assure you, as far as I’m aware I have only ever met one person in my private/social life who has been convicted of a crime. Even he is in another country and I’ve only met him once and I met him before the event, and no I would not meet him again if the opportunity arose. I have lived in the South East of England, rural East Anglia and now Yorkshire and apart from that one person above the only criminals I’ve met have been, due to work, in Court or Prison, not my private/social life.

I don’t believe I’m either lying or incredibly naïve, unless you count a few parking or other minor traffic infringements as criminal. I have not committed any crimes (or traffic infringements).

I have been saddened by some of the views in the recent Tesco thread; not surprised about them but saddened by the quantity and apparent ratio of them.

OP, it seems obvious you and I will not have a meeting of minds regarding morality but I will watch this thread with interest.

Oh, you asked how we whiter than whites cope in life. Well, in my experience, we just get on with it, obey laws and deal honestly. I also manage to get through life without pearls to clutch 😊 If that sounds prissy or holier than thou – tough.

Well, I ain't bleedin' common!

I've got 6 'A' levels and 2 degrees - and I paid good money for them certificates. I got them from Abroad (that's a different country, not a lady, in case you're wondering). They send 'em in the post.

One third of men have a criminal record. WHAT???

I can't imagine anyone has never broken a law if you include things like underage drinking and exceeding the speed limit. There are degrees to anything.

One third of British men have a criminal record.
So if you know three men.....

12.6m people have a criminal record, but it’s very skewed towards men. So c.33% of men and 9% of women.

common as muck... misses point of thread

The stats say that something like 30% of men in the UK have a criminal record excluding motoring offences(!)

I mean telling someone they should correct their Tesco bill is a bit different to shunning family/friends in real life, isn't it? 😳

Particularly as that person would've started a thread asking what people thought.

No idea how/why you know so many criminals though 😁

I don’t believe there’s a single person where I’m from that doesn’t either know or have a relation to a criminal in some way

Do you live in Albert Square?