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Why do people steal?

Why do people steal?

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I know the most obvious answer is because they want or need something
but is that all there is to it?

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Originally posted by Thequ1ck
I know the most obvious answer is because they want or need something
but is that all there is to it?
Satan dwells within their hearts.

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Another question from quick that is child-like. The game is getting old.

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People don't steal....guns steal!

GRANNY.

2 edits
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Originally posted by Sam The Sham
Another question from quick that is child-like. The game is getting old.
The next game is afoot already, you must have missed a leg.

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Hasn't anybody ever had anything stolen from them of no monetary value
and great sentiment, just for the sake of it?
Or your last goods taken by someone wealthy enough not to need them?
Or met intelligent people that can make much more money honestly but
preferring to steal.

I think there's much more to the psychology of stealing than greed.

http://www.helium.com/knowledge/8695-reasons-people-steal

edit. Oh oh, I used an -ology in my post, hike to the science forum then.

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Originally posted by Thequ1ck
Hasn't anybody ever had anything stolen from them of no monetary value
and great sentiment, just for the sake of it?
Or your last goods taken by someone wealthy enough not to need them?
Or met intelligent people that can make much more money honestly but
preferring to steal.

I think there's much more to the psychology of stealing than greed.

http: ...[text shortened]... sons-people-steal

edit. Oh oh, I used an -ology in my post, hike to the science forum then.
There are lots of people who are just buttholes and enjoy making others suffer. In online gaming they're called "griefers".

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"With... Without....
And who'd deny it's what the fighting's all about?"---Waters/Wright
'Us and Them'

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Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
Satan dwells within their hearts.
His pr prefers you to refer to him as Lucifer. Apparently it softens his image a bit and reminds everyone of his former job description as angel of light/lord of music.

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Originally posted by Thequ1ck
I know the most obvious answer is because they want or need something
but is that all there is to it?
Because the grass is greener on the other side, because of the I'll have what she's having syndrome, because to be satisfied with what you have might mean actually getting on with life and living, which implies accepting dying, which translates as stealing becomes a way of avoiding your circumstances and instead helps you put off the business of actually living your own life with all its limitations and instead allows you to live in an alternate reality that is only governed by the thrill of the next score. I'm sure if you looked closely enough you would see a strong correlation in personality types between thieves and gamblers

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Originally posted by Thequ1ck
I know the most obvious answer is because they want or need something
but is that all there is to it?
The quick cheap high of "now I have some money, a car, a TV, etc that I didn't have before". There is an evil that walks this world and gets into people's minds and hearts (call it what ever you want). If you had somebody who raised you right, you pass or don't even think about those opportunities that others smile and act upon.

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Originally posted by MontyMoose
If you had somebody who raised you right, you pass or don't even think about those opportunities that others smile and act upon.
Do you really believe that?

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Originally posted by kmax87
Because the grass is greener on the other side, because of the I'll have what she's having syndrome, because to be satisfied with what you have might mean actually getting on with life and living, which implies accepting dying, which translates as stealing becomes a way of avoiding your circumstances and instead helps you put off the business of actually livi ...[text shortened]... y enough you would see a strong correlation in personality types between thieves and gamblers
You almost made some sense there kmax, yep, putting your stinkin thieving hands on other peoples property is a denial of reality.

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Originally posted by Thequ1ck
I know the most obvious answer is because they want or need something
but is that all there is to it?
Hunger.

Indoctrination that material things are important.

Society which dictates that the more you have the better you are.

Kleptomania.

Avoiding a hard days work.

Not wanting to work for the man.

Not wanting the man to profit from your labour.

Wealth (as in the resources the West steals from 3rd world nations, but doesn't call it theft, but free market capitalism).

And last, but not least, just to piss people off!

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Some people get addicted to the adrenalin rush. A gambling addiction of sorts.