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Tempted to Commit Thievery?

MACDRIVE

MACDRIVE

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Feb 17, 2006
1,695
3
Clovis, California
If you knew ahead of time that the Apple store was not going to have their alarm set that night and the risk of stealing a MacBook was absolutely minimal, would you do it? Could you live with yourself afterwards, or would you be overwhelmed with guilt?
 
The third stage of moral development involves avoiding the wrong because it is wrong, not because there is a chance of being caught. No, I wouldn't steal the laptops but I'd probably sneak in and repair their permissions. :eek:
 
Would I steal from an Apple Store? Probably not. So far all my experiences with Apple have been positive. I don't feel I'm paying for a product or service that isn't worth the amount they charge. Then again, if I was one of those 10 year olds in China who make their iPods for a pittance a day, then I'd have no moral qualm whatsoever.

On the other hand, I'd have no problem stealing from Sony. They took over a £1000 from me for a very crappy laptop that only just outlasted its warranty.
 
mad jew said:
The third stage of moral development involves avoiding the wrong because it is wrong, not because there is a chance of being caught. No, I wouldn't steal the laptops but I'd probably sneak in and repair their permissions. :eek:
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And it's a shame that many people get stuck on that second stage of moral development.
 
I saw someone once nick a TV from Dixons. Was on display in the front of the shop and a bloke looking at it a few feet from me and my girl just grabs it and legs it, big 23" CRT as well.

The big fat butterball security guard at the door ran after him but was out of puff by the time he had turned round and the guy got away accross the carpark and into a waiting car. Was pretty funny actually hearing the SG panting into his radio after only running for a few feet :)

But, on the flip side, after having someone try to break into my house last year while I was asleep upstairs, it isn't a funny mater. Shuck me up for weeks that did!
 
MACDRIVE said:
If you knew ahead of time that the Apple store was not going to have their alarm set that night and the risk of stealing a MacBook was absolutely minimal, would you do it? Could you live with yourself afterwards, or would you be overwhelmed with guilt?
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Depends on a million things, like how desperate I am, why I'm desparate, how spiteful I'm feeling, whether I could displace blame onto someone who started a thread about stealing Macbooks on a Googleable forum, etc.
 
If I was ever to commit a crime, it would not be for a few thousand dollars worth of computer gear.

Plus I would just have to keep repeating the act after every keynote.
 
Why set your sights on one?

If you're going to do the deed, you need to do it right. But I wouldn't take anything from the Apple Store.

I'd feel less guilty about something like this, though....

D :D
 
Mr. Anderson said:
Why set your sights on one?

If you're going to do the deed, you need to do it right. But I wouldn't take anything from the Apple Store.

I'd feel less guilty about something like this, though....

D :D
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do you think those employees kept their job? :)
 
63dot said:
do you think those employees kept their job? :)
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You know i always think about that when i get incorrect change at a fast food place or retail outlet. I once had a Taco Hell cashier give me change for a 20 when i only gave her a 10, i actually parked, went in the store, and gave her back the overage amount. I couldnt keep it as i am sure they count the money in the register and i felt bad for the cashier.

Ed
 
AndyR said:
I saw someone once nick a TV from Dixons. ...my girl just grabs it and legs it, big 23" CRT as well.
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Read that entirely wrongly at first!

But no, I wouldn't. Everytime I looked at it/used it thereafter, I'd feel guilty. :(

Not to mention that I'm sure it would be tagged as stolen so if it ever broke, you'd be nabbed when you took it in for repair...
 
Applespider said:
Not to mention that I'm sure it would be tagged as stolen so if it ever broke, you'd be nabbed when you took it in for repair...
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Excellent point. We are talking MacBooks after all :D

Is there an option to flood PC World or perhaps even burn it down whilst making your getaway?
 
Nah, couldn't steal their computers or monitors.


The most I'd do is walk in with my portable harddisk and "pirate" the music and some software from the demo computers. Out of habit, I'd probably end up taking Windows XP and a version of Office. ;)
 
Depending on how one defines "stealing," the interpretations and moral views on it will vary greatly.

Since I would define stealing as "Unfairly taking a thing, or additional amounts of things, unecessiarly for your own gain while desregarding the affect it has on who you're taking it from," then I would think of the prices for Apple monitors and say Apple is stealing from us.

With that in mind, I'd say walking out with something is fair game.

(Not saying I steal from any store or encourage it, but since the question is hypothetical, the answer must be as well)
 
Josh said:
Depending on how one defines "stealing," the interpretations and moral views on it will vary greatly.

Since I would define stealing as "Unfairly taking a thing, or additional amounts of things, unecessiarly for your own gain while desregarding the affect it has on who you're taking it from," then I would think of the prices for Apple monitors and say Apple is stealing from us.

With that in mind, I'd say walking out with something is fair game.
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That's the worst example of reasoning ever. In human history.
 
i already have everything i need/want. why bother risking it. also, you said there was minimal risk, not a nonexistant risk, so there is a chance i could get caught and i don't like that. even so, since i'm content with my current machines, i'd pass.
 
Abstract said:
That's the worst example of reasoning ever. In human history.
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Agreed. Apple charging a lot for their products can't be called stealing because we voluntarily give them the requested amount of money in exchange for their products. Now, if Apple came into your house in the middle of the night, stole $1999.00 from you and left a $30 in. display in it's place then maybe you could justify it. But even then... you'd have a 30 in. display...
P.S. No, I wouldn't steal from the Apple Store.
 
Abstract said:
That's the worst example of reasoning ever. In human history.
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Nah, not really.

It's just an Apple fan board, and the reality distortion effect negates the factual evidence of far superior displays offered elsewhere for better prices.
 
Abstract said:
That's the worst example of reasoning ever. In human history.
Click to expand...

Nah, just the worst example of some quite sound reasoning.

A better example would be an unskilled and uneducated destitute worker in the third world or developing world. If all that person can accept is a job working in a sweatshop earning a wage which is barely enough to feed yourself and which does not nearly represent the true value of their labour because all the contractors and sub-contractors have acted to keep wage prices as low as possible, then in that situation I'd accuse the employer of theft of the value of that workers labour.

I guess the moral is that just because on the face of it someone enjoys the liberty to make a free choice, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't be exploited "because if you don't like it you can go elsewhere". The market is cleverer than that. However, I wouldn't really cite Apple charging a few quid more for a display as a sound example of the difference between the substance and form of market relationships :rolleyes:

Sorry to get all Marxist on everyone :eek: :p
 
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