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That isn’t unique to the UK, every country has a moral code and the general populace will be hesitant to break it. Why do you think most people are willing to t

That isn’t unique to the UK, every country has a moral code and the general populace will be hesitant to break it. Why do you think most people are willing to try drugs but very few would assault someone and steal their money. Both are illegal.

Gordonjcp 4y ago
People in European countries - including the UK, despite what the right-wing Brexit idiots might think - tend not to steal not because they're afraid of getting caught but because they wouldn't want to be stolen from. More people are willing to take drugs illegally than they are to steal, because taking drugs does not directly deprive someone else of something. If you want to compare different kinds of theft, look at the difference between piracy versus shoplifting versus housebreaking. Most people of even a fairly high moral compass are okay with torrenting stuff because Disney has enough money and even a huge amount of people illegally downloading a movie that they wouldn't have paid to see anyway doesn't really "harm" Disney in any way. It is "theft of service", in that there are still the same number of physical copies and no-one has lost any physical goods, but someone somewhere has not been paid for their time. If you shoplifted a DVD, there would be one less DVD in that shop, that ultimately someone has paid for so it can be on the shelf. This breaks down further - you might shoplift it from Asda because (again) Asda has enough money, but you might not shoplift it from Wee Mad Bob's Magic Videos, because everyone knows Wee Mad Bob and he's an great guy who's struggling enough to keep his shop open, especially with the big new Asda opening up a video section. If you broke into someone's house, you'd be taking the conscious decision to enter someone else's space, and remove something they have chosen to have in their home. That crosses far more morality contour lines than buying a bit of shitty homegrown from some guy down the pub. TL;DR the US is more right-leaning and right-wing views tend to be amoral and "stealing is okay as long as you don't get caught", whereas Europe is more left-leaning and moral, and "stealing is not okay, because you wouldn't like it either".
- ericmcer 4y ago
  This is a hilarious take. Your post is long but is essentially saying Europeans (but not right wing ones) more fully embrace "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". That you are more inclined towards the Judeo-Christian moral ideal than Americans. (Also strange as right wing parties have strong religious associations). Is your claim that Europeans have stronger/older ties to religion? Or that you are just better than Americans in some intangible manner.

Gordonjcp 4y ago

People in European countries - including the UK, despite what the right-wing Brexit idiots might think - tend not to steal not because they're afraid of getting caught but because they wouldn't want to be stolen from. More people are willing to take drugs illegally than they are to steal, because taking drugs does not directly deprive someone else of something. If you want to compare different kinds of theft, look at the difference between piracy versus shoplifting versus housebreaking. Most people of even a fairly high moral compass are okay with torrenting stuff because Disney has enough money and even a huge amount of people illegally downloading a movie that they wouldn't have paid to see anyway doesn't really "harm" Disney in any way. It is "theft of service", in that there are still the same number of physical copies and no-one has lost any physical goods, but someone somewhere has not been paid for their time. If you shoplifted a DVD, there would be one less DVD in that shop, that ultimately someone has paid for so it can be on the shelf. This breaks down further - you might shoplift it from Asda because (again) Asda has enough money, but you might not shoplift it from Wee Mad Bob's Magic Videos, because everyone knows Wee Mad Bob and he's an great guy who's struggling enough to keep his shop open, especially with the big new Asda opening up a video section. If you broke into someone's house, you'd be taking the conscious decision to enter someone else's space, and remove something they have chosen to have in their home. That crosses far more morality contour lines than buying a bit of shitty homegrown from some guy down the pub. TL;DR the US is more right-leaning and right-wing views tend to be amoral and "stealing is okay as long as you don't get caught", whereas Europe is more left-leaning and moral, and "stealing is not okay, because you wouldn't like it either".

ericmcer 4y ago
This is a hilarious take. Your post is long but is essentially saying Europeans (but not right wing ones) more fully embrace "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". That you are more inclined towards the Judeo-Christian moral ideal than Americans. (Also strange as right wing parties have strong religious associations). Is your claim that Europeans have stronger/older ties to religion? Or that you are just better than Americans in some intangible manner.