Respect for Pickpockets?

Seachmall · 24-05-2011 02:56PM #1

[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 · 24-05-2011 02:58PM

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

hullaballoo · 24-05-2011 02:58PM

"Pickpockets' code"?

Have you lost the plot?

Dravokivich · 24-05-2011 02:58PM

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

The hell...

Oranage2 · 24-05-2011 02:58PM

Scum!

Seachmall · 24-05-2011 03:00PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:01PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:02PM

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

stupid rapture......

hullaballoo · 24-05-2011 03:02PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:02PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:03PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:05PM

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

Seachmall · 24-05-2011 03:05PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:05PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:05PM

All I can say is lol

AnonoBoy · 24-05-2011 03:05PM

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

24-05-2011 03:06PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:08PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:10PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:11PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:11PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:13PM

robby^5 wrote: »

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

Seachmall · 24-05-2011 03:13PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:14PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:17PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:18PM

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

mahamageehad · 24-05-2011 03:18PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:19PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:19PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:20PM

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 · 24-05-2011 03:22PM

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

That'll be way more interesting.

Respect for Pickpockets?

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