I'm an alien who just landed on earth. Explain to me what a "crime" is.

Some of the most (seemingly) basic, widely accepted, and simple definitions we use are actually the most philosophically difficult to define. One such example is what constitutes a "crime".

I'm an alien. What (the fuck) is a crime? Oh and said alien will decapitate you if your explanation contains exceptions.

(i.e. you have to define crime with absolute applicability, not an easy task.)

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So some anticipated responses from you guys that would NOT be valid.

1) "It's something that's bad." (no, because "bad" is subjective) 2) "It harms other people in society." (no, plenty of crimes have no victim). 3) "It's a set of rules that society generally agrees to follow" (no, there are always people who disagree).

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To me, a "crime" is simply something that disrupts the intended, manmade design of modern-day civilization. Emphasis on man-made. Most "crimes" are actually completely arbitrary, and can actually disrupt the natural biological evolutionary process of a species. It's a mechanism for the governing elite to wield power over the masses of (often unaware) plebes. Alas, welcome to the giant human farming experiment. Welcome to planet Earth.

15 Comments
 
"Howard Hughes" Nope, crime is any unjust force used against someone - that is general and all-encompassing.

uhhh no that sounds like assault ... general and all-encompassing? come again?

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
"Howard Hughes" An unjust force used against someone could be assault, it could be theft of property or literally any other thing that is done against someone or their property that isn't consensual in nature.

The word 'force' is incorrect here. A crime does not have to use force.

Maybe a country doesn't let you wear sunglasses on Tuesdays or chew gum in public. A crime just needs two components.

a) a law b) someone breaking the law

This isn't rocket science.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
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"Howard Hughes" So, if you could, please tell me why force is used incorrectly here. While yes, you're right in a sense, I don't necessarily view something to be a crime just because it's been legislated (and vice versa).

Well, Madoff didn't really 'force' people to hand over millions, but his deception was a crime and had a negative affect on society.

I don't know what you mean about legislation and vice versa. You have a law, someone breaks the law, this is a crime. Its pretty clear cut.

If you're talking about the theoretical and philosophical viewpoint if the action committed was right or wrong, that is a completely different conversation. A crime is not about what is right or wrong. A crime is a violation of the law. Who knows if the law is right or wrong. That is more of a MLK discussion.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
"MonacoMonkey" I'm an alien. What (the fuck) is a crime?

A crime is a violation of the law.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
"Layne Staley" A well-done steak is a crime.

Finally, someone that gets it.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
"MonacoMonkey" To me, a "crime" is simply something that disrupts the intended, manmade design of modern-day civilization.

![https://media.giphy.com/media/xTiTnIilwuFFFpf2Cc/giphy.gif][https://med…]

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

I think all of us here can be (very) thankful that Howard Hughes (that guy posting above) is NOT a prosecutor and/or lawyer of any sort. And that's an understatement. One must wonder if he is being serious.

 

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