this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023

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Shoplifting

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2 users here now

exchanging tricks and experiences. discussing trends and events. connecting shoplifting to politcal theory and praxis. also memes.

Why a(nother) shoplifting community?

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be careful what you post - don't incriminate yourself or others
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What did you see? We didn't see shit (slrpnk.net)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Alt text: an image of a poster with the text "Did you see: - A tent in the Wood? - Someone shoplifting? - A person sleeping in their car? No! You fucking didn't! People are struggling, don't make it worse

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[–] [email protected] 37 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Shoplifting food? Yea probably struggling, I'm not saying shit.

Shoplifting PS5 games? Yeaaaaa you're probably just an asshole.

[–] Laticauda 28 points 2 years ago (6 children)

I have never once met a shoplifter who was struggling or actually needed what they stole, ever. Most shoplifters I've met were kids from well-off families who felt entitled to anything they could get their hands on.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I literally used to steal to eat because I was that fucking poor.

There, now you have.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

He hasn't met you.

I am the richest man on the planet. You haven't met the richest man on the planet.

Anyone can claim anything on the internet, it would take the most gullible of people to believe everything they read. It's weird that you expect him to be gullible.

[–] masterspace 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

There's a 1 in 7 billion chance that you're the richest mans on the internet.

25% of Americans will experience food insecurity this year.

I don't trust you because I don't trust you're 1 in 7 billion, I trust them because I trust that if they're not within the like 1/2 who have experienced food insecurity at some point in their lives, another lurker or two might be

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

If that was true we wouldn't see an increase in shoplifting when poverty rises

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

Also depends on where and what. Kids I grew up around stole random crap from Forever 21 for fun. Grew up, met people who stole to fuel a drug addiction, like at big box stores with a bit more relaxed security. Then there's commenters here who sound like they just take things they need.

It really depends, but the one that sticks out to me is the kid who stole Pokemon cards from a place my wife retailed. That kid was just a straight entitled POS psychopath. Really, really takes all kinds.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago

The only people I know who shoplift are on welfare and surviving on about $500 per month for everything minus rent. So. Anecdotal evidence remains the weakest evidence.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 years ago

And we all know what you see is everything that happens. Anecdotes are the best evidence

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 years ago

I feel like that says more about your social circle than about shoplifters, who are a pretty diverse group of people with really varying motivations for their actions.

Most shoplifters I've met were kids [...] who felt entitled to anything they could get their hands on.

Based

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 years ago (3 children)

1 and 3 are fine but dude. Shoplifting is bad, mkay?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Shopliftung from ol'grannies corner shop: bad, she would probably give it to you for free if you asked.

Shoplifting from Walmart: go for it

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

I wanted to say:

"Shoplifting essentials from Walmart*"

But on the second thought I condone any stealing from company that dodges taxes.

Fuck them, go for and get back what's yours.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I bet the judge would love that argument.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Yeah he won't. He's there to uphold the law and whatever rich lobbying has written in it. Punishing someone lightly for that is the sensible part. Multitude of ways in which companies siphon out money from work of the people is not.

So saying that to judge during one's process would mean blatant disrespect to the law and result in going straight to jail.

That being said until now we weren't speaking about law though, but ethicality/public sentiment.

Just in case I would like to remind the reader that law doesn't define ethics. The fact that putting Jews into concentration camps was once legal on Germany doesn't make it OK at the time. Neither the fact that harboring them was illegal didn't make it unethical to do so.

[+] [email protected] -10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

No its good and in this community we actually celebrate it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (3 children)

So you made a shoplifting support community on this instance, which is run by one volunteer and is still working to establish itself, and you decided to start encouraging and celebrating illegal activity here. What a beneficial user. I'm sure the SLRPNK community appreciates your efforts a lot.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

You could ask the folks of slrpnk.net in [email protected] how they see this.

Considering this instance also hosts a community about anarchism ( [email protected]) or dumpster diving ( [email protected]) I feel like they probably dont mind having some posts about illegal activities like shoplifting or theft from the workplace.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Now hold the fuck up. As a proud ex dumpster diver, there's a significant moral distinction between taking things people own and taking things people don't. When somebody throws something in the trash, they're giving up ownership of it. They're saying they don't want it anymore. It either goes to trash or it goes to someone who can make use of it.

And that can be illegal depending on local law, sure. But comparing dumpster diving to shoplifting is inaccurate and unfair.

And for that matter, anarchism is not illegal. And the implication that all anarchists steal, vandalize, and break the law, is nothing but propaganda.

And having written all this, I definitely think this sub should stay up, because solarpunk is anti-capitalist and radicals have long considered shoplifting an act of protest against capitalism - see "Steal This Book" for details on that. I just don't think your comparison to those specific other subs is a very good one.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Hey I feel like you interpreted things into my comment I did not intend. Maybe thats due to my wording, so sorry about that.

To me it seems like you are arguing against things I did not say and if you had given me the chance to explain why I choose those to communities, we probably would have had an easier time understanding each other because I agree with the general spirit of your comment.

Also I hope you have the chance to get back to rescuing food and other stuff! (if thats something you diesire to do)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Hi, no, thank you for responding and I apologize that I misunderstood and maybe came off too aggressive. It's the internet, I don't really expect people to respond to my comments, so my comments are mostly in the moment reactions rather than attempts to start a dialogue with the person I'm responding to. I suspect that's a bad Reddit habit to unlearn :)

Thank you and I wish you and this sub all the best!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Of course they won't address it. It's a growing instance and they will not do controversial removals unless absolutely necessary, because that could damage that growth.

That being said, those other things you mentioned aren't illegal in most places, so I don't understand the comparison.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It’s a growing instance and they will not do controversial removals unless absolutely necessary, because that could damage that growth.

I feel like growth as a motivation is really not something that fits the solarpunk mindset / idea and I believe the folks here, especially the admin and the mods, have enough integrity to stay true to their values.

If you are interested in the legality of dumster diving, this part of the wikipedia article on dumpster diving focuses on that. In most places where dumpster diving is legal, the trespassing committed to actually get to the dumpsters is not legal.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

It is still not directly illegal and there are plenty of public dumpsters in most places. Discussion and encouragement of it is not very likely to get anyone under risk.

I would not like to drag this discussion for hours on end, however. What I was trying to say is, your community and efforts are being tolerated and hosted here, and so perhaps you could consider respecting that by revising your rules, to at least not directly admit to encouraging and "celebrating" an illegal activity. Save them from the future work. There's a line everybody tends to follow on these things online, and if the admin supports or tolerates you, perhaps you should have their back as well.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Of course they won’t address it. It’s a growing instance and they will not do controversial removals unless absolutely necessary, because that could damage that growth.

That is not exactly what I said in the DM ;) I do not plan to grow this instance beyond say 1k MAU or so and will rather close registrations completely.

I am slightly wary of this community, as it has the potential for a lot of unnecessary drama (as seen in similar communities on other websites), but only discussing shoplifting is IANAL not illegal and I personally find shoplifting not morally objectionable if done by poor people trying to somehow make ends meet (and the target is a large corporation or so).

But I think it might make sense to clarify the community rules of /c/shoplifting a bit to make it more clear what type of contributions are actually preferred.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I am slightly wary of this community, as it has the potential for a lot of unnecessary drama (as seen in similar communities on other websites),

tbh that's something I am unsure on how to approach. I would this to be a community where folks can celebrate shoplifting (as I stated in another comment) and at the same time I don't want to cause you and other server admins and other communities on this instance trouble with that. If you or others have any suggestions regarding this I would love to hear them. (Also in private messages if that's preferred.) At some point I will also try to make a post in [email protected] about this

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

"celebrate" seems an odd word in this context, but I do think our society needs to "normalize" that people need their basic needs covered one way or the other. If we as a society fail to provide the weakest with what is needed (despite surplus being available), we can't really complain about them trying to take it themselves. And this shouldn't be seen as charity, but rather as a human right.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

btw this was done by an artist named TheREALFlyDog who is currently fundraising for their medical needs. check out their linktree

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Maybe he should follow his advice and shoplift some medical treatment.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

I would if I could too

Humans have a right to affordable medical care

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Yeah no. Not going to encourage or enable a society of looters. If we are looking for justice let's start eating the super rich.

[–] masterspace 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Let's see you eat the rich first, then you can feel free to rat on the poor.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Retailers would be a good start then…

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Shoplifting from corporations is always based and always correct.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

As long as it’s from extremely wealthy companies that engage in wage theft and union busting cough cough WALMART cough, and not from small local places that would let you pay them a week later if they knew you.