# Is this unreasonable? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 29, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851 "2013-07-29T22:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/1 "2013-07-29T22:22:47Z")
There’s this guy named beane who when was younger was a bit of a troublemaker who did stupid things such as stealing. Now the place he stole from knew he stole and to no action against him/ didn’t hold him accountable/let him slide. Years later in his adulthood is accused of robbery by people who don’t like him and are saying he needs to pay for past actions etc…but if the place he stole from chose to do nothing about it, how is this beane’s problem? Do the others have a right ? ---
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/2 "2013-07-29T22:27:46Z")
Did he commit the recent robbery? ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/3 "2013-07-29T22:45:44Z")
> [@want2befree](#): > > Did he commit the recent robbery? No, but the accusations are damaging his reputation ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/4 "2013-07-29T23:18:42Z")
It’s not reasonable. But kharma can be a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/5 "2013-07-30T00:44:47Z")
I recommend he make a list of all the bad things he’s ever done and set about making up for them, “My Name Is Earl”-style. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/6 "2013-07-30T02:20:31Z")
Yes, others have a right to see justice. A robbery is not just a crime against the proximate victim, but against all of society. If a guy robs from me, and I don’t care and don’t seek justice, this could encourage others to commit similar robberies, and thus making life more dangerous for everyone. This is part of why crimes are prosecuted by “The Crown” or “The People” and not by individuals. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/7 "2013-07-30T02:48:25Z")
> [@slm2955](#): > > No, but the accusations are damaging his reputation Well, it’s not slander if the accusations are true. So I don’t think he has any recourse. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/8 "2013-07-30T03:31:53Z")
> [@slm2955](#): > > No, but the accusations are damaging his reputation so - he can still make amends, come clean, etc - the store ‘letting it slide’ has nothing to do with his ability to ‘make it right’. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/9 "2013-07-30T03:32:39Z")
If the new accusations are demonstrably false he can sue them for [slander.](http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/slander) Slander cases are hard to prove and difficult to win. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/10 "2013-07-30T03:46:26Z")
Are the accusations of stealing about the episode(s) that happened in the past? Or are these accusations of recently committed crimes? Who’re making the accusations? The people that overlooked his past acts, or someone different that happens to know about his previous ‘transgessions’? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/11 "2013-07-30T04:52:25Z")
> [@slm2955](#): > > No, but the accusations are damaging his reputation Seems to me the accusations are because of his reputation. That store may have forgiven him, but that doesn’t change the fact that he stole from them. It’s not surprising that someone known to be a thief is considered a suspect in a robbery. I don’t see how that’s unreasonable. How is it his problem? You’re seeing how it’s his problem. His past has come back to haunt him. He made his bed, and now he has to lie in it. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/12 "2013-07-30T06:09:10Z")
Crank up the heat to reduce the liquid content, then cover and reduce heat letting it simmer for a while. Add butter or olive oil and your choice of herbs/spices (I like rosemary or basil). Garlic powder, but not garlic salt! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/13 "2013-07-30T07:23:47Z")
Isn’t this a famous/common plot line in detective drama - someone commits crimes and gets away with it, then is falsely accused of a later crime, but cannot clear his name? ---
**Author:** ![Phnord\_Prephect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Phnord\_Prephect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phnord_Prephect)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/14 "2013-07-30T07:34:14Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Crank up the heat to reduce the liquid content, then cover and reduce heat letting it simmer for a while. Add butter or olive oil and your choice of herbs/spices (I like rosemary or basil). Garlic powder, but not garlic salt! I can’t tell if this is a subtle and creative metaphor for the situation, or a mis-post! I like the former better. I’m’a go with that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/15 "2013-07-30T10:56:34Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Crank up the heat to reduce the liquid content, then cover and reduce heat letting it simmer for a while. Add butter or olive oil and your choice of herbs/spices (I like rosemary or basil). Garlic powder, but not garlic salt! > [@Phnord\_Prephect](#): > > I can’t tell if this is a subtle and creative metaphor for the situation, or a mis-post! > > I like the former better. I’m’a go with that. 😉 Oh my goodness, this has me giggling hard. I like the metaphor approach, too. Is it fair that a past thief is considered a thief still, even if he hasn’t stolen _this time_? Crank up the heat. Garlic powder, NOT garlic salt. \* ::nods sagely:: - it is true that garlic salt is a thieving liar of a spice, no? ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/16 "2013-07-30T19:03:43Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Oh my goodness, this has me giggling hard. I like the metaphor approach, too. > > Is it fair that a past thief is considered a thief still, even if he hasn’t stolen _this time_? > > Crank up the heat. Garlic powder, NOT garlic salt. \* > > ::nods sagely:: > > - it is true that garlic salt is a thieving liar of a spice, no? No ---
**Author:** ![slm2955](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@slm2955](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slm2955)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/17 "2013-07-30T19:05:04Z")
> [@astro](#): > > If the new accusations are demonstrably false he can sue them for [slander.](http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/slander) > > Slander cases are hard to prove and difficult to win. No evidence ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/18 "2013-07-30T19:43:02Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > Is it fair that a past thief is considered a thief still, even if he hasn’t stolen _this time_?..\* it is true that garlic salt is a thieving liar of a spice, no? > [@slm2955](#): > > No No? No to what? To the question of a past thief being considered a thief? To the question of garlic salt being a thieving liar? > [@slm2955](#): > > No evidence No evidence of what? Slander on the part of the accusers? Thievery on the part of the accused? I’m not sure what you’re trying to accomplish here, but whatever it might be is not being communicated clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/19 "2013-07-30T21:03:01Z")
The new people want to make him a has-beane. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851/20 "2013-07-30T21:15:54Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > The new people want to make him a has-beane. Now I get it! beane stew. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-unreasonable/664851.md?page=2)