What is the most harmless "crime"?

[mdwh]

Careful with that. I don't think a pair of sixteen-year-olds doing the nasty should count as child porn, but production of child porn featuring actual "children" is certainly not harmless.

Well obviously I don't think that production of actual child porn is okay... it's those specific cases that I picked out (fake rather than actual; and a case where the person is legally able to consent and clearly did consent). I was trying to get people to think a bit more, rather than just sticking to completely trivial crimes

 

[amadeus]

(Oh dear! I'm now breaking the law! )

Actually, you're not. The tags are there because federal law requires that all stuffed pieces of upholstry, mattresses, etc. have a description of the fabric and filling. These descriptions usually come on, of course, little tags. Once you buy it, you can do whatever you want with it.

 

[Firstlady]

Ahh!! The second I saw this thread the first thing I thought was jaywalking and then I skimmed through the posts and a bunch of you have already mentioned it.

 

[GenMarshall]

White Collar crime is too difficult to classify as harmless.

 

[Bluemofia]

Jaywalking.

Tis very fun. Dodging traffic... Watching the people following you do so, and the ones not paying attention being idiots and running when cars are thickest, etc.

Good times, good times.

 

[LucyDuke]

Well obviously I don't think that production of actual child porn is okay... it's those specific cases that I picked out (fake rather than actual; and a case where the person is legally able to consent and clearly did consent). I was trying to get people to think a bit more, rather than just sticking to completely trivial crimes

I thought so, just figured it was something worth specifying. People will jump on you crazy-like if they misinterpret that.

 

[Shaihulud]

Jaywalking

 

[mdwh]

I thought so, just figured it was something worth specifying. People will jump on you crazy-like if they misinterpret that.

That's okay, and yes, it is true that people will jump like crazy if they misinterpret (or in some cases, even if they don't), it's so much a taboo that it means that discussion vaguely related is often stifled.

 

[Dann]

Bigamy/polygamy/maintaining a harem.

What's wrong with an alpha male doing what comes naturally? It's what ancient people have been doing for millenia.

 

[JollyRoger]

Jaywalking.

Those saying software piracy are being anti-capitalist - not wanting someone to be compensated for their work. If you don't want want to pay the price, live without it.

 

[mdwh]

Bigamy/polygamy/maintaining a harem.

What's wrong with an alpha male doing what comes naturally? It's what ancient people have been doing for millenia.

Or indeed women, there are many of them with multiple partners too (although I don't know of cases of them trying to marry, i.e., commit polygamy).

 

[mdwh]

Jaywalking.

Those saying software piracy are being anti-capitalist - not wanting someone to be compensated for their work. If you don't want want to pay the price, live without it.

I don't think so, no more than you're being "anti-road" by saying jaywalking.

The question is about harm, not "rights" - people may believe that copying doesn't harm, if they weren't going to buy anyway, or that lost revenue may be made up by extra sales from increased awareness. Whether they have a right to be paid for every copy or not is a separate issue.

Also one may believe that information should not be treated like property - that's not anti-capitalist in the slightest - indeed, if we're going to label people, I could label you as being pro-socialist, because you think that the state should invent a system to make sure that artists get paid who aren't able to do so in a laissez-faire capitalist society...

 

[JollyRoger]

Also one may believe that information should not be treated like property - that's not anti-capitalist in the slightest - indeed, if we're going to label people, I could label you as being pro-socialist, because you think that the state should invent a system to make sure that artists get paid who aren't able to do so in a laissez-faire capitalist society...

Intellectual property rights are in the United States Constitution - do you consider that a pro-socialist document? The Founding Fathers recognized them as property rights. With software, it generally takes a lot of work to get a functioning & marketable product. If the price is too high, people won't buy and the price will come down. Those that are pirating are no better than common thieves.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Not shoplifting, that's for sure. People brag about how they are sticking it to the man - as though the company just frets and fumes and pulls their hair, rather than making up the difference by raising prices. Oops!

 

[Maimonides]

This is a tough one. Jaywalking can lead to death & pedestrians infringing on my right to drive 50 miles an hour over the speed limit.

I guess I have to call it a tie between underage drinking & marijuana possession. I know drinking can lead to death also, but societies with no drinking age have much lower rates of alcoholism & other alcohol related problems. Marijuana is harmless.

The question is about harm, not "rights" - people may believe that copying doesn't harm, if they weren't going to buy anyway, or that lost revenue may be made up by extra sales from increased awareness.

This should be a decision made by the creator or owner, not the thief.

Also one may believe that information should not be treated like property

??? Information is the most valuable commodity on the planet.

I could label you as being pro-socialist, because you think that the state should invent a system to make sure that artists get paid who aren't able to do so in a laissez-faire capitalist society...

I don't think that theft is a Left wing or Right wing issue. No matter what side of the political spectrum you are on, theft is a problem. Even anarchists don't like their stuff to be stolen.

Not shoplifting, that's for sure. People brag about how they are sticking it to the man - as though the company just frets and fumes and pulls their hair, rather than making up the difference by raising prices. Oops!

I fume & then I raise my prices to pay for the loss. As I think you are saying, thieves hurt everyone including themselves.

 

[Tykinruoka]

Not keeping your dog in a leash.

 

[Maimonides]

Not keeping your dog in a leash.

Even if it's a rabid pit bull?

 

[Tykinruoka]

Even if it's a rabid pit bull?

It's not a dog, it's a monster. Who'd keep one as a pet anyway?

 

[Godwynn]

Gay Marriage

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Are there actually laws against that?