# 'Scuse me, but that's stealing **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 31, 2006, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674 "2006-07-31T05:52:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/81 "2006-08-01T04:22:36Z")
I note that **Excalibre** himself has only used it in the Pit three times. And only one of those times was one of **saorise** ’s linked threads. It’s a neologism, **saorise**. Use it the waythat feels right to you. But as an activity, there’s nothing in the term that necessitates one to intuit it as solely a group activity. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/82 "2006-08-01T05:05:56Z")
> [@Firebringer](#): > > I have no idea of number of the number of prosecutions and even less interest infinding out. Frankly it has nothing to do with the subject at hand. Let me explain this to you… I do hope I won’t need the finger puppets this time: If no-one has ever been prosecuted for Unlawfully Refilling A Cup From A Soft Drink Post-Mix Machine, then it can hardly be considered a “Crime”, can it? Oh sure, you can jump up and down about how it’s unlawfully taking something, but if the vendor cared, they’d do something about it. Their failure to care or take action means they can be seen as giving their implied consent, therefore it’s not really theft- and even if a case could be made for it _technically_ being theft, it’s certainly not worth making an issue of. > [@](#): > > Instead of looking up uses of gold on spacecraft you might have though to look up Theft > > [Theft - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theft) > or > > [Answers - The Most Trusted Place for Answering Life's Questions](http://www.answers.com/topic/theft) You can tell the difference between “providing a cite” and “acting like a 12 year old”, right? I notice you haven’t got the good grace to admit you didn’t actually know gold had uses besides currency and jewellery, either. How old are you, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/83 "2006-08-01T07:59:18Z")
Well, something good has come from this thread. **Uvula Donor** has enriched my volcabulary and I am eternally greatful. Dustcunted schoolmarm. _snicker_ ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/84 "2006-08-01T09:03:23Z")
Hrmm… Just to put this into perspective: 5 gallons of cola mix apparently costs $10, diluted to a 5:1 ratio means 25 gallons or 200 pints for $10. since a pint is a pound, this is 200 pounds or 3200 oz so we get a per unit price of 0.3c/oz. [Toilet paper](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BDH2XO/sr=8-1/qid=1154422615/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-2918862-9383124?ie=UTF8) on amazon costs $40 for 8000 sheets which means a per sheet price of 0.5c per sheet. Assuming a mouthful is roughly an ounce, taking 3 extra mouthfuls of cola is a lesser offense than using an extra 3 sheets of toilet paper to wipe your ass at that same convenience store. If your so squeamish as to line the entire toilet seat with paper before you sit down, well, you must be worse than a baby raper or something. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/85 "2006-08-01T09:05:37Z")
This thread makes me thirsty for unpaid-for root beer. I think there’s an all-nght Subway near here… ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/86 "2006-08-01T09:30:04Z")
If you’re going to pit this practice **DWC** , you need to include Coca-Cola in your rantings. They’ve been running a commercial that flat-out _encourages_ pilfering with the tag line “Sipping - not a felony in 50 states” or something like that. Pisses me off b/c I know that’s just one more way that they’re trying to increase their profits (I used to work for them - profit is everything). If they could get everyone in America to steal one more sip, they’d make an extra X dollars per year – whoo!!! I can just picture them in the boardroom, rubbing their hands with glee. ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_LaStrega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Amber\_LaStrega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_LaStrega)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/87 "2006-08-01T10:41:53Z")
I work for a newspaper … and fuck if it hasn’t been FLIPPIN HOT recently. But this worked my last … heated … nerve. Thoughts? http ://www.flickr.com/photos/jimeli1jamesrw/117131393/in/set-72057594107876232/ ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_LaStrega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Amber\_LaStrega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_LaStrega)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/88 "2006-08-01T10:43:19Z")
> [@Amber LaStrega](#): > > I work for a newspaper … and fuck if it hasn’t been FLIPPIN HOT recently. But this worked my last … heated … nerve. Thoughts? > > http ://www.flickr.com/photos/jimeli1jamesrw/117131393/in/set-72057594107876232/ shit shit shit not the link I intended. gah sorry ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_LaStrega](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Amber\_LaStrega](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_LaStrega)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/89 "2006-08-01T10:45:46Z")
> [@Amber LaStrega](#): > > I work for a newspaper … and fuck if it hasn’t been FLIPPIN HOT recently. But this worked my last … heated … nerve. Thoughts? > > [Your input is requested ... | So. I wanna get a tattoo. My p… | Flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/amber_lastrega/202482404/) shit shit shit not the link I intended. gah sorry ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/90 "2006-08-01T10:46:59Z")
I bet nipple-licking is illegal somewhere. Let’s just wait until the OP gets outraged about that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/91 "2006-08-01T11:05:02Z")
> [@Amber LaStrega](#): > > shit shit shit > > not the link I intended. gah > > sorry So, which of those links _did_ you want us to see? The anonymous closeup of a nipple getting licked, or the gradeschool scribble of a spider that you want permanently inked to your sorry ass? You know, if you’re going to get a tatoo, you really should get one that isn’t going to look like it was done with a sharpened stick by your drunken cellmate. ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/92 "2006-08-01T12:20:43Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I note that **Excalibre** himself has only used it in the Pit three times. And only one of those times was one of **saorise** ’s linked threads. It’s a neologism, **saorise**. Use it the waythat feels right to you. But as an activity, there’s nothing in the term that necessitates one to intuit it as solely a group activity. Oh for Christ’s sake. I never said that list was exhaustive. Recreational outrage threads have been appearing in the pit since there was a pit. It’s 98 fucking degrees. Try not to be an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/93 "2006-08-01T12:25:41Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > Try not to be an idiot. It’s the only language you seem to understand. Can’t blame him for trying. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/94 "2006-08-01T12:35:10Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > Truer words were never spoken. Then why the fuck did you bring it up, genius?? I hate wrestling with pigs. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/95 "2006-08-01T12:44:11Z")
> [@Bryan Ekers](#): > > I bet nipple-licking is illegal somewhere. Let’s just wait until the OP gets outraged about that, too. If you are licking a woman’s nipple, and that nipple lactates and if you drink the resulting milk, are you stealing from her if you don’t offer her just compensation? If you do offer her just compensation, aren’t you guilty of soliciting prostitution? If you immediately spit it out, the milk would be wasted (and the relationship would probably end on the spot). Do you feel that this makes nipple-licking morally wrong? Nipple: Its what’s for dinner. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/96 "2006-08-01T13:48:01Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > To address some posts: No, I don’t own a convenience store. Too bad if you feel this is a lame pitting. The mindset displayed by many posters to this thread is indicative of a societal problem. Let’s rationalize our way out of this. How in hell does the profit margin on a product justify the theft thereof? Oh-he’s marked this up way more than I think he should have, so fuck him, I’ll take it. :rolleyes: > > Is this the kind of shit you teach your kids? Seriously. Think about it-your values will likely be adopted in part by your offspring. When little Billy and Suzie see you steal, it becomes okay in their minds because Mommy or Daddy did it. My parents advised that honesty is like pregnancy-either you are or you aren’t. I actually agree with you. Each incident of soda theft is miniscule, but if we use the information given by an above poster (100 refills instead of 120 @ $1 per each) that’s $20 dollars per tank of shorted income for the store. Times that by the number of tanks they go through in a year and it could be a sufficient number, maybe upwards of several hundred dollars. The store just doesn’t want to try to chase that money down on a per drink basis because it would cost more in employees time than that few hundred bucks is worth. IOW, it’s a loss they have to accept to prevent a greater loss (employee time, customer loyalty, etc.) If it’s a _little_ wrong then it’s a lot wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/97 "2006-08-01T14:29:39Z")
Wait a minute here. There is a single reason why there is this “theft” going on in the first place. The store has chosen to save money on labor by putting the soda machine in front of the counter instead of behind the counter. They certainly have the choice to put the machines back behind the counter and “save” all that money from this hideous theft problem. They don’t, because they money they save by making the customer serve themselves more than makes up for the one cent per cup of lost syrup. Your $20/tank calculation is bullshit too. Unless they are chronically running out of syrup, they’re not going to lose a single dollar in sales, they just have to pay for more supplies for the sales they make, that’s about $1/tank, maybe. If a worker dropped a $10 tank on the floor, would you say he lost you $120, or the $10 it takes to buy another tank? ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/98 "2006-08-01T14:40:03Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Wait a minute here. There is a single reason why there is this “theft” going on in the first place. The store has chosen to save money on labor by putting the soda machine in front of the counter instead of behind the counter. > > They certainly have the choice to put the machines back behind the counter and “save” all that money from this hideous theft problem. They don’t, because they money they save by making the customer serve themselves more than makes up for the one cent per cup of lost syrup. > > Your $20/tank calculation is bullshit too. Unless they are chronically running out of syrup, they’re not going to lose a single dollar in sales, they just have to pay for more supplies for the sales they make, that’s about $1/tank, maybe. If a worker dropped a $10 tank on the floor, would you say he lost you $120, or the $10 it takes to buy another tank? Hard to follow you. I’m talking revenue lost. Not the actual cost. If you’re paying for a 20oz drink then you should get 20oz. Not 30, or 40. Pay for the 30 if you want 30. Don’t fill up the 20oz cup and drink 10oz and then refill it. That’s clearly being dishonest. If the store policy is otherwise then it doesn’t matter, but if the store sells different sizes then you should pay and drink accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/99 "2006-08-01T14:46:42Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Your $20/tank calculation is bullshit too. Unless they are chronically running out of syrup, they’re not going to lose a single dollar in sales, they just have to pay for more supplies for the sales they make, that’s about $1/tank, maybe. If a worker dropped a $10 tank on the floor, would you say he lost you $120, or the $10 it takes to buy another tank? Ok, I understand this part after reading it again. You’re probably right. Unless they have a contract from the supplier for X amount of product then it probably won’t matter to the store. They’d be out the $10 bucks, not the $120. It’s still a problem I have on principle, it’s the 30oz for the 20oz price thing. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674/100 "2006-08-01T17:20:12Z")
> [@danceswithcats](#): > > To address some posts: No, I don’t own a convenience store. Too bad if you feel this is a lame pitting. The mindset displayed by many posters to this thread is indicative of a societal problem. Let’s rationalize our way out of this. How in hell does the profit margin on a product justify the theft thereof? Oh-he’s marked this up way more than I think he should have, so fuck him, I’ll take it. :rolleyes: > > Is this the kind of shit you teach your kids? Seriously. Think about it-your values will likely be adopted in part by your offspring. When little Billy and Suzie see you steal, it becomes okay in their minds because Mommy or Daddy did it. My parents advised that honesty is like pregnancy-either you are or you aren’t. Posts like this are the reason why people fail to recognize a good whoosh on the SDMB anymore. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scuse-me-but-thats-stealing/366674.md?page=6)