To think that it is not acceptable to steal under any circumstances?

[electra]

Recently when I visited a friend of mine he had a very nice, expensive looking clock on his wall. He told me that he had stolen it when drunk - it had been delivered to a shop but was outside in its packaging. I thought this was truly awful but because he was drunk he seems to think that reduces the whole thing to a joke.

He went on to say 'well it's ok to steal to protect your family' er, no it isn't!!

And getting the clock is protecting his family? From being late to see him in Court maybe?

what a twat!

My next door neighbours stole some very nice pot plants from a posh hotel where they'd been to a wedding once.

They were very, very drunk and thought it was hilarious.

The next morning they were mortified at what they had done and asked me to give them a lift to the hotel so they could return them.

(they didn't admit to the theft, they just put them back where they had taken them from and we all drove off very quickly before anyone spotted us!)

I wouldn't feel good about having anything that I had not paid for (unless it was a gift).

there are a very few situations in which I would condone stealing ( monst would involve stealing food/water to preserve life). This is not one of them.

I know it's wrong. I know it's not acceptable.

So why do I find this theft of a clock funny?

It's like yesterday, there was this chap on Dr. Phil, and he was a klepto. There was this list of things he'd stolen rolling along on the screen, and I just laughed and laughed the rest of the day.

Sorry, but in light of my recent giggles, YABU

Ah, but what if someone gave you gift, and later you found out it had been stolen by the giver?

Would you give it back to the shop? Would they honestly believe your pal and not you was the thief? Would you give it back to the giver, who would probably just chuck it in a bin, thus filling the nation's landfills even more and causing environmental damage? Would you shrug and keep it? Or would you just fall out laughing?

What imagine said...

I think your friend has just earned himself a new nickname 'Procrastination'

To steal a clock no its wrong, to steal to feed your family, sorry but I would if I had to.

'I thought this was truly awful but because he was drunk he seems to think that reduces the whole thing to a joke.'

Because well, it sort of is. Are you always this earnest? It's a clock, not someone's life savings.

No, the people who paid for the darn clock weren't drunk - it isn't very funny for them. He ought to have given it back the next day.

And say what?

'Oh, I stole this fucking clock because I was too drunk to steal something that was actually worthwhile?'

C'mon. It's a clock.

these stealing threads really make me laugh. who is really going to come on here and say ooh yes i shoplift all the time - but i am sure some people on her do,loads of mums with buggies steal stuff, i have seen it many times!

I think there are worse things to get worked up about, tbh.

they always make me laugh, too, nany, because peoples' moral compasses seem to be permanently by low pressure.

I walked out of Morrisons with two bottles of cheapo fizzy drinks under my buggy yesterday. I walked to the car and realised I hadn't paid, so I put ds int he car, drove back to the front of the shop, parked really badly and dashed in to pay for them.

They weren't mine, it was embarrassing but it was right. That 80p would have brought me terrible karma anyway

And these threads always dissolve into how righteous everyone is in the face of 'stealing' . . .

Newsflash: there's NO such thing as 'karma'. If there were, all those wanker ass investment bankers who royally fucked over the taxpayer would have been struck by lightning .

expat - it wasn't like a little bedside clock, it looked very expensive too and if I were the shop owner (a little gift shop not a large retailer) I would notice it gone! In any case, that's beside the point really. He is one of those people that seems always to be looking for an opportunity to take something just because he wants something he hasn't had to pay for....I just find it very odd.

I know karma is arguably a myth, Expat. But it works for me - if I have something I know isn't mine, I feel bad and it leads me to do self destructive and punishing things to myself.

So, I just save myself the hassle and return the stuff I inadvertently stole these days.

like the creme de la mer on ebay at £25.00 a jar isn't stolen

Remember the grape thread?

I think HelenBurns has a good understanding of what 'karma' is.

Its not what the outside world will do to you because of what you've done, its what you've done to yourself. Doing something you know is wrong degrades you. Making puerile excuses for your misbehaviour probably makes it worse.

oh no, these threads always end up in moral mud slinging. He was wrong to steal. But, he was also drunk. However, in the cold light of day he could have returned it. I like Squonk's story and he could have done the same. Expat, what had the klepto stolen - I need a giggle !!

'doing something you know is wrong degrades you'

Exactly - this is my point. Isn't that what 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' is about?

I have a friend who is a klepto - addicted 100%. Cannot walk into a shop without stealing something - says "it's just too easy". Does it everywhere - local shop, big chains.

Went on a road trip this summer with them, and after each service station stop, he just produced various things from his sleeve.

I found something quite admirable about it.