Would you break a law that was wrong?

06-09-2016 01:28PM

I am a natural-born badass and have broken laws on at least three occasions.

One time I was spending Christmas in London and I ate a mince pie.* I wasn't even scared, just wolfed it down without a second thought, because that's the kind of risky behaviour I thrive on.

Another time, I took the doormat out the back garden and gave it a good shake*, like the hardened and immoral criminal I am.

I've even been known to sing to myself in the street*, such is the epic nature of my badassery.

*All illegal acts as described by the Metropolitan Police Act 1839

Wanderer78 · 06-09-2016 01:30PM

Candie wrote: »

I am a natural-born badass and have broken laws on at least three occasions.

couldnt live on the edge like that. id be a bag of nerves.

06-09-2016 01:32PM

Wanderer78 wrote: »

couldnt live on the edge like that. id be a bag of nerves.

That's what sets me apart from most people. I don't give a second thought to the consequences of my law-breaking, I'm so tough and hardened.

#thuglife

Winterlong · 06-09-2016 01:32PM

I worry about my son. He is 5, nearly 6, and is as far from a bad ass to make it embarrassing.

If I break a light he gives out to me. And tells his teacher.
He tells my wife if I look at my phone when sitting at traffic lights.
If my wife tells him not to eat cake, for example, and then behind her back I say ' come on, lets sneak some cake' ....he refuses AND grasses me in.

givyjoe · 06-09-2016 01:38PM

Winterlong wrote: »

I worry about my son. He is 5, nearly 6, and is as far from a bad ass to make it embarrassing.

If I break a light he gives out to me. And tells his teacher.
He tells my wife if I look at my phone when sitting at traffic lights.
If my wife tells him not to eat cake, for example, and then behind her back I say ' come on, lets sneak some cake' ....he refuses AND grasses me in.

Adoption...

Widdershins · 06-09-2016 01:39PM

Winterlong wrote: »

I worry about my son. He is 5, nearly 6, and is as far from a bad ass to make it embarrassing.

If I break a light he gives out to me. And tells his teacher.
He tells my wife if I look at my phone when sitting at traffic lights.
If my wife tells him not to eat cake, for example, and then behind her back I say ' come on, lets sneak some cake' ....he refuses AND grasses me in.

but I thought there are cameras and sensors on traffic lights?

jmayo · 06-09-2016 01:45PM

endacl wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

Do you fook :eek:

Permabear wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Come on do tell us all about that weekend in Atlantic City.

Winterlong wrote: »

I worry about my son. He is 5, nearly 6, and is as far from a bad ass to make it embarrassing.

If I break a light he gives out to me. And tells his teacher.
He tells my wife if I look at my phone when sitting at traffic lights.
If my wife tells him not to eat cake, for example, and then behind her back I say ' come on, lets sneak some cake' ....he refuses AND grasses me in.

You need to get some dirt on him.

I think I have broken motoring laws in nearly every country I have ever visited.
And I have twice been caught.
Also kudos to the much appreciated international concept of flashing drivers.

biko · 06-09-2016 01:47PM

I never killed a man that didn't deserve it.

Olishi4 · 06-09-2016 02:24PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

If a law is what you consider to be morally wrong would you break it or abide by it?

I appreciate what is morally wrong is subjective.

There's a good David Bowie song called "God knows I'm good". Its from the perspective of a woman who in desperation shoplifts some food. She knows it's wrong but obviously feels that she has no other choice so she comforts her guilt by telling herself that "god knows I'm good".

If someone considers something morally wrong to them then they agree with the law that enforces it and would mostly prefer not to go against their own morals but it's possible that they would justify their actions in breaking it if they feel they had no other option.

It really depends on the persons own morals and the seriousness of the crime they commit or how they justify it to themselves.

06-09-2016 02:27PM

Winterlong wrote: »

I worry about my son. He is 5, nearly 6, and is as far from a bad ass to make it embarrassing.

If I break a light he gives out to me. And tells his teacher.
He tells my wife if I look at my phone when sitting at traffic lights.
If my wife tells him not to eat cake, for example, and then behind her back I say ' come on, lets sneak some cake' ....he refuses AND grasses me in.

Snitches get stitches, that's what you should be telling him.

I used to be exactly the same and grassed my dad up whenever I got the chance, but still grew up into a total badass. There's hope for him yet!

feargale · 06-09-2016 02:39PM

Winterlong wrote: »

I worry about my son. He is 5, nearly 6, and is as far from a bad ass to make it embarrassing.

If I break a light he gives out to me. And tells his teacher.
He tells my wife if I look at my phone when sitting at traffic lights.
If my wife tells him not to eat cake, for example, and then behind her back I say ' come on, lets sneak some cake' ....he refuses AND grasses me in.

You think you have problems now? Wait until Stalin's friends take over. He will denounce you.

Outlaw Pete · 06-09-2016 02:43PM

At self service tills, I weigh grapes as potatoes.

Screw the man!

06-09-2016 02:46PM

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

At self service tills, I weigh grapes as potatoes.

Screw the man!

I once saw a hand written and brightly colored-in sign in a Supervalu: "2 for the price of 3!".

How badass do you have to be to take up an offer like that?

Permabear · 06-09-2016 03:21PM

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Panthro · 06-09-2016 03:25PM

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Or tiny pencils from argos.

I suddenly feel like I haven't really lived!

Olishi4 · 06-09-2016 03:53PM

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

Then that person who chooses not to pay the tv licence does not agree morally with the current law. They don't feel that they are going against their own morals.

In the example I gave, the woman knew she did not morally agree with steeling but she felt that she had no other choice so she dealt with her guilt by saying to herself basically "I am a good person but this is something I have to do to get by".

Op's question was, "if a law you consider is morally wrong, would you break it?" not "would you break laws that you don't believe are morally wrong?"

Edit; looking back at the Op, I think he does mean "would you break laws that you believe are morally wrong". I think the answer is yes. A lot of people will break laws that they do not morally agree with. Also people will question and look to change those laws that they morally disagree with.

Sometimes like in my example, people will break laws if they agree with the law but feel they have no other choice.

Permabear · 06-09-2016 04:50PM

This post has been deleted.

Olishi4 · 06-09-2016 05:36PM

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

I didnt say it justifies it. I said the person will justify to themself based on their circumstances.

Also that is why motive is considered often when sentencing.

Permabear wrote: »

Sure ... of course. If a child were bleeding to death and I were trying to get him to a hospital, I would probably disregard the speed limit. But if, while speeding to get that child to the hospital, I collided with another vehicle and caused the deaths of three other children (for example) I would still be held culpable because I was legally in the wrong -- even if, in that instance, I felt that I was morally entitled (by virtue of trying to save a child's life) to ignore the law.

That is a risk that you would be willing to take based on your own reaction to events in an emergency.

I'm not saying any of these things are right are wrong. I'm saying that sometimes people do it. That's why I said it depends on the seriousness of the crime and the person's own morals of whether or not they will take the risk in breaking the law.

Ted111 · 06-09-2016 05:47PM

Man made laws are supposed to flow from natural law (a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct)

A good example of moral law breakers would be the die Weiße Rose

jimgoose · 06-09-2016 05:57PM

"If the law supposes that," said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, "the law is a ass - a idiot."

AryaStark · 06-09-2016 06:01PM

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Jaywalking is not illegal in this country.

I was actually charged with jaywalking years ago. It was just days after it came into the law here (around 1998) and I had to pay a fine that was something like 60 pounds.

jmayo · 06-09-2016 06:06PM

AryaStark wrote: »

I was actually charged with jaywalking years ago. It was just days after it came into the law here (around 1998) and I had to pay a fine that was something like 60 pounds.

They saw you coming

Discodog · 06-09-2016 06:20PM

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

I don't have a tv license & I would avoid getting one unless forced to. Being made to pay for something that you don't use or want is as much of a crime as not having a license.

It's hard to have respect for the law when catching motorists is a higher priority than catching gang killers.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 06-09-2016 07:08PM

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Or tiny pencils from argos.

Pencils from IKEA are of a better quality, once you have built them, that is

.

foxy farmer · 06-09-2016 07:51PM

The laws regarding being licensed to tow a trailer. Have broken this on numerous occasions. I haven't done the EB test to cover the trailer.
If I go out with my jeep and road legal 8x4 twin axle trailer empty I'm breaking the law.
If take out a tractor with a 30ft bale trailer fully loaded I'm ok. Yet i never did a test for the tractor category.

Ted111 · 06-09-2016 07:54PM

unlike the uk it's just the weight and not the axles(2) that matter here.

Capt'n Midnight · 06-09-2016 11:34PM

Have you ever seen anyone taking a right turn avoid driving over the hatched white lines of a traffic lane when the left lane is full ?

That's a penalty point offence.

RSA Free speed surveys.
http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Road-Safety/RSA-Statistics/Surveys--Consultations/Speed/
For 2013 g to page 10 if you think we are law abiding

The proportion of cars exceeding the speed limit on urban arterial
roads (in 50km/h zones) increased from 74% in 2012 to 82% in 2013

...
On urban national roads with a 50km/h speed limit, 77% of articulated
vehicles drivers exceeded the speed limit;
...
On local roads where a speed limit of 80km/h also applies, all (100%)
of articulated vehicles observed travelled at less than the speed limit.

How many times a day do drivers see people not using indicators or hand signals despite them being mandatory ?

How many people don't pay TV license or for Water ?

How many people take recording devices into cinemas ?
( €127,000 and up to 5 years for that one )

There are a lot of laws in Ireland that just ignored by large sections of society.

07-09-2016 01:33PM

Did your friend not have sex because of the law or because of the fear of getting caught?

In general, I find people who use the law as their moral compass weak and on the stupid side.

Would you break a law that was wrong?

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