Imagine

Put yourself in someone else's shoes

Picture this.

It's one or two days before payday, you are broke and I do mean broke, no money, maybe a 10 dollar bill to your name.
Many of us live paycheck to paycheck, so it's not that hard to imagine. If you have a car, you have no gas to speak of.

You are considered an outcast by societies rule of thumb,{BTW rule of thumb comes from the olden days when you could not beat your wife with a stick fatter than your thumb} you live on the edge of the law anyways, maybe not a real criminal but will take the easy buck.

Your possessions are the bare minimum, your refrigerator is almost empty most the month.

Suddenly calamity strikes, be it earth quake, flood or disease.

You have no money to escape, you have children and are angry anyways, the heat of summer is already got you on the edge.

You watch as everyone with means to leave has already left.

The most simple things in life are taken from you, no water to drink, no water to flush toilets, no food, no shelter.
Your kids are screaming because they do not understand what is happening to them, they are thirsty and hungry.

What would you do? Would you steal food? other things? Would your anger boil over and cause you to do things you would have never done?

7,314 views 24 replies
Reply #1 Top
just as a starting point I know what I am capable of doing in order to survive, I have no illusions of the steps I would take to keep my family safe.
Reply #2 Top
There are amny things that can be done.  Looting is not surviving.  No more than a parasite is surviving.  taking and not giving anything back.
Reply #3 Top
#2 by Dr. Guy
Thursday, September 01, 2005


There are amny things that can be done. Looting is not surviving. No more than a parasite is surviving. taking and not giving anything back.


that's not what I asked nor did I say looting was ok, I asked what would YOU DO?
Reply #4 Top
I would take what I need to survive, but, no, I would not seek to profit from it by taking color TVs and the like. I've been that broke with 2 small mouths to feed so I know how that feels. There's a difference in stealing necessities to live and stuff to just fence. I remember my uncle saying that when he was in Europe in WWII he took two .45 handguns from a dead Army Captain out in the middle of nowhere. He said he needed those two guns badly. To my mind that's not looting, if it were me lying there dead I would be saying (if I could) TAKE THEM! Take them and survive. But I would be real pissed if they were just gonna be souvenirs or sold for goodtime money later.
Reply #5 Top
4 by Shovelheat
Thursday, September 01, 2005


would take what I need to survive, but, no, I would not seek to profit from it by taking color TVs and the like. I've been that broke with 2 small mouths to feed so I know how that feels. There's a difference in stealing necessities to live and stuff to just fence. I remember my uncle saying that when he was in Europe in WWII he took two .45 handguns from a dead Army Captain out in the middle of nowhere. He said he needed those two guns badly. To my mind that's not looting, if it were me lying there dead I would be saying (if I could) TAKE THEM! Take them and survive. But I would be real pissed if they were just gonna be souvenirs or sold for goodtime money later.


now this is an honest answer, I too would do anything and I mean anything to keep my family safe and fed, if I had to steal a weapon to keep them safe then so be it, but to steal because it's there and ungaurded? hell no.
Reply #6 Top
Thats all I want, no moralizing, just a simple what would you do? would you break the law or stand by and die and watch your family die also.
Reply #7 Top
Gee how'd you know Elie? It's been a bad week!

Seriously though, having been there at one time or another I know what you're talking about. I however can't condone the ones who are looting for looting's sake. They're not getting food to eat, they're getting electronics, guns, items that they can't use right now. And storing it to used later? That's ridiculous!

I really can't understand why they would shoot at the army helicopters and the ambulances trying to help and rescue people! That's madness. The sad thing is that not all people are doing it, or let me re-phrase, not all black people are doing it. Just the few who are mostly young youths who are too ignorant and don't know what the hell they're doing!

In the case of someone who is not amongst those looting asses I know it must be terrifying and I hope they will be able to get the help they need.
Reply #8 Top

Thats all I want, no moralizing, just a simple what would you do? would you break the law or stand by and die and watch your family die also.

And as I said, I would do neither.  Because there are always alternatives.  Many of us have been there before, and not resorted to breaking the law.

Reply #9 Top
Because there are always alternatives. Many of us have been there before, and not resorted to breaking the law.


Absolutley! Yes, I would use my brain (yes, I do have one even though it's tiny) and look for the legal options, but I think MM's question is if things are REALLY bleak. Like my uncle I described in war time Europe. If I HAD to, I would.
Reply #10 Top
Reply By: foreverserenityPosted: Thursday, September 01, 2005Gee how'd you know Elie? It's been a bad week!Seriously though, having been there at one time or another I know what you're talking about. I however can't condone the ones who are looting for looting's sake. They're not getting food to eat, they're getting electronics, guns, items that they can't use right now. And storing it to used later? That's ridiculous! I really can't understand why they would shoot at the army helicopters and the ambulances trying to help and rescue people! That's madness. The sad thing is that not all people are doing it, or let me re-phrase, not all black people are doing it. Just the few who are mostly young youths who are too ignorant and don't know what the hell they're doing!In the case of someone who is not amongst those looting asses I know it must be terrifying and I hope they will be able to get the help they need.


sorry yer week sucks, things will get better. {{{{forever}}}} and a brotherly forehead kiss.
Reply #11 Top
Reply By: Dr. GuyPosted: Thursday, September 01, 2005Thats all I want, no moralizing, just a simple what would you do? would you break the law or stand by and die and watch your family die also.And as I said, I would do neither. Because there are always alternatives. Many of us have been there before, and not resorted to breaking the law.


doc your ducking.. come on man let me see what you are made of.
Reply #12 Top
Reply By: ShovelheatPosted: Thursday, September 01, 2005Because there are always alternatives. Many of us have been there before, and not resorted to breaking the law.Absolutley! Yes, I would use my brain (yes, I do have one even though it's tiny) and look for the legal options, but I think MM's question is if things are REALLY bleak. Like my uncle I described in war time Europe. If I HAD to, I would.


again an honest answer, doc wants to continue to duck an answer. if there was no hope, all by yourself you had to feed and protect your family. no law, no water no hope a person should be able to project and say "I would do whatever I had to" sheeesh .
Reply #13 Top

I'd do whatever it took to survive and to protect me and mine.  If that meant taking food, water and weapons, then I'd do it.  If that meant shooting whoever, whenever because they were a threat to us and our survival, then  I'd do it.

What I wouldn't do was take more things than I needed to survive.  TV's and stereos aren't necessary for survival, neither are designer clothes and bling. 

it's one thing to ensure that you don't starve to death, die of dehydration or get attacked and killed by your fellow man.  It's quite another to get your 'good times' at someone else's expense.

Reply #14 Top

Absolutley! Yes, I would use my brain (yes, I do have one even though it's tiny) and look for the legal options, but I think MM's question is if things are REALLY bleak. Like my uncle I described in war time Europe. If I HAD to, I would.

Taking 2 pistols off of a dead officer in a war zone, is not the scenerio that MM portrayed there.  He was not looting, he was fighting in a war.  A big difference.

Reply #15 Top
Reply By: dharmagrlPosted: Thursday, September 01, 2005I'd do whatever it took to survive and to protect me and mine. If that meant taking food, water and weapons, then I'd do it. If that meant shooting whoever, whenever because they were a threat to us and our survival, then I'd do it.What I wouldn't do was take more things than I needed to survive. TV's and stereos aren't necessary for survival, neither are designer clothes and bling. it's one thing to ensure that you don't starve to death, die of dehydration or get attacked and killed by your fellow man. It's quite another to get your 'good times' at someone else's expense.


another honest answer survival comes first. the stealing of anything other than what you NEED to live is stealing and should be punished even more because anyone that loots in such dire straights needs to be removed from the society they scorn.
Reply #16 Top
Reply By: Dr. GuyPosted: Thursday, September 01, 2005Absolutley! Yes, I would use my brain (yes, I do have one even though it's tiny) and look for the legal options, but I think MM's question is if things are REALLY bleak. Like my uncle I described in war time Europe. If I HAD to, I would.Taking 2 pistols off of a dead officer in a war zone, is not the scenerio that MM portrayed there. He was not looting, he was fighting in a war. A big difference.


alright doc, I see I am going to have to pin you down.. would you steal to keep your family alive>? no other choices steal or die and have your family die by starvation and dehydration.
Reply #17 Top

alright doc, I see I am going to have to pin you down.. would you steal to keep your family alive>? no other choices steal or die and have your family die by starvation and dehydration.

Changing the rules in the middle of the game is not Cricket.  Nor do I see it as an either or. As I said, there are always alternatives.  One just has to look for them.

Reply #18 Top
#17 by Dr. Guy
Thursday, September 01, 2005


alright doc, I see I am going to have to pin you down.. would you steal to keep your family alive>? no other choices steal or die and have your family die by starvation and dehydration.

Changing the rules in the middle of the game is not Cricket. Nor do I see it as an either or. As I said, there are always alternatives. One just has to look for them.


alright doc, I loves ya like a brother, but this one time I gotta say yer fulla poop. no offense really. I did not change rules in the middle re read original post, it's called IMAGINE.
Reply #19 Top
Taking 2 pistols off of a dead officer in a war zone, is not the scenerio that MM portrayed there. He was not looting, he was fighting in a war. A big difference.


Like MM I love ya too and don't mean to sound sarcastic at all, so please don't take offense! That's the LAST thing I wanna do! Anyway..I see the above example as the exact same thing, taking what's not yours for survival.
Reply #20 Top
sorry yer week sucks, things will get better. {{{{forever}}}} and a brotherly forehead kiss.


Thanks Elie...


Since I didnt' technically answer the question I will say honestly that I will do whatever I had to to keep my kids alive. I do it everyday! I'm mommy lion with her cubs and like a gorilla I will fight to keep them alive! Let me add that if that means stealing food, clothing yes....and I would leave a note to say I did it...so they can come and arrest me if they want! I was saying this to my friends yesterday too...stealing for survival is different, when there's no other means and no way out...than looting for the fun of it!
Reply #21 Top
Reply By: foreverserenityPosted: Thursday, September 01, 2005sorry yer week sucks, things will get better. {{{{forever}}}} and a brotherly forehead kiss.Thanks Elie...Since I didnt' technically answer the question I will say honestly that I will do whatever I had to to keep my kids alive. I do it everyday! I'm mommy lion with her cubs and like a gorilla I will fight to keep them alive! Let me add that if that means stealing food, clothing yes....and I would leave a note to say I did it...so they can come and arrest me if they want! I was saying this to my friends yesterday too...stealing for survival is different, when there's no other means and no way out...than looting for the fun of it!


and thats the answer I was looking for, an honest one. no ducking {docguy} I believe people will do anything to survive.. look what the donner party did when trapped in the sierras.
Reply #22 Top

alright doc, I loves ya like a brother, but this one time I gotta say yer fulla poop. no offense really. I did not change rules in the middle re read original post, it's called IMAGINE.

Remember The Wrath of Khan?  Kirk's solution to the Kobyashi Maru test, and what he told his son about it?

Your original did not give us only 2 choices.  It gave a scenerio and asked would you loot in that situation.  I merely replied that I would explore other alternatives.

And I had a nice BM this morning, thank you for asking.

Reply #23 Top

Like MM I love ya too and don't mean to sound sarcastic at all, so please don't take offense! That's the LAST thing I wanna do! Anyway..I see the above example as the exact same thing, taking what's not yours for survival.

Why is everyone so concerned about my bathroom habits?

Ok, if you are going to define taking ANYthing, then I have. I took part of the Berlin wall back in 74. Still have it too. However, I dont see that as being akin to looting (for other than non-perishables) as the same.

Reply #24 Top
Did you ever see 28 Days Later?

Without rambling on and on about the premise of the movie, in it a group of people (a man, woman, father, and daughter) find themselves pretty much alone and without supplies. They go to a grocery store and stock up on everything they can find that won't spoil.

The father leaves his credit card behind on the empty counter.

I think in a crisis situation, there may be circumstances that lead us to abandon our normal moral values (not stealing) in order to survive. There is definitely a difference between survival items (which may vary depending on the circumstances) and items that are taken for personal gain.

I've never been in such a situation (I've been broke before, but that's the extent of it), so I can't really know what I would be willing to do.

However, I can confidently say that I would take food and other necessity items (toilet paper, batteries, etc) from an abandoned store if I felt that my family would be endangered without them.

I would hope that I would leave my name and contact info behind so that I could be contacted for payment (or punishment).

When it comes to the well-being and survival of our children, there are probably very few things that we wouldn't do to keep them safe and clothed and fed.