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As a counter point, I grew up in India where there is still some malnutrition and I stole mangoes. I was definitely not poor and my family could afford mangoes

As a counter point, I grew up in India where there is still some malnutrition and I stole mangoes. I was definitely not poor and my family could afford mangoes and they did buy mangoes. I stole with a bunch of friends and it was the thrill of the act rather (getting chased by the owner) than the fruit which made us stole the mangoes.

mc32 9y ago
My guess is that the childish prankish appeal will fade as the the need to steal for sustenance fades in the distance from social memory. I think, though certainly could be wrong in my guess, is that this behavior is just a vestige of the primordial reason for stealing.
- tyingq 9y ago
  At least in the US, it can be complicated, many reasons drive theft. I remember lots of kids shoplifting candy, none of them poor, when I was a kid. Interesting NPR article on it. "People with an income of $70,000 or more are 30 percent more likely to shoplift than those earning less" http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/137627302/sticky-fingers-hidden-hams-a-shoplifting-history http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/137627302/sticky-fingers-hidde... Of course, that covers items beyond food, so perhaps not a direct comparison.
  - goialoq 9y ago
    "earning less" than what Unsuprisingly, NPR is misleading to create a more salacious read, and they failed to cover their tracks: https://books.google.com/books?id=EchKhEduEBwC&pg=PT50&dq=People+with+an+income+of+$70,000+or+more+are+30+percent+more+likely+to+shoplift https://books.google.com/books?id=EchKhEduEBwC&pg=PT50&dq=Pe... The research found that people who are in stores more, shoplift more.
- pbhjpbhj 9y ago
  Which is the greater crime: wasting the fruit, or picking the fruit because someone else has legal title over the tree? The former certainly seems more morally reprehensible.
  - mc32 9y ago
    That would depend on need. In most advanced economies sustenance is likely to be a very minor cause. In any event, I'm not taking any moral stand on this, simply trying guess the disinclination to steal fruit.

mc32 9y ago

My guess is that the childish prankish appeal will fade as the the need to steal for sustenance fades in the distance from social memory. I think, though certainly could be wrong in my guess, is that this behavior is just a vestige of the primordial reason for stealing.

tyingq 9y ago
At least in the US, it can be complicated, many reasons drive theft. I remember lots of kids shoplifting candy, none of them poor, when I was a kid. Interesting NPR article on it. "People with an income of $70,000 or more are 30 percent more likely to shoplift than those earning less" http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/137627302/sticky-fingers-hidden-hams-a-shoplifting-history http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/137627302/sticky-fingers-hidde... Of course, that covers items beyond food, so perhaps not a direct comparison.
- goialoq 9y ago
  "earning less" than what Unsuprisingly, NPR is misleading to create a more salacious read, and they failed to cover their tracks: https://books.google.com/books?id=EchKhEduEBwC&pg=PT50&dq=People+with+an+income+of+$70,000+or+more+are+30+percent+more+likely+to+shoplift https://books.google.com/books?id=EchKhEduEBwC&pg=PT50&dq=Pe... The research found that people who are in stores more, shoplift more.
pbhjpbhj 9y ago
Which is the greater crime: wasting the fruit, or picking the fruit because someone else has legal title over the tree? The former certainly seems more morally reprehensible.
- mc32 9y ago
  That would depend on need. In most advanced economies sustenance is likely to be a very minor cause. In any event, I'm not taking any moral stand on this, simply trying guess the disinclination to steal fruit.