To wonder which other laws you would break.

[StatisticalSense]

Considering half of this site seems to be completely happy with breaking Covid related laws which other laws do you think shouldn't apply to you?
Is a TV licence too expensive and therefore optional? Should seatbelts be compulsory? Is it ever acceptable to take something without paying? Is assault acceptable in certain circumstances?

I’ve dabbled with a line or two of coke, popped a few Es, has sex at 14, caught speeding!

@housemdwaswrong

I'll happily break loads seen as you asked. 20mph limit on a rural road because of a school, I never do 20 on the weekend on school holidays.

Make uturns where not allowed if the road is empty.

I've driven without tax when I was waiting for pay to come in the next week but still had to work.

I've drunk underage in pubs and bought fags underage too.

I've opened someone else's mail.

Would I assault someone? Yep, if it was a choice between them or me and a loved one. I haven't but I would. If someone came towards me looking to stab me would I kill them? Yes, if I could.

And I'd break the covid laws too if I wanted to. You have no idea about my life but you'd judge anyway. Not everything is black and white, context is everything.

Yup.

OP I agree that we need to be sensible. However, heavy handed state power is never a good thing to go unquestioned.

@Gingerkittykat

Neeeee, naaaawwwww. The self righteous covid police are out in force again.

Let's play a game of when would you report your neighbour.

When they have their elderly parents round?
An illegal rave?
They have a coffee with someone in the garden?
They test positive and go round licking door handles and letterboxes?
They watch Eastenders without a TV license?

This really made me LOL 😂

I suspect quite a lot of us have broken other laws...

I've broken the speed limits many times on A roads and motorways. When I was a student I frequently travelled on the train without a ticket. I've smoked weed. I met someone inside Cafe Nero for a coffee today and had my PILs in our hallway for 5 minutes a week ago.

Oh, also I had two fights at school so technically battery or ABH. I used to swap the prices on things before barcodes existed when my Great Aunt sent me to the shop and spend the resulting profit on sweets. I stole my cousin's goldfish (but freaked out once I realised it couldn't breathe so only made it as far as the bathroom sink). I've stolen loose change from my Stepdad's coat pocket.

@TheLightSideOfTheMoon

I have weed in my spice rack.

I once (accidently) stole an umbrella. I took it back, but it still counts as a crime.

I can assuage your guilt about the umbrella.

Since you took it back it means that you didn't have the 'intention to permanently deprive' the owner of it and hence it does not count as theft under the legal definition.

You're welcome

I had a letter from the police the other week because I ordered sleeping tabs online and they were intercepted by border control. Scariest thing that's ever happened to me. No further action being taken though thank god. Was picturing myself in the slammer.

I think that perhaps people can’t fathom which things are laws and which are guidelines. I certainly can’t. Plus we have public government figures breaking the laws/guidelines, lying about it and getting away with it. Basically showing us that there aren’t any consequences.

I work with people who have been in prison. There's a school of thought in my industry, one that many people I work with subscribe to, that we shouldn't call our client group 'offenders' because technically everyone is an offender. Stole a pen/envelope etc from work? Cycling in the pavement, drank alcohol under the age of 18, not told a shop you'd been undercharged, been drunk

I'm a key worker and can't be furloughed. I'm working Christmas Eve. So my kids will go to my parent's for childcare.

And yet we can't see them the next day? No-one in our family has seen anyone else since my eldest broke up from school on Friday I didn't see that were at any more risk on Christmas Day than we were on Christmas Eve.

that we shouldn't call our client group 'offenders' because technically everyone is an offender

That’s interesting...what do they want them to be called?

That’s interesting...what do they want them to be called?

Usually we'd say 'service users', or perhaps clients. Sometimes we may talk about a 'case', depending on context. Occasionally maybe inmate/prisoner is used for someone who's still inside. But that's becoming less common in my workplace I would say.

@ExasperatedwithTerribleTwos

That’s interesting...what do they want them to be called?

Usually we'd say 'service users', or perhaps clients. Sometimes we may talk about a 'case', depending on context. Occasionally maybe inmate/prisoner is used for someone who's still inside. But that's becoming less common in my workplace I would say.

"Criminals" seems to fit quite well. It's linguistically and legally accurate and serves to separate someone who has been charged and found guilty by the legal process from someone who hasn't.

And before anyone jumps in about how it must hurt the feelings of criminals and their fans, I'd suggest that's rather the fucking point.

I don't have a TV license because I don't need it.
Someone sent me an illegal download of a game - I intend to play it and not delete it.
I do have some weed hidden in a candle (it's been there for months, but might be an Xmas indulgence).
I have regularly driven over the speed limit on the motorway.

Was it stealing if you took one of those old Argos pens? I don't know anyone who isn't guilty of that.

And as it happens, I'm actually not breaking any COVID roolz nor will I even be seeing anyone other than my support bubble (who is also my childcare bubble).

Thank you exasperated

I mean if we were differentiating between offenders who got caught and those who didnt ....unlucky? Incompetent?

But thats honestly very interesting

"Lying to the police"
That is not a crime, ever.

That was a reply to @covidaintacrime.

I've broken loads of laws. Many of the ones listed here and I've bribed the armed forces. Jeez, I'm breaking the law at the minute, I've 6 cannabis chocolates in a teapot in my kitchen.

I haven't murdered anybody yet, so it's all good.

Having thought about it, I dont know anyone who hasn't broken a law, not even DS2(3yo) who's a right Artful Dodger.🙈

In fact, here are 4 more things that aren't crimes:
1 Trespass
2 Resisting Arrest
3 Underage drinking in private ( not licensed premises)
4 Covertly Recording conversations.

@DioneTheDiabolist

Having thought about it, I dont know anyone who hasn't broken a law, not even DS2(3yo) who's a right Artful Dodger.🙈

A very long time ago we had a tie-breaker at a work event and they asked everyone to go one side of the room if they'd ever broken the law and the other side if they hadn't. All but one person admitted they'd broken the law, that one person swore that she had not.

That evening, I drove part of the way home behind her as we lived in the same direction. She definitely drove above 30mph in a 30 limit. I doubt it was the first time!

@Brahumbug

"Lying to the police" That is not a crime, ever.

The offences of perverting the course of justice, or obstruction beg to differ.

All but one person admitted they'd broken the law, that one person swore that she had not.

Oooh, they're normally the worst. I bet shes a whole room of stolen cheese, office supplies and Hummel figurines at her house @cologne4711.

I think it’s also law that boys have to meet every Sunday at the local cricket pitch, or it used to be law I remember my teacher telling us.

Have you ever thrown a sickie OP when you've not really been unwell?
If so that's theft.