# Looting in New Orleans... God's displeasure **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389 "2005-08-31T05:14:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/21 "2005-08-31T13:50:52Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > I disagree completely. L.A. was lashing out in response to a verdict. The looters weren’t making a political statement, they were exploiting the chaos, preying on their neighbors, and are the kind of scum that make ghetto an adjective, not a noun, to people who live in poor urban neighborhoods. The looters in New Orleans now are not Jean Valjean, stealing bread for their family. They’re armed, organized gangs taking armfuls of iPods and designer jeans. They’re the same as the looters in L.A. Scum. None of these people get my sympathy. If you were trying to find the parameters of my liberal heart, you found it. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/22 "2005-08-31T13:51:24Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > …The one looting-related photo I’ve seen that ran with that coverage showed a group of people cleaning out a sporting goods store. If they’re taking baseball gloves and New Orleans Saints jerseys, they’re no good looters. If they’re taking waders, canoes and camping equipment they’re just trying to survive. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/23 "2005-08-31T14:02:10Z")
**cricetus.** I heard those reports, and I refuse to believe (at this time) that a significant portion of looting in New Orleans is due to armed criminal looting of luxury items, just as I refuse to categorize all the looting in L.A. as the opportunistic free-for-all of burning and looting most made that out to be. Some people out there, then and now, have real, genuine, legitimate need. You’re going to find opportunists in any kind of disaster, from the looting in New York during the blackout to looting in Iraq during the initial invasion. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/24 "2005-08-31T14:08:53Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > per the OP. I think God has already forgiven them. They still need to deal with the consequences of their choices though.Do we forgive them. Right now the people in need have first priority. By the time we deal with that the looting will be done. I think we need to deal with the emergency and move on. I doubt trying to prosecute looters will be productive in any way. Allow me to quote from _O Brother, Where Art Thou_: “The Lord may have forgiven you. But the state of Mississippi’s liable to be a little more hard-nosed about it.” ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/25 "2005-08-31T14:13:14Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > **cricetus.** I heard those reports, and I refuse to believe (at this time) that a significant portion of looting in New Orleans is due to armed criminal looting of luxury items, just as I refuse to categorize all the looting in L.A. as the opportunistic free-for-all of burning and looting most made that out to be. Some people out there, then and now, have real, genuine, legitimate need. > > You’re going to find opportunists in any kind of disaster, from the looting in New York during the blackout to looting in Iraq during the initial invasion. Yeah, because SOME of the looting in LA was NOT opportunistic. They were looting for Jesus and Dr. King, right? There’s no “real, genuine, legitimate need” for TV’s and Nike tennis shoes. And just because you find opportunists in any kind of disaster doesn’t mean they aren’t scum. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/26 "2005-08-31T14:14:31Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > If they’re taking baseball gloves and New Orleans Saints jerseys, they’re no good looters. If they’re taking waders, canoes and camping equipment they’re just trying to survive. Why are so many people trying to make apologies for looters? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/27 "2005-08-31T14:17:21Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > The looters in New Orleans now are not Jean Valjean, stealing bread for their family. They’re armed, organized gangs taking armfuls of iPods and designer jeans. They’re the same as the looters in L.A. Scum. What percentage of the people stuck in NO stayed behind **in order to** loot? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/28 "2005-08-31T14:19:03Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > I could probably barter me a nice stolen TV with the extra canned goods I had stashed. I disagree. I lived in New Orleans and am very familar with some of the impoverished black population there. Thinking long term about how different “economic” scerarios will play out in the next few days or weeks is generally not one of their strong suits. It is as simple as “see store with cool free stuff”, “rob store with cool free stuff”. If these people were thinking rationally and strategically, then they would be working hard to get out of the city, not looting stores. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/29 "2005-08-31T14:19:05Z")
Does anyone have any info about these pond-sucking scum trying to break into a Children’s Hospital? Hospital workers locked the doors and called for help, but the police couldn’t get there. There were 100 children there as patients! ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/30 "2005-08-31T14:34:52Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > Allow me to quote from _O Brother, Where Art Thou_: > > “The Lord may have forgiven you. But the state of Mississippi’s liable to be a little more hard-nosed about it.” I’m only talking priorities. While those stranded and in need of food water and medical attention are still at the top of the priority list I wouldn’t put my resources into stopping people from stealing blue jeans and jewelry. I’ve also heard stories of groups of men with guns banding together to steal. That’s a different story. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/31 "2005-08-31T14:41:23Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Yeah, because SOME of the looting in LA was NOT opportunistic. They were looting for Jesus and Dr. King, right? There’s no “real, genuine, legitimate need” for TV’s and Nike tennis shoes. > > And just because you find opportunists in any kind of disaster doesn’t mean they aren’t scum. _Sigh_ Right. MOST of the looting in L.A. was opportunistic. SOME of it wasn’t. Opportunists are scum, but not all looters fall under that stripe. If you would take the time to read my posts for content instead of reading them to make incorrect, sarcastic points, we might find more common ground. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/32 "2005-08-31T14:44:41Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > _Sigh_ Right. MOST of the looting in L.A. was opportunistic. SOME of it wasn’t. Cite? > [@](#): > > Opportunists are scum, but not all looters fall under that stripe. Yes, I keep overlooking the people stealing baby medicine to send to Africa. > [@](#): > > If you would take the time to read my posts for content instead of reading them to make incorrect, sarcastic points, we might find more common ground. You haven’t demonstrated any logical or factual arguments to make me believe that some looting is not opportunistic. By defnition, it is opportunistic. It is like saying, “yes MOST rape is violent, but some isn’t.” ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/33 "2005-08-31T14:48:27Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > What percentage of the people stuck in NO stayed behind **in order to** loot? I don’t know that this is a serious question, but it is certainly irrelevent. Whether somebody merely ignored the warnings and orders to leave out of stupidity or out of calculating selfishness is immaterial to the moral and legal aspects of looting. I have a remarkable lack of sympathy for the morons who keep ignoring all the warnings, then strain resources by requiring police to go get their sorry ass off of a rooftop. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/34 "2005-08-31T14:54:09Z")
> [@bizzwire](#): > > Cigarettes, alcohol…aren’t survival necessities You’ve obviously never met my father. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/35 "2005-08-31T14:57:34Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > What percentage of the people stuck in NO stayed behind **in order to** loot? I was wondering how many people stayed behind because they knew that if they left, someone would steal everything they owned that wasn’t bolted down. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/36 "2005-08-31T15:03:43Z")
Off to **IMHO**. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/37 "2005-08-31T15:11:11Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > I don’t know that this is a serious question, but it is certainly irrelevent. Whether somebody merely ignored the warnings and orders to leave out of stupidity or out of calculating selfishness is immaterial to the moral and legal aspects of looting. Not irrelevant at all. Planning and forethought are the difference between murder and manslaughter. > [@](#): > > I have a remarkable lack of sympathy for the morons who keep ignoring all the warnings, then strain resources by requiring police to go get their sorry ass off of a rooftop. Agreed. > [@Hyperelastic](#): > > I was wondering how many people stayed behind because they knew that if they left, someone would steal everything they owned that wasn’t bolted down. There are those people, too. I didn’t suggest that ALL of the people stayed behind in order to loot. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/38 "2005-08-31T15:13:28Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Cite? Common sense. > [@](#): > > Yes, I keep overlooking the people stealing baby medicine to send to Africa. Or y’know, \*conceivably \* for their own kids. > [@](#): > > You haven’t demonstrated any logical or factual arguments to make me believe that some looting is not opportunistic. I am using the word opportunistic in the sense that some stealing is unethical and done purely for financial gain but not immoral, in the sense that if they didn’t steal it they’d have more problems. I have no problem with people stealing food, clothes or medicine to survive. I am able to grasp the difference between “need” and “greed.” > [@](#): > > It is like saying, “yes MOST rape is violent, but some isn’t.” Yes, precisely. Rape is simply sex without consent. It is often violent, and typically so, just not in all cases. Statutory rape typically isn’t violent. Neither is rape of anyone who has no ability to resist: the unconscious, the passed-out drunk or those under the effect of rohypnol. Beastiality is rape because animals can’t give consent, but judging from some interasting downloads I’ve seen, dogs and horses don’t seem violently penetrated, suckled or fondled. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/39 "2005-08-31T15:13:56Z")
I judge the seriousness of crimes by damage don to victims. Who are the victims in this case? Walmart? Fuck Walmart. Most of the merchandise being taken is stuff that’s already written off as a loss anyway so the stores aren’t actually affected. I see it as a victimless crime. I especially don’t see anything wrong with taking food and water. It’s not like any of that stuff was going to able to be sold anyway. Essentially these people are taking garbage. They’re taking stuff that has already been discarded as salable merchandise. The stores will get their insurance money and everybody wins. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389/40 "2005-08-31T15:16:02Z")
Shoot 'em. Anybody carrying something other than food or diapers, shoot first and don’t bother to ask questions. Martial law is in effect, and looting becomes a capital offense, with no appeal. Of course, disease and such will take care of most of these scum. But the crackdown by the authorities should be massive and brutal. Make an example of them, because it isn’t going to get any better in NO very soon. I can easily see the entire area reverting to anarchy if Order is not imposed with an iron fist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looting-in-new-orleans-gods-displeasure/319389.md?page=3)