If trapped in absolute poverty, would you turn to crime?
- Thread starter chuckman1
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To preface, I live very comfortably so I don't know how accurate this answer's gonna be but I think yes.
I'd have a hard time doing it, I think, but here's the thing, at some point, prison might be a better life. I'd get three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, a roof over my head...
I'd ride my crime spree as long as I could before I got caught then just throw my hands up and say "Hey, you got me."
I'd have a hard time doing it, I think, but here's the thing, at some point, prison might be a better life. I'd get three meals a day, a bed to sleep in, a roof over my head...
I'd ride my crime spree as long as I could before I got caught then just throw my hands up and say "Hey, you got me."
It is a completely legitimate question; human beings aren't machines. Yes, your brain will tell you what to do; you are in no way bound to listen. We have suicides, we have martyrs. You can choose to decide that some things are more important than continuing to live, and you can act according to those decisions.Sleekit said:
I live in a country with social programs; they're inadequate and underfunded, but they'll keep you alive. I live in a subculture that understands the importance of family, especially in these matters, and I'm lucky enough to have a huge chunk of it still alive. It's quite unlikely I'd wind up in a situation where all of that changed and I was still alive; much less one where "crime" still held any meaning. But assuming it did... Very little. In a society that poor, crime isn't going to be reliable way to put food on the table. Above and beyond the inherent risks, there're going to be times when there's nothing to steal. I've seen what starvation looks like, and can only conclude that a life where you get just enough food to die slower is, if anything worse. I may be willing to run with it myself for a while, chancing that things will get better, but in the long term? There comes a point where you have to simply say that enough's enough; if the only way to stay alive is to lose your humanity, it's probably time to call it a life.
Absolutely, and I have no reservations about saying that either.
As a matter of fact, most people would, whether they admit it or not I'd say.
As a matter of fact, most people would, whether they admit it or not I'd say.
Even though I would love to think of myself a moral person, when push comes to shove, I may do anything to survive. I hate the idea of doing illegal, criminal acts but when a human is put in a certain situation (and even having to take of children) they will do anything or everything for survival .
Americans can look to México (a middle income country) and see how the right mix of poverty, immobility, and corruption can create a criminal problem bordering on civil war. Ive heard it said that the sinaloa cartel employs more than any business in their home state.
The way I've always seen it if you're in a living situation like that because of whatever system you're in, then the crime has already been committed against you. Societies laws exist for a reason, and if they exist to commit violence against you or your loved ones than fuck 'em and take what you need.
Or fight for change. But that's usually a lot harder when your belly is empty and you don't know where you're sleeping tonight.
Or fight for change. But that's usually a lot harder when your belly is empty and you don't know where you're sleeping tonight.
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You know, the sad thing is that if you're homeless and starving you're already committing a crime. It's illegal to be homeless.
So yes, if I was completely destitute I would commit crimes, because my very existence would already be a crime that I could be arrested for.
Crazy to think about right?
So yes, if I was completely destitute I would commit crimes, because my very existence would already be a crime that I could be arrested for.
Crazy to think about right?
I guess he's referring to places in which little provision is made available for the homeless and it is against the law to sleep in the rough or occupy habitable buildings, so the homeless end up falling through the cracks. This also applies to places in which it's made more of a priority to criminalize behaviour like that rather than provide the necessary amenities. Then there are places with death squads, as the other fellow mentioned.Parasondox said:
Death Squads?!? Well Colombia better have a quick fix solution so people don't become homeless in the first place because that's fucking sickening.chuckman1 said:
It is impossible to say, if you are desperate, starving, and with no hope of ever getting out, then I can't say what I would be prepared to do. If I were living in the parts of th world you refer to then the police aren't exactly going to be on my side so it wouldn't be a priority to stick to the law. Otherwise being on the streets and whatever carries with it a load of minor laws I'd be breaking anyway.
Homelessness is already a crime in several parts of Florida (where I live), so whether I help or hurt I'm on the wrong side of the law. Put starvation and thirst in the equation, I'm sure I would be in the darkest side of the criminal underworld in record time.
Depends where you live but in New Zealand there are so many avenues open to those without income that crime is not a choice of necessity here but of malcontent.
If I was in the US I probably would turn to crime after exhausting all avenues of employment.
If I was in the US I probably would turn to crime after exhausting all avenues of employment.
Yah, another from Florida here, who had been homeless at one point. The cops see you walking after a certain hour (or god forbid sleeping somewhere) and you can't show some id they can cross reference to somewhere. You're looking at a ride with them. Usually they write up a fine first so as to have something on record to run down the clock, because if you can't pay it you're in contempt. But It's basically a homeless tax...Kevlar Eater said:
Hard to say... I've been in situations where my food budget has been less than $20 a week (australian), and let me tell you that is a pretty hellish way to live.
I've been on really low incomes many times in my life, and no, it's not made me feel like restoring to crime.
Though it has at times made me do stupid things for the sake of tiny amounts...
Mostly though, it has just made me question why I even bother going on...
I think in all honesty, faced with a situation even worse than the ones I've dealt with at times it feels like I'd just curl up somewhere and wait to die...
I have a hard enough time coping with life even in periods where I'm relatively well off financially...
I've been on really low incomes many times in my life, and no, it's not made me feel like restoring to crime.
Though it has at times made me do stupid things for the sake of tiny amounts...
Mostly though, it has just made me question why I even bother going on...
I think in all honesty, faced with a situation even worse than the ones I've dealt with at times it feels like I'd just curl up somewhere and wait to die...
I have a hard enough time coping with life even in periods where I'm relatively well off financially...
As the need increases (poverty) the perceived risk decreases. At some point most people would consider crimes as low risk and high return.
I'd like to think I still wouldn't. But who really knows what lies in their hearts until they face desperation like that? I've had rough times but I just worked harder. At one point I gave plasma to make some ends meet over a few months. But eventually stuff started coming together and now I've got two houses and a steady income less than a decade away from that. But what if things hadn't turned around? I don't know.
I think it's somewhat beneficial that opportunity to make significant gains diminishes along criminal and poverty lines. This is beneficial because as opportunity increases and the risk of getting caught decreases we find crimes occur a lot more. The problem lies if someone sees a weakness and exploits it (weakness = opportunity). Like a gas station with only a high school attendant or whatever.
But the people that are the best at finding exploits are generally also the people who are able to get work. It's an interesting dynamic.
I'd like to think I still wouldn't. But who really knows what lies in their hearts until they face desperation like that? I've had rough times but I just worked harder. At one point I gave plasma to make some ends meet over a few months. But eventually stuff started coming together and now I've got two houses and a steady income less than a decade away from that. But what if things hadn't turned around? I don't know.
I think it's somewhat beneficial that opportunity to make significant gains diminishes along criminal and poverty lines. This is beneficial because as opportunity increases and the risk of getting caught decreases we find crimes occur a lot more. The problem lies if someone sees a weakness and exploits it (weakness = opportunity). Like a gas station with only a high school attendant or whatever.
But the people that are the best at finding exploits are generally also the people who are able to get work. It's an interesting dynamic.