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Comment by frgtpsswrdlame | Hacker News Reader

Stealing is okay in all sorts of situations. Many things in life are more important than the rule of property.

Scale up this mentality, you have South America

But I didn't say all stealing was okay, I said some stealing definitely is okay. I still think that's true. Some things in life are more important than property.

> Some things in life are more important than property.

If the property isn't important, why are you stealing it?

Personally I don't really care whether you think it's moral or not to steal, as long as you acknowledge that a victim of theft has an equally moral right to "steal" back what was taken, and to use a similar justification to steal a proportional (additional) amount from perpetrator. "Turnabout is fair play" and all that.

> If the property isn't important, why are you stealing it?

Because I'm starving so I'm stealing a sandwich ?

Because I don't have the money to buy something that would save my life (Medical treatment for instance) ?

If these things are important to you, they could be equally important to whoever you're stealing them from. It doesn't justify the theft. In the end, though, the morality of it is something you'll have to decide for yourself. It's your conscience. Just understand that if you do make that choice you are in no position to object if someone else does the same to you, and it's rather hard to survive—much less improve your circumstances—in a world where anyone can take whatever you've managed to save up at any time without recourse.

Please specify some of these important things that you clearly feel would be okay having stolen from you personally.

Or did you mean it's okay to steal as long it's from other people?

Out of curiosity, what are some things that are not more important than property rights in your opinion?

Intellectual property rights?

Good one, I agree.

Like what? Having a nice watch? Some Nike shoes?

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