Law Abiding! Afraid of Jail or Basically Law Abiding Citizens??
By artistry
@artistry (4151)
United States
January 27, 2010 10:11am CST
Do you think that most people are law abiding citizens or more afraid of jail, and therefore they make the decision not to commit a crime? Does the thought of being imprisoned have a stonger effect on them than not breaking the law? Let's talk about it.
3 responses
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
28 Jan 10
A few years ago, here where I live, there was a police strike and I can tell you it was not a pretty sight. I would say that most people are law-abiding because of fear of punishment and the minority are law-abiding because they are honest and respectful of others. People are like rivers, because they take the course of least resistance, very few are straight.
1 person likes this
@artistry (4151)
• United States
29 Jan 10
...Hi 1hopefulman, Wow, what thoughts are running through my mind from what you wrote. So the people were doing any and everything because there was no one around in authority that would stop them? They just went wild in the city so to speak. My goodness, that is a bit scary and so very much a test of what we are talking about.
The laws are there, but if it is dark and no one is looking or you have no fear of being arrested, some will commit a crime if they can. Pitiful that some humans have natures that respond like the untamed in the jungle. Our baser natures should not be given the upper hand. Thanks for this very pointed insight, I appreciate it, though it is frightening in a way. Take good care.
@artistry (4151)
• United States
31 Jan 10
..Hi 1hopefulman, Jimminy Crickets this was just about all out anarchy. This has happened here, but I think it started because of some incident of someone getting beaten. That was horrible, the more I read the more I kept saying oh my God. What a situation, it seemed like they were looking for an excuse to plunder and pillage. How very sad it all was. Thanks for the copy, take care.
@zhouzhou200004 (27)
• China
29 Jan 10
I live in the city where people are afraid of being in jail or pay money,so most of them will not break laws.For our society, if a person who is in prison, he will be despised by his neighbors and also his whole family will be badly influenced.So it's very terrible.But most will not obey the social regulations which will not bring you to prison.
1 person likes this
@artistry (4151)
• United States
11 Feb 10
...Hi zhouzhou, I don't think many people would really want to be in jail or pay a fine, I know that I wouldn't want to do either. So breaking the law would be a no no for me, unless of course I got caught speeding, as I have a few times and had to pay a fine, which I hated, but do the crime pay the fine. Thanks so much for your response. Take it easy.
@zhouzhou200004 (27)
• China
29 Jan 10
Of course, most people are law abiding,not only for being afraid of jail,but also scared to be scolded by public opinion.
@artistry (4151)
• United States
29 Jan 10
...Hi there zhouzhou200004, Welcome to the ranch. It's a great place to meet and greet. I would like to think that most people are law abiding, and if we try to prove that, I would guess we could look at the prison population as compared with the entire country population. There is only a segment of the general population who have committed crimes serious enough to go to prison, That is a good thing I guess. Thanks and take care.
