A Discussion on Ethics Options

[DoomedOne]

Due to the flame war I started in the Coffee Shop (more like a flame execution) by merely discussing my day, I think it's clear something of this magnitude should be given it's own topic, so here it is.

I'll give some rules:

No flaming and no disrespect. All standard forum rules hold here. This is a thread for people's personal discussions on ethics and justification for their actions. I know people can feel very strongly about these sorts of things but no one has the right to insult or attack people instead of their ideas. Also, for those being attacked, remember don't mistake an attack on your ideas as an attack on you.

So this was spawned due to this idea: Is there any justification in stealing?

[DoomedOne]

Dantrag, that is interesting, but the funny thing is I have a very strong conscience. One time in my life I stole from a friend of mine and I couldn't even talk to him until I paid him back in full, I was so ashamed. It's not common sense, for me, I don't know where it stems from but I'm practically in tears every time I hear about the new corruption being dealt out in places all around the planet. Funny thing though, when I was like 12 and I heard about how the manager of this store in my home-town submitted lies about the local, independent grocery store to the newspaper, I stole from that supermarket and I wasn't so ashamed that I went back an returned it in tears, as I did with an action figure I pocketed from another store years ago. I was over joyed, I felt like all I could do was just boycott that place and take what I wanted, and I did. So theft is not something I came to terms with over time, it's something I still believe is wrong in most circumstances. And who get's hurt? Not the employees or the consumers, really just the managers, because if it happens too often they get replaced, and the company itself because they're losing profit. No, by stealing I don't fight on the side of justice but I'm a multifaceted person and stealing is not what I'm about at all. I just happen to know how to live for free so I do. The most you could call me is a leech, but sometimes it seems like the more moral decision than to be apart of modern economics.

So, in short, I go by what my feelings tell me. I've tried to rationalize them in the past but I always fall short. All I can say is I live outside the commonly accepted beliefs of what's right and wrong, and especially so outside the law.