Well unless it's some serious law they're breaking and somebody is going to be harmed, sure then, call the cops. I have a feeling this is marijuana related. So no, if I was walking by a house and happened to see through the window a fellow enjoying a nice bowl? No I wouldn't report it cause I like to partake in the consumption of illegal cannibus every now and then and the only person i'm 'harming' is myself.
How closely do you adhere to the law?
- Thread starter Lord Garnaat
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If I consider the law itself to be stupid then I have no moral objections to breaking it. Whether or not I would actually break it depends on severity of punishment and my chances of being caught.
As to reporting other people for law breaking, It depends on which law they break. If my neighbor was a known child molester, then I'd sure as hell report it. If however they illegally downloaded 2 or 3 songs, I couldn't care less.
As to reporting other people for law breaking, It depends on which law they break. If my neighbor was a known child molester, then I'd sure as hell report it. If however they illegally downloaded 2 or 3 songs, I couldn't care less.
I hold pretty much the opposite opinion to what's stated in the OP...
I see the law as a necessary way to incentivise morality for those who would not otherwise adhere to it. It stops bad people from going around murdering others or whatever by making it so that doing so would lead to bad consequences, but if you have a conscience you don't really have to acknowledge the law at all, as it ideally shouldn't get in the way in the first place.
Basically, I don't obey the law, I obey my own sense of right and wrong. Luckily that just so happens to fit me nicely within the bounds of the law anyway, but if there ever came a time when the morally correct choice was also against the law, I'd choose to do the moral thing.
I see the law as a necessary way to incentivise morality for those who would not otherwise adhere to it. It stops bad people from going around murdering others or whatever by making it so that doing so would lead to bad consequences, but if you have a conscience you don't really have to acknowledge the law at all, as it ideally shouldn't get in the way in the first place.
Basically, I don't obey the law, I obey my own sense of right and wrong. Luckily that just so happens to fit me nicely within the bounds of the law anyway, but if there ever came a time when the morally correct choice was also against the law, I'd choose to do the moral thing.
Both you and the poster you quoted seem to misunderstand what speed limits are for.It has NOTHING to do with how well you can control your car. It's all about how likely you'll need to stop and the amount of time you'll need to do so. That's why highways are 70+ (no lights or pedestrians, just the occasional idiot) and residentials are 25 (kids playing in or near the street)winginson said:
OT I abide by laws for the most part, but occasionally i'll go 5 over the limit, or jaywalk across an empty street. Not proud of it, but sometimes i just don't care.
This pretty much sums everything up.Imperator_DK said:
I follow the law closely, but that's because most of the time I agree with the law. I do not commit murders, not because it's illegal, but because I have been taught that it's wrong and I don't have an inclination to do so. I don't steal for the same reason. If there had been a law that I had expose of people being gay I would probably break that if I could get away with it.
I usually speed when I'm behind the wheel (but then again I'd be weird if I wasn't speeding).
In my country the speed-limit on country roads are 80km/h but traffic usually runs at speeds varying from 87km/h to 105km/h. Then there's the moral-highground buggers who stick to 75km/h on country roads and THEN begin to speed at 65km/h in towns (legal speed is 50km/h).
In my country the speed-limit on country roads are 80km/h but traffic usually runs at speeds varying from 87km/h to 105km/h. Then there's the moral-highground buggers who stick to 75km/h on country roads and THEN begin to speed at 65km/h in towns (legal speed is 50km/h).
Did I end up in a long and entertaining conversation about that on the bus to Wacken.Imperator_DK said:
OT: Not all that closely. I speed all the time because it's fun, but other than that I don't break that many laws. Well I do take part in underage drinking.
There is always a victim, when you commit a crime society and everything it stands for is victimized by those unlawful actions.Alleged_Alec said:
Because consensual sex between two minors (statutory rape) really victimizes society, doesn't it? And loitering really should be punished. How dare those people stand around public places? And prostitution really victimizes society, doesn't it?JeffBergGold said:
This is one of the reasons I do not think the current justice system works. Especially when you adhere solely to the letter to the law, innocent people get hurt.
I personally uh would never break any law nope.
Never jay walked, never drank before my 21th birthday, never tried a cigarette under the age of 18, I'm just societies little bastion of hope.
/ok im not totally serious
I drank before my 21st birthday, I tried cigarettes before my 18th, I tried weed, I've jay walked, I was in the car with more than one other teen in my teen years, aren't I just the lucifer incarnate?
I have never actually reported anybody to the law when I was a young child I had told teachers but I learned I usually didn't support that.
I would NEVER report a victimless crime (Prostitution, drug use/dealing, etc)
And I have never been tempted to report a thief despite there actually being a victim they usually are very poor and don't have many other options.
Never jay walked, never drank before my 21th birthday, never tried a cigarette under the age of 18, I'm just societies little bastion of hope.
/ok im not totally serious
I drank before my 21st birthday, I tried cigarettes before my 18th, I tried weed, I've jay walked, I was in the car with more than one other teen in my teen years, aren't I just the lucifer incarnate?
I have never actually reported anybody to the law when I was a young child I had told teachers but I learned I usually didn't support that.
I would NEVER report a victimless crime (Prostitution, drug use/dealing, etc)
And I have never been tempted to report a thief despite there actually being a victim they usually are very poor and don't have many other options.
*Repeats law=/=ethics speech*
The way i see it, the law is a really firm set of guidelines, they should have some give with lesser crimes / no real harm, no real crime etc.
J-Walking i never really got, i don't think we have that one in England, but it just seems pointless.
There are a lot of victimless crime, and a lot that are redundant. (i'm looking at you pr0n laws, i can have sex before i can watch it eh?)
When i was little i laughed in the face of age restrictions. (Bad-ass i know)
I drank before i was legally allowed too.
I often explored half broke buildings technically still owned by people.
And now that I'm an adult, I downloaded a few old games that I technically owned but whose disks didn't work. I've probably infringed copyright laws a few times, but only when i felt i was justified to do so, although this isn't the thread for a piracy debate, we probably have enough of those.
Generally i break the law when there's a good reason and there's no real victim or harm to said victim, or when i feel that the law is the thing that is the victimizing force.
The way i see it, the law is a really firm set of guidelines, they should have some give with lesser crimes / no real harm, no real crime etc.
J-Walking i never really got, i don't think we have that one in England, but it just seems pointless.
There are a lot of victimless crime, and a lot that are redundant. (i'm looking at you pr0n laws, i can have sex before i can watch it eh?)
When i was little i laughed in the face of age restrictions. (Bad-ass i know)
I drank before i was legally allowed too.
I often explored half broke buildings technically still owned by people.
And now that I'm an adult, I downloaded a few old games that I technically owned but whose disks didn't work. I've probably infringed copyright laws a few times, but only when i felt i was justified to do so, although this isn't the thread for a piracy debate, we probably have enough of those.
Generally i break the law when there's a good reason and there's no real victim or harm to said victim, or when i feel that the law is the thing that is the victimizing force.
Well now let's see;
Speeding offences - 140mph in a 70 zone - check
Driving without insurance - check
Driving without an mot - check
Driving a car without permission - check (technically)
Failure to stop at an accident - check (accidental)
Driving with out due care and attention - check
Driving whilst under the influence of alcohol - check
Driving whilst under the influence of drugs - check
Dangerous driving - check
Traffic violations - check
Sex with a minor - check
Voyeurism - check
Sexual harassment - check (apparently)
Indecent exposure - check
Lewd and illicit behaviour in public - check
Sex in a public place - check
Drunk and disorderly - check
Underage alcohol purchasing - check
Drinking in a public place - check
Providing alcohol to a minor - check
Underage tobacco purchasing - check
Providing tobacco to a minor - check
Breaking a public smoking ban - check
Public order offences - check
Loitering - check
Threatning behaviour - check
Wasting police time - check
Lying to a police officer - check
Verbal assault to a police officer - check
Carrying a lethal weapon in public - check (apparently)
Assault and Battery - check (self defence)
Copyright infringement - check
Hacking email account - check
Online harassment - check
Tax record fraud - check
Insurance fraud - check
Shoplifting - check (accidental)
Theft from a workplace - check
Arson - check
Possession of class c drugs - check
Conspiracy to sell class c drugs - check
Distribution and sale of class c drugs - check
Jay walking - check
Illegal purchase of fireworks - check
Dangerous use of fireworks - check
Conspiracy to commit fraud - check
Conspiracy commit theft - check
Attempted theft - check
Okay that about sums up the list of offences somebody I know as committed. Now the real question is... How much of a law abiding citizen is this guy or does this represent pretty much the criminal resume of most teenage/early 20's male?
Also, some of the more eyebrow raising entries do have reasons and excuses. This is just an in the eyes of the law account. Oh and they were never caught/prosecuted for any of this.
Speeding offences - 140mph in a 70 zone - check
Driving without insurance - check
Driving without an mot - check
Driving a car without permission - check (technically)
Failure to stop at an accident - check (accidental)
Driving with out due care and attention - check
Driving whilst under the influence of alcohol - check
Driving whilst under the influence of drugs - check
Dangerous driving - check
Traffic violations - check
Sex with a minor - check
Voyeurism - check
Sexual harassment - check (apparently)
Indecent exposure - check
Lewd and illicit behaviour in public - check
Sex in a public place - check
Drunk and disorderly - check
Underage alcohol purchasing - check
Drinking in a public place - check
Providing alcohol to a minor - check
Underage tobacco purchasing - check
Providing tobacco to a minor - check
Breaking a public smoking ban - check
Public order offences - check
Loitering - check
Threatning behaviour - check
Wasting police time - check
Lying to a police officer - check
Verbal assault to a police officer - check
Carrying a lethal weapon in public - check (apparently)
Assault and Battery - check (self defence)
Copyright infringement - check
Hacking email account - check
Online harassment - check
Tax record fraud - check
Insurance fraud - check
Shoplifting - check (accidental)
Theft from a workplace - check
Arson - check
Possession of class c drugs - check
Conspiracy to sell class c drugs - check
Distribution and sale of class c drugs - check
Jay walking - check
Illegal purchase of fireworks - check
Dangerous use of fireworks - check
Conspiracy to commit fraud - check
Conspiracy commit theft - check
Attempted theft - check
Okay that about sums up the list of offences somebody I know as committed. Now the real question is... How much of a law abiding citizen is this guy or does this represent pretty much the criminal resume of most teenage/early 20's male?
Also, some of the more eyebrow raising entries do have reasons and excuses. This is just an in the eyes of the law account. Oh and they were never caught/prosecuted for any of this.
I'm lawful-good by nature.
Despite that, I've broken several laws that would apply to a great many people my age (not that it makes things right).
Namely petty things like J-Walking, biking in incorrect zones (the sidewalk, gasp!).
Ares Lite provided me with music and movies for almost a decade as well.
I always had respect for the gaming industry though. Could never bring myself to pirate a game. Go figure.
Despite that, I've broken several laws that would apply to a great many people my age (not that it makes things right).
Namely petty things like J-Walking, biking in incorrect zones (the sidewalk, gasp!).
Ares Lite provided me with music and movies for almost a decade as well.
I always had respect for the gaming industry though. Could never bring myself to pirate a game. Go figure.