If you could get off scot free....

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
How do you reconcile that with your previous statement then?

Evidently I don't constitute a majority.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I wonder how David Floyd would answer?

[Solly]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
I wonder how David Floyd would answer?

Same here = Floydhead?

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
I wonder how David Floyd would answer?

It was actually he what made me think of it.

[Dis]

never. The only possible exception might be stealing from a very rich evil person like Bill Gates (err wait, I already do that ).

[Lazerus]

Yes, will to power and all.

[Arrian]

To answer the original question:

No more than I do now. Yes, I'd pay my taxes.

That's if the question is what would I do if I had total immunity, which is *not* the same thing as absolute power. If I had absolute power, then I'd break no laws because any law I wanted to break, I'd simply change.

-Arrian

[Spec]

If I could do what I want without any consequences, some of you would probably be dead right now.

Spec.

[ajbera]

I think of laws more as guidelines than absolute rules, so I tend to ignore many of them anyway if they run counter to my goals. I also acknowledge society's right to defend itself from my actions so I tread carefully. However, I do have a sense of morality, so I don't believe in doing anything too destructive, or anything that would harm the vulnerable (stealing from a small mom & pop store, f'rinstance.) Age has also mellowed me; while I shoplifted and defrauded often in my youth I'm much less inclined to do so nowadays. Part of it is that I'm now pretty comfortable, partly from laziness, partly from an increased appreciation of societal stability.

If I was certain I would get away with it I would certainly engage in theft, but still pretty much from major organizations that could absorb the loss with relative ease. I'd also engage in some good old Robin Hood style theft. I'd pay some amount in taxes, but less than I do now (I believe we should pay less in taxes anyway); I benefit from the things my tax dollars pay for, so I should support them to some extent.

On my darker days I would also happily end the lives of certain pieces of shit whose absence from this world would be an overall plus. Those who violently prey on or abuse the weak and vulnerable (murderers, child abusers, rapists, woman beaters, animal torturers), although I like to think I would take a higher road and end their lives as quickly and painlessly as possible. Think of Dexter (from the Showtime series) with a greater range of victims and a more merciful method of execution.

Of course, the older I get the lazier I get, so even if I could get of scot free I may not be able to summon sufficient energy to overcome inertia.

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Dis
never. The only possible exception might be stealing from a very rich evil person like Bill Gates (err wait, I already do that ).

That's what I was thinking...something like out of a caper movie. The handsome, charming thief (me) steals from the evil (a) insurance company, (b) casino; (c) billionaire; or (d) corporation. But I could never steal from a mom & pop place; those folks work way too hard.

[ajbera]

Originally posted by Dis
never. The only possible exception might be stealing from a very rich evil person like Bill Gates (err wait, I already do that ).

Why do you consider Gates an evil person? And even of you do define him as evil, of the large amount of rich and evil people in the world, aren't there far more evil people than him that you could steal from? Y'know, tyrants and dictators?

[Dis]

yeah, I was exagerrating. I would steal from some drug cartel leader or something, but I don't think I could live through that.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Who would pay taxes if they didn't have to?

I would (and did).

More accurately, I wouldn't bother cheating, which is what this thread is about: cheating without ill consequences.

[Dis]

I would pay taxes.

Like I said, I'm a good person. Really, I am.

I just wouldn't mind having a little bit more money. Perhaps I'm a communist in that regard. As I want rich people's money. Take this football (soccer) guy Beckham. He is making an incredible amount of money. Who could possibly spend that much? I'll take some of his money.

[Nostromo]

Look what happens with MP3's. People happily steal music, because they can't get caught.

Now imagine what would happen if they sold invisibility rings. Crime would go way up. People would steal actual CD's, clothing, food...