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Are you law-abiding?

  • 23-05-2013 01:36PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,377 ✭✭✭


    Do you follow the law because it's the law and must be followed or do you make moral choices to suit yourself with regards to most things regardless of whether there is a law against it or not.

    I'd say most people would be in the latter category and would "draw their own line "for the majority of so-called "victimless crimes".

    Example A - Theft - Is it the law (and the consequences of getting caught) that's stopping you from stealing from other people or would you not do it regardless of the law?

    Example B - Illegal drugs - Is it the law (and the consequences of getting caught) that's stopping you from taking them or would you just not take them regardless of what the law was regarding them.


    TL/DR - Would you do something illegal if you didn't think there was anything wrong with it morally or do you follow the law at all costs?

    (/In before "Thinly veiled Weed Thread" :pac: )

    Follow the law or your own morality? 141 votes

    Follow the law completely
    0% 0 votes
    Make my own decisions about everything regardless of written laws
    8% 12 votes
    Follow the law for the majority of things but ignore certain laws that I feel should not be in place
    17% 24 votes
    I fought the law and the law won
    74% 105 votes


«13

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,179 ✭✭✭paulbok


    Are you a Garda?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,611 ✭✭✭Valetta


    No such thing as a victimless crime.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,178 ✭✭✭✭NothingMan




    I'd download a car if I could!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 43,038 ✭✭✭✭SEPT 23 1989


    I draw the line at murder


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,230 ✭✭✭Wetbench4


    Do you follow the law because it's the law and must be followed or do you make moral choices to suit yourself with regards to most things regardless of whether there is a law against it or not.

    I'd say most people would be in the latter category and would "draw their own line "for the majority of so-called "victimless crimes".

    Example A - Theft - Is it the law (and the consequences of getting caught) that's stopping you from stealing from other people or would you not do it regardless of the law?

    Example B - Illegal drugs - Is it the law (and the consequences of getting caught) that's stopping you from taking them or would you just not take them regardless of what the law was regarding them.


    TL/DR - Would you do something illegal if you didn't think there was anything wrong with it morally or do you follow the law at all costs?

    (/In before "Thinly veiled Weed Thread" :pac: )

    Example A is immoral so whether its law or not i wouldn't steal from someone.

    Example B Weed should be legal and i would have no problem getting some for myself, and two fingers to the law :pac:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,022 ✭✭✭johnny_knoxvile


    Valetta wrote: »
    No such thing as a victimless crime.

    there is if you kill your imaginary friend.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 127 ✭✭Gott


    Some laws are fairly sensible and follow what most people would consider to be moral. I would stick by those.

    Others, like drug prohibitions or infringements on civil liberties, nope. It's my right to put whatever I want into my body and say whatever I want with the state interfering.

    If I die from an overdose/get smacked in the jaw for my opinions, then that's simply a consequence of my actions. None of the government's business.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,087 ✭✭✭✭wp_rathead


    Depends on the law
    Remember it was against "the law" to sell contraception and be homosexual in this country not too long ago..

    But Ithink your question is more about morals than laws:
    Do you not do X because you feel it it innatly wrong

    Id like to think it is my morals
    If there was no law against murdering people I don't imagine it would mean I would instantly head out and start killing


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,258 ✭✭✭Viper_JB


    I'd like to think that common sense and personal freedom guide most of my actions...as opposed to laws thought up by committees of over paid eejits.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,377 ✭✭✭Smithwicks Man


    paulbok wrote: »
    Are you a Garda?

    The question is am I a law-abiding Garda? ... Chin up.. You'll get the hang of it eventually!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    I've never broken a law in my life.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,377 ✭✭✭Smithwicks Man


    wprathead wrote: »
    Depends on the law
    Remember it was against "the law" to sell contraception and be homosexual in this country not too long ago..

    But Ithink your question is more about morals than laws:
    Do you not do X because you feel it it innatly wrong

    Id like to think it is my morals
    If there was no law against murdering people I don't imagine it would mean I would instantly head out and start killing

    Exactly my line of thinking.

    Was just wondering what people thought because over the last few days I've come across a few people that would hop around on one leg if the law said they had to!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 13,776 ✭✭✭✭machiavellianme


    Valetta wrote: »
    No such thing as a victimless crime.

    Blasphemy!

    Save boards.ie by subscribing: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,377 ✭✭✭Smithwicks Man


    I've never broken a law in my life.

    Seriously? :eek:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    Seriously? :eek:

    Seriously.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,506 ✭✭✭✭castletownman


    I'm a model citizen. I have never walked on grass where a sign tells me not to do so. I always wait for the green man when crossing the road. I never spend any longer than a minute over the allotted time in a pay parking zone.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,494 ✭✭✭The_Gatsby


    OP, your question is very hard to answer. I wouldn't kill because morally, I don't believe it's right. However, I think a convicted pedophile deserves to die. Does that mean I'm contradicting myself? Am I on the side that believes in laws based upon personal morals?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,466 ✭✭✭Clandestine


    I live my life according to the law as best as I can but I would break a law or rule if I felt it morally right.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,681 ✭✭✭✭P_1


    If something I do doesn't harm somebody else I do it, even if some piece of paper says that I shouldn't do it


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,466 ✭✭✭Clandestine


    The_Gatsby wrote: »
    However, I think a convicted pedophile deserves to die.
    What do you mean convicted pedophile? You mean someone who has viewed illegal images of children, or someone who has touched kids inappropriately?

    Remember, some of these people who want to change are cursed with a terrible affliction and need help to change their ways, not a bullet to the head.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,230 ✭✭✭Wetbench4


    I'm a model citizen. I have never walked on grass where a sign tells me not to do so. I always wait for the green man when crossing the road. I never spend any longer than a minute over the allotted time in a pay parking zone.

    If you were a german citizen in nazi germany in the late 30's, would you be proud to be a model citizen?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,641 ✭✭✭bgrizzley


    Seriously.

    that makes you better than Jesus. We are not worthy!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,466 ✭✭✭Clandestine


    Wetbench4 wrote: »
    If you were a german citizen in nazi germany in the late 30's, would you be proud to be a model citizen?
    Where did this come from?


  • Posts: 12,694 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I am very law abiding, but I am well aware that is largely because of my age and social background. A better question is are we inherently law abiding or are we socially constructed to obey the law.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 698 ✭✭✭sin0city


    Seriously.

    Come on :eek:

    Speed limit?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,494 ✭✭✭The_Gatsby


    What do you mean convicted pedophile? You mean someone who has viewed illegal images of children, or someone who has touched kids inappropriately?

    Remember, some of these people who want to change are cursed with a terrible affliction and need help to change their ways, not a bullet to the head.

    Ok, maybe my statement was a bit black and white. I mean the most serious of offenders. If somebody's affliction is so bad that they could commit such terrible crimes then I don't think they can be healed. What's the point in giving somebody a life sentence and having them sucking up resources like counselling etc when they're never going to be integrated back into society. I know it's a pretty ignorant and negative view to have but I just don't see the point in keeping them alive.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    bgrizzley wrote: »
    that makes you better than Jesus. We are not worthy!

    Nothing. I've just never been caught.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,230 ✭✭✭Wetbench4


    Where did this come from?

    Well my point is the government and the law isn't always correct, and its much better to think than to blindly follow.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,466 ✭✭✭Clandestine


    Wetbench4 wrote: »
    Well my point is the government and the law isn't always correct, and its much better to think than to blindly follow.
    I agree, but the sudden shift from "I follow the law of my country" to "would you follow the laws in Nazi Germany?" was a bit odd i thought.
    Nevermind.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,641 ✭✭✭bgrizzley


    Nothing. I've just never been caught.

    so you are a law breaker, welcome back to the human race!:P


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