Be honest, zero judgment - how often do you steal from supermarket self-checkouts?

[Alwaysthelastone]

My theory is, “decent, up-standing” people do it a lot more than they’d ever admit. Let’s try to stop this thread descending into judgement and criticism of people who are just answering the question honestly. Otherwise they just won’t be honest. No judgement from me, as long as we’re talking large chain supermarkets only. I’ll admit that I sometimes forget to weigh fruit & veg, get to the till and can’t be bothered going back so don’t bother paying. Occasionally in the past when money’s been tight I haven’t paid for a few of the more expensive items like laundry detergent, nappies, the odd bottle of wine. But we’re talking 3 or 4 times I year. I’m not some sort of serial shoplifter and I consider myself a decent person (although I’m sure I’ll swiftly be told I’m not on here 🤣) anyway, would be interested to hear how often the mostly upstanding, middle-class MN population really does it…

eh, never not even a penny sweet as a kid!

Chav

People are angry because, quite apart from being illegal, it breaks the social contract we all need to abide by, in order to live together in a civilised society. We tacitly agree that it’s wrong to deliberately hurt other people, wrong to be unkind to children, wrong to cheat, wrong to steal, because if everyone did those things all our lives would be more miserable. And boasting about it, defending the dishonesty and treating it as a big joke, as OP is doing, makes it worse.

Never

Also never. I hate self checkout anyway.

Okay, so -

You claim the women here who say they never steal are the same ones who bully online. Where is your proof of this? Or is this just a huge assumption you're making in order to reassure yourself that you occupy the moral high ground despite your shoplifting?

You are assuming that the posters responding to you are the same ones responding in the threads asking for help and support. That's another big assumption for which you have no proof.

Isn't it equally if not more likely that posters who have sufficient decency to avoid stealing when they don't need to thieve to survive, would also have sufficient decency to avoid bullying women in trouble or indeed posting anything at all on those threads if they have nothing positive to contribute?

Hear hear!!

Never. Even when we’ve been strapped for money in the past I would have never considered it.

Never that's insane. I shoplifted a pack of sweets when I was 6, dared by a freind. Told my Mum and we went back to the shop to return it.

Bullying is not the same as pointing out when behaviour is pretty scummy. And let's face it, OP came on here to be told what a rebel she is and to be applauded. She's had her arse handed to her, doesn't like it so now it's everyone else's fault for 'bullying,'

It just never really occurs to me. I don't think it's a moral thing, I don't care one bit about the stuff that makes it's way to me free, like when you get an online shop and theres an item you haven't ordered in the box or bag. I'm not giving it back and I feel a little happier for the 'free gift'. Its just not in my head to deliberately steal.
Like if I found a purse in the street with money in it, I'd hand it in or try to find the owner, complete with the cash and cards. I know how devastated I'd be to lose my money so I'd want them to get it back complete. Makes no difference to me if it's a big corp or a little guy, it's just not in my head to do it on purpose.
Why do you think you do it? It's it the dopamine hit, the feeling of getting one over on a big corp, desperation/poverty, or something else?

Never. Has not even occured to me.

Never. Nothing stops me as it wouldn't even enter my head.

Is this where society is now that such a question is considered ok. No wonder some feel so entitled.

What about when they are older, over 18. Will you tell them it’s ok to nick a banana now and then? Would you still have respect for them if you saw them steal? Would you agree if they made the same arguments as in your OP, that everyone does it and it doesn’t hurt anyone? I couldn’t have respect for them and I wouldn’t respect myself if I stole, even if it was worth almost nothing.

What I don’t understand is that there are places you can access if you are short of money like food banks. I also see on my local group regular anonymous posts asking for small top up shop to tide them over for a few days, and there’s actually a lot of people, regulars who are know to the community for being generous who offer to help. People are willing to help others who need genuine help, but those who steal can’t be bothered to ask or they have too much pride, and are taking the lazy way out by stealing.

Ever

Have never knowingly stolen anything in my life. It's not pearl clutching. I just think it's shitty to take things that aren't yours. And I find it strange that others do steal. It's the worst form of entitlement.

never ever!

Well said

Never.

and they’re all on cctv so you will get caught.

Since when has not wanting to break the law = pearl clutching?

See, this is why we need to have a legal system, because many people can't be trusted to do the right thing. Doing the right thing is what holds society together.
Integrity is what you do when no one is watching. I would feel like I'd failed as a parent if I ever found out that one of my children had stolen something, no matter how small or cheap.

Very well articulated

The social contract is already breaking. It’s truly depressing to read about or see people openly take things and walk out knowing security isn’t going to stop them and the police aren’t coming.

OP you are a part of that. Does it make you proud?

Never, I would like to think it is because I have morals but it's mainly because I'm afraid I would be caught!

Never have and never would.
If I cannot afford something I don't buy it until I have saved up.
Have never been really hungry but if I were I'd rather haunt church halls for tea and biccies or get fed at a gurdwara than steal.