# A Poll: Have you ever committed a crime? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378 "2010-08-16T01:55:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/1 "2010-08-16T01:55:15Z")
Excluding minor traffic violations such as speeding, and also excluding buying selling or using small amounts of recreational drugs, have you committed any criminal acts in your life? ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/2 "2010-08-16T02:48:56Z")
Never (under your definition). I’d love to see how this brakes down on an age basis. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/3 "2010-08-16T02:53:50Z")
Shoot I meant to pick the fourth option. I forgot about my occasional weed use up to my early thirties. Other than that I stole something once when I was a kid. Too much excitement for me! Also I drank a few times as a minor. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/4 "2010-08-16T03:13:40Z")
Helped steal a case of pints of Old Crow when I was a teen (I was the driver). Got caught, of course, along with several other JDs during a routine traffic stop. Did the usual mischief when I was a kid, including slashing a few tires with a particularly destructive friend of mine. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/5 "2010-08-16T13:57:32Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Shoot I meant to pick the fourth option. I forgot about my occasional weed use up to my early thirties. > > Other than that I stole something once when I was a kid. Too much excitement for me! Also I drank a few times as a minor. The OP says “excluding buying selling or using small amounts of recreational drugs,” so your weed usage is fine. In junior high, my friends and I used to lift small items for kicks. In high school, I stole some cheap booze from 7/11. As an adult, as defined by the OP, no crimes. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/6 "2010-08-16T14:03:39Z")
I shoplifted some candy at age 14 just to see if I could get away with it. I did. I ate the candy, then decided the experience had been pretty stupid and didn’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![SpecialAgentJem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@SpecialAgentJem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpecialAgentJem)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/7 "2010-08-16T21:16:20Z")
Does public indecency count? We were never caught though! ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/8 "2010-08-16T21:20:49Z")
What about illegally downloading mp3s, does that count? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/9 "2010-08-16T21:23:45Z")
I stole a Baby Ruth candy bar when I was about 7. I’m 56. I still feel bad about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/10 "2010-08-16T21:28:08Z")
Embezzlement. On being sent to shop at the supermarket at ages 8/9 I sometimes bought an ice cream cone for myself on the way back. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/11 "2010-08-17T02:12:56Z")
When I was 8 and my sister was 6, one time we filled our purses with candy and snuck out of the store. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/12 "2010-08-17T02:19:30Z")
> [@SpecialAgentJem](#): > > Does public indecency count? We were never caught though! > [@multimediac17](#): > > What about illegally downloading mp3s, does that count? Yes, they count. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/13 "2010-08-17T02:37:10Z")
The Google ad I see right now? “Accused of HIV-related crimes? You’re innocent- we’ll prove it.” Hmmm… :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/14 "2010-08-17T04:36:44Z")
I checked options two through five. And yet… I’ve never been to jail. I’m totally straight now though, I swear. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/15 "2010-08-17T04:40:27Z")
> [@Silver\_Fire](#): > > I checked options two through five. > > And yet… I’ve never been to jail. > > I’m totally straight now though, I swear. Does that mean you are a non-gay criminal? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/16 "2010-08-17T04:58:57Z")
I’m actually a non-gay non-criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/17 "2010-08-17T05:16:18Z")
I technically committed the crime of criminal trespass and was arrested for it. Paid a fine and that was it. I was in a city park after sunset and wasn’t aware at the time that it was against the law. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/18 "2010-08-17T06:37:24Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > [@multimediac17](#): > > > > What about illegally downloading mp3s, does that count? > > Yes, they count. Nitpick: If you want to include that, you’ll need to expand the thread title to include civil torts. Downloading copyrighted material is not a “criminal act.” ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/19 "2010-08-17T06:46:33Z")
I hurt somebody’s feelings, once. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378/20 "2010-08-17T07:12:19Z")
If public indecency and pirating music/games count, then yes, both as a child and as an adult. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-have-you-ever-committed-a-crime/550378.md?page=2)