this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2024
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[–] [email protected] 139 points 10 months ago (5 children)

I have no respect for people shoplifting non-essential items (like makeup, etc) but essential items like food is a different story.

[–] [email protected] 57 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

In my opinion it depends more on whom you are stealing from than what. Food is okay, anything else not absolutely required for immediate survival isn’t is a somewhat cruel and arbitrary position.

Even a dirt poor person has more needs than just food sometimes, to stick with your example even a dirt poor woman or girl may want to feel pretty for a moment, and I feel that’s nothing bad either. Granted this is a slippery slope to outright lawlessness, but there certainly is a lot of room for valid needs that are less immediate than nourishment and shelter, but still important to people feeling human at all. Counts twice for people already in the extremely dehumanizing position of being poor.

[–] can 58 points 10 months ago

She may need it for an interview to improve her prospects too. As long as it's from a big place like Walmart I see no harm in someone desperate doing it to improve their situation.

The Walton family will be fine.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 10 months ago (4 children)

My policy has become: "If you see someone shoplifting, no you didn't." All businesses write a little bit of theft loss into their budgets. I don't care what shoplifters take. It's not my concern. Let the egg heads in accounting and the beef sticks in loss prevention figure it out. That's what they're paid to do. Not you.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Mines a bit different, but similar. "If you see someone shoplifting, no you didn't" only applies to chain stores. Walmart? Fuck 'em. Target? Get all you can. Local boutique store downtown? The fuck is wrong with you, go steal from a corporation that deserves it.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 10 months ago

This is a really good caveat - if you're going to take, take from those who can afford it the most, not the small-time local shops

[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 months ago

I am with you- unless it's a small business. If I saw someone stealing from some little mom and pop shop full of Amish-made soap and jam, I'm going to say something. Because I don't want mom and pop to go hungry either.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If you’re gonna cut staff and build a giant bank of self check kiosks instead, then I consider it a perk of my temporary employment at the checkout line. I’ll take pork chops and veggies in lieu of a paycheck thanks

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago

Even if you’re not trying to steal from the self checkout half the time they don’t even have the item in the database… Like I’m not paying for a dozen doughnuts when that’s the only option, but I got one… so I guess it’s a roll now…?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago

I think I might have cared in the past because “it’s against the law” but I’ve grown up and don’t care about that at all anymore… My opinion on shoplifting is now just “why would I even care?” I wouldn’t do it personally, but I have no problem with other people stealing shit (especially shit they need to live and thrive) from a soulless corporation. I wouldn’t be happy if they mugged a random person… But Target? Why would I care?

[–] [email protected] 39 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Makeup is an essential item for professional women. I'm not saying it's right that it's essential, I'm just saying it is.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (4 children)

What about all the women who get by without wearing make-up?

[–] [email protected] 21 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Lots of people get by without wearing glasses too, but that doesn't mean that my blind eyes don't need them.

Lots of people get by without a therapist, but that doesn't mean my crumbling mental health doesn't need one.

Everyone needs different things to lean on -- don't shame others for having their own needs, even if you don't understand what it's like to be in their head. :-)

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago

I personally have to lean on my private yacht to get by, so im glad people who judge me for it are in the wrong

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 months ago

This is my emotional support 4090. I need it.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They don't get jobs as flight attendants. If you already work in an industry that mandates make up use, and you're doing it tough, shoplifting make up seems like a smarter financial choice than getting fired over a lack of make up and having to find work in an entirely new industry.

As someone who currently doesn't even own a single article of make up (unless you count tinted zinc), yes, you can get by without it, but not everyone can, and loosing your job over other when you're already struggling financially isn't ideal.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

stealing is always the smarter financial choice

[–] [email protected] 14 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They're just casual women, they don't go in the professional circuit

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago

I missed the professional part of that last comment

[–] can 0 points 10 months ago

Good for them, but a desperate person is going to look for any edge they can get.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 10 months ago (1 children)

The world is burning down around us, and the only people with the power to make an actual difference are throwing gas on the fire. Why the fuck should I even notice somebody shoplifting? Save your disrespect for the real criminals of society.

[–] Patches 34 points 10 months ago

Reminder Wage Theft has by far the greatest total value compared to all other kinds of theft

[–] thearch 8 points 10 months ago (2 children)

(legitimate question) why don't people in need use food availability programs like food stamps instead of stealing for essentials?

[–] Patches 28 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Because if you make over $1400/month then you don't get food stamps. That isn't even rent where I live.

The median STUDIO apartment costs $2100.

[–] funkless_eck 25 points 10 months ago (1 children)

when you have children to feed and you're hungry yourself - standing in line to fill in a form and wait an interderminate amount of time to be potentially denied something that comes with a huge amount of restrictions it's just easier to steal.

There is enough food and wealth to feed and home everyone. Theft is a service issue.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.

"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.

"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"

"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."

"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.

"Both very busy, sir."

"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I am very glad to hear it."

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

You better believe I read this in Michael Cane's voice, conversing with some muppets.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 months ago

The difference between stealing luxuries and necessities.