Criminal Instincts

Well I saw you standing smoking counting stolen change,
Don't someone have the guts to complain?
You said 'Superman, I'm a big fan but let's get something straight,
You don't have the guts to complain!'
Suede, 'Together'

Went on an FAL mini-run yesterday to restock UnISFA's fridge (amongst other things). Shoplifted a Twix. Realised (once again) that I don't seem to have as many qualms about committing crimes as most people. Clearly flogging a loose chocolate bar from a wholesaler doesn't top most league ladders of sin, but I feel sure I'd do much worse things if I only thought I could get away with them.

The existence of massive insurance conglomerates in our society dramatically multiplies the number of crimes that are essentially victimless. Robbing banks, for example. You don't think that taking that money would really hurt anyone, do you? The bank is insured against theft, and has paid an insurance company money that has been carefully balanced against the probability that you (or any other enterprising iconoclast) will attempt to take their satchels of cash. Even supposing a massive (say tenfold) increase in the number of bank robberies, we're at most talking about a slight reduction in the five million dollar performance bonus paid to some corpulent, halfwitted insurance company chief. The only risk is that you'll inadvertently permanently traumatise an innocent bank teller by thrusting the gleaming tip of a Desert Eagle up their left nostril. Sounds fun, eh? And just think, you could be on the plane to Guatemala with your ill-gotten gains within a couple of hours.