A moral question for you all

[WhaleSharkBootySweat]

Imagine you go into a really nice small business selling either homewares or food. You pick something up that you really like, but it's the end of the month and you can't really afford it. What is the main reason that stops you from stealing it?

A.) Fear of getting caught, punished, criminal record, shame, losing your job
B.) Sympathy for the small business owner, not wanting them to lose money

Or something else.
For me it's massively more B but then I don't steal from chain stores, so I guess A must come into it then?
I just wonder where these moral decisions we make daily come from. Is it fear of repercussions or genuine moral compass? Why do a third of shoppers steal from self checkouts but wouldn't steal from a cashier at the till?
I think about the idea that if there wasn't law and order, then we would all steal and murder, but I genuinely believe that most of us wouldn't? I mean I've never felt compelled to, but why is that? Empathy?

Neither A or B.

The thought just wouldn't enter my head to steal it.

big store, A small store B.

It's simply not yours to take. I wouldn't be so entitled as to consider taking it.

Well, no. Morals are morals - the basic understanding between right and wrong. Yes, it's up to each individual to 'choose their own morals'... but, if they do this, they probably can't consider themselves to have good morals.

That doesn't really make any sense. What does 'morals are morals' mean? Morals are dependent on culture and era as well as on individuals. It's ridiculous to say that people who choose their own morals can't consider themselves to have good morals. Literally everyone chooses their own morals, by adopting or rejecting those they were brought up with (whether or not they were based on religion). Different things are considered right or wrong in different eras and in different cultures.

This

I grew up in a large poor family on a council estate but with a strict moral code. Anything illegal has no appeal, although I must look dodgy because I regularly get followed by security guards.
SIL looks typically middle class. She lives in a huge house in the SE and has no money worries. We visit fairly often and I always do a huge shop. Alongside she'll do some shopping herself. There is without fail (what I'd consider), a luxury item she won't scan. It's often an expensive plant (around £30). She has no reason to steal. It's never essential, but she does it all the time. She just says it wouldn't scan if stopped. I know she wouldn't steal in any other circumstances. Security don't give her a second glance, perhaps they have a stereotype of what a thief looks like.

I put C:it's wrong right at the beginning of this thread. Coming back and reading the comments, I've thought about it some more and I suppose my full(er) answer would be
C: because I try to live my life according to the basic principle of 'do as you would be done by'. I believe that it would be wrong to deprive someone else of their property unless I would also be happy to have someone else take all my worldly goods if they felt like it.

Absolutely this.

I'm an atheist and it's the most basic of moral tenets that one does not steal. From anyone, whatever the size of their business.

One thing I notice on MN is if you say you wont steal or won't have an affair or won't speed, people call you sanctimonious!

Two of those I won't do, I have got a heavy right foot though.

@KinooOrKinog

I've never taken a carrier bag without paying for it. That's still stealing.

I've never stolen anything in my life, not even when I was really struggling as a single mum, having to cut up chicken nuggets to feed my DDs.

Regarding the starving baby case, you can say it's right to steal the bread while still insisting that stealing is wrong. There's a theory called moral pluralism, which says that most actions have moral pluses and minuses. It's like if you're choosing a car. Car A might be fast and look beautiful, whereas car B might be cheaper and more comfortable. So whichever one is the right option, it won't be right in every respect. Similarly, even if it's right overall to steal bread to save a child's life, there might be something wrong with it, because it's stealing.

Or C - society, as a system, is only able to function because (almost) everybody agrees to abide by a common set of rules. The more those rules are ignored, the more society breaks down and everyone suffers.

I don't want to play a part in those consequences, so I don't steal.

Wouldn’t cross my mind to steal it if I couldn’t afford it.

I try to live my life by just doing the right thing, even if no one is looking, even if no one gets hurt. Just do the right thing.

What is moral about it? Stealing is wrong no matter how you dress it up

Disgusting post!
Just don’t steal!!!!
No matter the size of business!
You work so have money.
You like these things, you’re not dying, not desperate! Why is it even crossing your mind.
Even a large business started small and people have worked hard to have what they have built up.
Have you ever worked in a shop and know how hard people work?!!!!
It makes me so angry that this attitude exists.
JUST DONT STEAL.
This is why the world is so bad. Some people so selfish. I want so I will have attitude.
Things don’t make you happy.
😡😡😡😡😡😡

It's just something I wouldn't do. Been brought up to know stealing is wrong. Whether it's a small retailer or global business.

It just goes against the grain for me to steal. Even if I was assured I’d get away with it I just wouldn’t do it even when I’ve not had two pennies to rub together.

Stealing is wrong… simple.

This isn't a moral dilemma. There is no dilemma at all - I don't buy things I can't afford and I don't steal. No dilemma.

I think it's interesting to consider whether we do have an innate morality. I'm a Christian and believe that God has put certain moral standards in our hearts. Whether you believe in God or not, I think we all have an innate sense of morality for the bigger things like stealing, murder etc. The smaller ethical issues sometimes needs more thought to figure out what to do. I feel that God guides me in these decisions. But I don't always get it right.

I couldn't steal, for example, because my inner voice would be screaming at me that it is wrong and I would have a horrible feeling inside. I wouldn't feel at peace until I put it right.

Wouldn't even occur to me to steal it. It wouldn't even cross my mind. It's called conscience and it's usually instilled and developed during childhood. Kindly discipline from outside, via family and other responsible adults, becomes internalised as self-discipline.

Ffs. Mumsnet is getting worse every day. Very weird thread.