Respect for Pickpockets?

Seachmall

[Ignore Stupid Title]

No one doubts the skill involved in the Ocean's 11 styled pickpocket and likewise you can't deny it is theft. However can you make a judgement on them seperately?

Is it possible to take an amoral stance and respect the skill involved, or does your current moral stance make it impossible to do so?

Can they be treated seperately? Can you admire one aspect and despise another?

chin_grin

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, you gotta pick a pocket or twoooooooooo.......

hullaballoo

"Pickpockets' code"?

Have you lost the plot?

Oranage2

Scum!

Dravokivich

Admire someone for their skills of theft, because they only go after the wealthy?

The hell...

Seachmall

hullaballoo wrote: »

"Pickpockets' code"?

Have you lost the plot?

I'm serious, many do follow such a code. They don't target woman or drunks (those are known as 'bag dippers' and 'lushes' respectively), they don't take anything but money (although I imagine some take cards) and they only target men who look like they've money.

The ones who work this way are known as 'Canons'.

Hollywood seems to have embraced pickpocketing as a sort of respectable lifestyle, and skillful crime in general (look at any film about Conmen). I'm just curious if anybody shares the opinion.

HazDanz

Unless the pickpocket community are on a "robin hood" style crusade which I don't know about, I can't say I'm too fond of their activity.

OMG Its EoinD

Wait did I not go to heaven? and am I being left on earth with a load of pickpockets ? >:(

stupid rapture......

hullaballoo

Seachmall wrote: »

I'm serious, many do follow such a code. They don't target woman or drunks (those are known as 'bag dippers' and 'lushes' respectively), they don't take anything but money (although I imagine some take cards) and they only target men who look like they've money.

The ones who work this way are known as 'Canons'.

Sounds fantastic.

Turtyturd

Dravokivich wrote: »

Admire someone for their skills of theft, because they only go after the wealthy?

The hell...

It' s not even like they give it to the poor.

RachaelVO

The mind boggles... respect for pickpockets???

Eh NO! There is no code, how many christmas days were ruined cos some scumbag took someones purse?

Coriolanus

Rape their dog, set their children on fire and crucify them for good measure.

Seachmall

So there's noone appreciates the skill?

Obviously it's theft and I'm not asking anyone to excuse that I'm just wondering if anybody respects the methods, despite the criminality.

Latchy

Scrooge was the miser but Fagan had it down to a fine art

''In this world ,one thing counts , in the bank large amounts ,I'm afraid these things don't grow on trees ,you got to pick a pocket or two ''

^ my fav musical. Picking pockets is a heinous crime

My name is URL

All I can say is lol

AnonoBoy

How did you get mistaken for a pickpocket? Were you playing grab-ass with random wealthy men on Grafton Street or something?

My name is URL

My name is URL wrote: »

All I can say is lol

me too, I better stop reading this thread, sitting at my desk laughing away

Seachmall

Is it possible to take an amoral stance and respect the skill involved, or does your current moral stance make it impossible to do so?

Can they be treated seperately? Can you admire one aspect and despise another?

I think the original post asked the questions quite clearly, but people just read the title and had decided on an answer. Their valid questions.

robby^5

Seachmall wrote: »

So there's noone appreciates the skill?

I dont see why anyone would, they're scumbags and you're deluding yourself thinking that someone who has trained to steal wouldn't steal anything of worth from any person regardless of who they are.

They aren't robin hoods, they are assholes.

That said on a school trip to London once one of my classmates was pick-pocketed, he thought it was impressive but without money his trip was pretty much ruined. I guess that was just one of the rogues who dont follow the sacred code though!

My name is URL

Seachmall wrote: »

Is it possible to take an amoral stance and respect the skill involved, or does your current moral stance make it impossible to do so?

Can they be treated seperately? Can you admire one aspect and despise another?

I think the original post asked the questions quite clearly, but people just read the title and had decided on an answer. Their valid questions.

Would you admire an arsonists skills when it comes to setting shit on fire?

AgileMyth

Its clearly very skillful. Not a skill I would want though. They're still pure scum.

The only reason they target men is because its easier to lift a wallet out of a pocket than a bag.

ejmaztec

robby^5 wrote: »

They aren't robin hoods, they're robin innocent people.

Seachmall

My name is URL wrote: »

Would you admire an arsonists skills when it comes to setting shit on fire?

Does it take skill to set something on fire? I do however admire the skill it takes to build a bomb.

I don't think those admirations conflict with my moral compass, does it yours?

nobody3

Seachmall wrote: »

I'm serious, many do follow such a code. They don't target woman or drunks (those are known as 'bag dippers' and 'lushes' respectively), they don't take anything but money (although I imagine some take cards) and they only target men who look like they've money.

The ones who work this way are known as 'Canons'.

Hollywood seems to have embraced pickpocketing as a sort of respectable lifestyle, and skillful crime in general (look at any film about Conmen). I'm just curious if anybody shares the opinion.

Rubbish, they're crooks plain and simple.

Seachmall

nobody3 wrote: »

Rubbish, they're crooks plain and simple.

The world ain't black and white. People have different reasons for doing different things.

It's easier to demonize anyone who doesn't follow your moral code then understand what and why they do things.

AnonoBoy

I still want to know how you got mistakenly accused of pickpocketing.

mahamageehad

Hot-wiring a car is also a skill.

So is identity theft!

So is being a wánker banker and fúcking the country over.

Or being a sly politician, likable enough to get voted in but completely corrupt.

I appreciate that the people who are best at these things have honed their skills over the years. But i'll never have respect for people who dedicate time and effort into learning how to successfully fúck people over!!! :mad:

hullaballoo

Seachmall wrote: »

Is it possible to take an amoral stance and respect the skill involved, or does your current moral stance make it impossible to do so?

Can they be treated seperately? Can you admire one aspect and despise another?

I think the original post asked the questions quite clearly, but people just read the title and had decided on an answer. Their valid questions.

Do you also admire drug dealers for their business acumen?

Turtyturd

Dravokivich wrote: »

Admire someone for their skills of theft, because they only go after the wealthy?

The hell...

It' s not even like they give it to the poor.

Seachmall

The article that inspired this post,

http://www.slate.com/id/2286010/

Harvard economist Edward Glaeser wrote:

I think these skills have been tragically lost. You've got to respect the skill of some pickpocket relative to some thug coming up to you with a knife. A knife takes no skill whatsoever. But to lift someone's wallet without them knowing …

AnonoBoy

Tell us the story of how you got accused of pickpocketing.

That'll be way more interesting.

Coriolanus

Seachmall wrote: »

The article that inspired this post,

http://www.slate.com/id/2286010/

Harvard economists can be surprisingly stupid.

nobody3

Seachmall wrote: »

The world ain't black and white. People have different reasons for doing different things.

It's easier to demonize anyone who doesn't follow your moral code then understand what and why they do things.

Its obvious you haven't been the victim of one of these crooks.

People have choices to make. Pickpockets choose a life of crime, there cannot be a moral code as they are doing an immoral act.

Seachmall

hullaballoo wrote: »

Do you also admire drug dealers for their business acumen?

Some I do, is that a problem?

AnonoBoy wrote:

Tell us the story of how you got accused of pickpocketing.

I was leaving a club, a guy pointed a finger at me, a bouncer grabbed me and I spent about 30 minutes talking to gardai. Not that interesting.

nobody3 wrote:

Its obvious you haven't been the victim of one of these crooks

I have, at least once and possibly twice.

there cannot be a moral code as they are doing an immoral act.

I disagree. A person who steals a wallet isn't morally on-par with someone who slaughters a family. I'm sure such a petty-thief would find that a terrible crime even if he justifies his own. It's not a "Break one moral; break them all" situation. People may rationalize crime against one person (punching a man) but find it disgusting against another (punching a woman).

listermint

hullaballoo wrote: »

Sounds fantastic.

I think you mean fantastical

Paparazzo

I was shocked to see plenty of people had respect for that hacker because of the "skill" involved. Why not for the pickpocket? Requires more skill and definitely more balls.

Laisurg

Seachmall wrote: »

I'm serious, many do follow such a code. They don't target woman or drunks (those are known as 'bag dippers' and 'lushes' respectively), they don't take anything but money (although I imagine some take cards) and they only target men who look like they've money.

The ones who work this way are known as 'Canons'.

Hollywood seems to have embraced pickpocketing as a sort of respectable lifestyle, and skillful crime in general (look at any film about Conmen). I'm just curious if anybody shares the opinion.

Well that doesn't apply to Ireland, only pickpockets i've ever seen have looked like they're from romania or bulgaria and i've only ever seen them chuck their hands into a womans bag and leg it, the ones in italy pickpocket anyone, they would pick pocket 2 euro, theres no such thing as the pickpockets code or any of that lark, and when i was like 7 i used to actually take my dads wallet out of his pocket quite easily when i wanted to go get some sweets so it's not really that hard to be honest.

ejmaztec

We should have a limited introduction of Sharia law, for hackers and pick-pockets.

hullaballoo

Seachmall wrote: »

Some I do, is that a problem?

Ya I think so.


I'm just testing a theory here, but do you also admire the organisation and planning abilities needed for bank robbery?

Seachmall

hullaballoo wrote: »

Ya I think so.


I'm just testing a theory here, but do you also admire the organisation and planning abilities needed for bank robbery?

Yep.

Doesn't mean I appreciate the crime.

I admire the dexterity of a pickpocket in the same sense I admire the dexterity of a magician.
I admire the technical skills of a bomb-maker in the same I admire the technical skill of a electrician.
I admire the business mind of a drug dealer in the same sense I admire the business mind of an entrepreneur.
I admire the organisation and planning abilities of a bank robber in the same sense I admire the organisation and planning abilities of a manager.


In fact I find it hypocritical to appreciate one without appreciating the other. I find all the crimes up there despicable but I can appreciate the skills and knowledge they take without respecting their uses, maybe that's just me though.

Elle Collins

I've been known to pickpocket men who get into rubbing up too close to me in pubs/clubs. I've done it a couple of times and get a great thrill and a deep satisfaction out of it. Moral of the story for the perves of this world: You'd want to watch who you're letchin over - you might find yourself goin home broke.

problemchimp

Seachmall wrote: »

So there's noone appreciates the skill?

Obviously it's theft and I'm not asking anyone to excuse that I'm just wondering if anybody respects the methods, despite the criminality.

Firing a high callibre gun to blow a young psni officers head off and leaving his family destroyed also takes a lot of skill. Should we admire that skill and convenientley forget the actual crime?

Seachmall

problemchimp wrote: »

Firing a high callibre gun to blow a young psni officers head off and leaving his family destroyed also takes a lot of skill. Should we admire that skill and convenientley forget the actual crime?

Don't think I asked that at all, in fact I specifically addressed it in your quote.

Nice strawman though.

AnonoBoy

Ah for gawd's sake Seachmall. Tell us why you were accused of pickpocketing?

PLEASE!!!!!!

problemchimp

Seachmall wrote: »

Don't think I asked that at all, in fact I specifically addressed it in your quote.

Nice strawman though.

My point is that I find it impossible to seperate the so called skill of the crime from the crime itself and as You can seperate them, I used an extreme example to see how far you could go with your respect.
Sorry, don't know what a strawman is.

Seachmall

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Ah for gawd's sake Seachmall. Tell us why you were accused of pickpocketing?

PLEASE!!!!!!

Random accusation as far as I'm aware.

problemchimp

Seachmall wrote: »

Don't think I asked that at all, in fact I specifically addressed it in your quote.

Nice strawman though.

My point is that I find it impossible to seperate the so called skill of the crime from the crime itself and as you can seperate them, I used an extreme example to see how far you could go with your respect.
Sorry, don't know what a strawman is.

Dravokivich

Elle Collins wrote: »

I've been known to pickpocket men who get into rubbing up too close to me in pubs/clubs. I've done it a couple of times and get a great thrill and a deep satisfaction out of it. Moral of the story for the perves of this world: You'd want to watch who you're letchin over - you might find yourself goin home broke.

:cool:

problemchimp

Sorry, posted twice by mistake.

jimthemental

I've lifted my friends wallets in pubs and order a round from my own money then hand them back their wallet with the pint. I always get a laugh for it.

Guy I know was being interviewed by RTE after winning the Paddy Power Grehound Derby and had his wallet taken while talking!

ejmaztec

Seachmall wrote: »

Random accusation as far as I'm aware.

As a matter of interest, what size is the gap between your eyes?