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Comment by mc32 | Hacker News Reader

>"The people committing this level of crime do need the income this theft generates to survive."

Later on I knew people who stole electronics --not as juveniles any more. It was just easy money for a night's work. They didn't have to put in 40. Didn't have a foreman. They'd brag about how easy it was...

So, I don't believe they have not alternative but this. It may be an "easier" option compared to other options, but it's not their last option. No. People in the Eastern block had less purchasing power than a poor person in the US. They did not have a culture of thievery. One, they were not a consumerist society and two, they would give no quarter to thieves.

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So you think the people you knew growing up represent all people committing crimes?

That's a great way to ignore the problems of people not like you.

I'm sure you'll change your story to further illustrate how evil you think these people are, but the reality is they're not evil, and they don't really have other options, regardless of what went down in your world when you were younger.

We seem to discount their lived experience. Perhaps it might help if you shared your experience? Do you happen to know some of the people involved in these incidents?

If I thought it was relevant I’d share, however it isn’t relevant who I am or what my anecdotes are, so instead I’ll point out your distraction as just that; a distraction from the real problem here, which is inequity.

No matter how many times you say otherwise, people would rather not steal. Fix their circumstances, fix their behavior. If you actually cared about solving the problem, you’d care about helping these people.

But no. For you, this is about petty vindictive retribution. Your inability to empathize with someone not like you creates a cycle of hate that’s self perpetuating, further exacerbating the problem rather than being effective in finding a lasting solution.

There are definitely some people who would rather steal.

You need to get out of your bubble man.

I'm confused about why you think I believe otherwise.

You're making a claim without evidence here. I'd like to believe as you do, but "people would rather not steal" is a statement of faith, not fact.

Well no, it's not a statement of faith, but it is a statement that presupposes you're familiar with human psychology.

I've got a number of other comments here at this point that cite sources which explain things better than I'll ever be able to, if you're actually curious, I recommend you read those sources (and others, "are people good?" is a fairly well trod area of psychology, and indeed philosophy).

Few people are evil. But a lot of people want the easy way out, especially if they are hooked on addictive substances. I knew these kinds of people. when I grew up, our household was in the bottom rung so I had some friends and acquaintances who made poor long term decisions --they may have looked good short term, a nice payday, little work, but then they have little work history or marketable skills when they go looking for a honest job. Occasionally they might get a hookup with a relative who could offer them manual jobs --construction, landscaping, etc. These are the guys who introduce you to fifi bags and other curiosities in life they learn up the river.

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