Is it wrong for a man/woman to steal bread to feed their family?

[MOB Karen]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/12/12_4_58.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm824YYUS) Let us know what you think, but please respect the opinions of others.

[MOB Karen]

Ok, I believe that stealing is stealing; however, when I find out that what was stolen was food, I don't look harshly on that individual. I want to go get some more food and give it to them. I hate to think of anyone going hungry. :(

[brewsells]

I feel about the same way as you, Karen. If I were put in the position that I had to feed my family, I would steal food to do it. I'm not saying that is the first thing I would do, but if I had no other alternative, you're darn right I would.

[jeni740]

I work downtown and feel horible for the homeless, I can see how some of them got there, my dad was very close to being homeless until he finally called me and told me he had no money, literally no food and he was behind on rent by about 2000.00, the VA was no help at all, then I brought him to Social Services, and we explained that after 30yrs of working for the same company he was let go for reasons which were his fault, Welfare is giving him 350.00a month for rent and 150.00 for food my mom and I give him some extra money for toilet tissue, deoderant, shampoo, it's unbelievable what can happen sometimes. I feel bad , but stealing is not an option there is always a way to get something without it.

[WebLady]

I think it depends on the situation ... yes stealing is wrong, but if you are stealing food because you can't afford to feed your family then I wouldn't think that was really all that bad. However, I have to wonder in some cases are people stealing because it is easier than going to find a job ... even od jobs KWIM?

I feel for homeless people but I can't help but wonder how you let yourself get to that point in your life. Maybe I am being cold or maybe I just don't understand. When I see homeless people begging for money I always wonder if they are really in that bad of shape or if they are lazy or lost hope and motivation. Then there are also those that are just out to scam you, so I wonder about that too. I would almost rather give to a shelter or something.

[Jenn060306]

It really depends. I think stealing food to feed your family is so much different then stealing electronics or clothing and stuff. I do belive stealing is wrong. absolutly.
But when it's a matter of starving or not.... i think that it isn't the end of the world. I would hope that they would be caught so that someone can help them get back on their feet and provide them with the help they need to not be forced to steal.

[katieandalex]

I vote yes, its wrong. I never really saw the "beggers" on the corner in my hometown, but I moved to the QCA and its a much larger area and I see people on the corner with signs that say "Will work for food.", etc. Its annoying. Why can't you just walk down the street and apply at McDonalds and get a **** job? I see the pages and pages of Help Wanted ads in the Sunday paper, why can't the begger people go and get a job? IMO, they bring it on themselves.

[jeni740]

oops I didnt mean to print this again I meant to just add on sorry.I work downtown and feel horible for the homeless, I can see how some of them got there, my dad was very close to being homeless until he finally called me and told me he had no money, literally no food and he was behind on rent by about 2000.00, the VA was no help at all, then I brought him to Social Services, and we explained that after 30yrs of working for the same company he was let go for reasons which were his fault, Welfare is giving him 350.00a month for rent and 150.00 for food my mom and I give him some extra money for toilet tissue, deoderant, shampoo, it's unbelievable what can happen sometimes. I feel bad , but stealing is not an option there is always a way to get something without it. I thinkk that they are sometimes embarassed to ask for help, and some people really cant work, my dad has serious mental health issues that just came from no where and all of a sudden he had no job.

[rainbowtreat]

I guess it all depends. I remember some one saying if some one steals my groceries out of my car tthen I guess they need them more then I do. Food is stolen for one reasona nd one reason only. They are hungry and need to eat.


Most places are not going to hire some one off the steet to work for them. They want clean cut people who look presentable. Most homelss people dont have the clothes to change every day or a place to watsh up and shave or the money needed for this. So I dont find it easy for them to just walk in and get a job. The requiements for a job as simply as workign at Wendy's are crazy now a days.

[Kacie_bride]

I know that there are many shelters available in the Houston area for the homeless. There is a big campaign going on right now in the city. The shelters are places where they can get a meal, a shower, and clean clothing. They also have a work program. The problem is many of the homeless do not want to go to the shelter because of the rules like no cigarettes, alcohol, etc. The only times they really fill up is when a cold snap comes through and it is too darn cold out on the street.

However, there are cases where I would not look down on someone for stealing food. What came to my mind was during Hurricane Katrina. Now there were defiantely some scum bags stealing big screen tvs, but the people who were stealing food out of the stores were doing it because they were hungry. I do not look down on the people who stole food then.

[hummingbird521]

This one would be hard to call for me. I think in some instances it would be overlooked and not thought to bad about. Like in the hurricane as Kacie said. But for those who are just to lazy to work then I say no to them. While I think stealing is wrong if it came to my family and their being hungry I would do whatever was necessary to provide food, even if it means stealing it.

[BriansBride07]

It really depends on the situation of the person. So I didn't vote on this one.
I can only say for myself if me and FH ran out of all other possiblilites on getting our children the food they needed I would not think twice about going to a store and stealing. Otherwise I think that it is wrong. I know that there is state organizations out there to help people but only if you have a address otherwise where I live they will not help you.

[countrygirl]

I say no to stealing, but you have to do what you have to do.

[LizabethDavis]

I wish it was as simple as telling them to go get a **** job. However, McDonald's does not pay enough for a single mother of two to pay rent and feed her kids and clothe them. I think that some people need to do what needs to be done.

[mlm063007]

For me, stealing is stealing.

As others have said, however, there is a difference between stealing electronics and stealing food. This is a hard call for me, because if I had to steal food to feed my (hypothetical) children, I would do it in a heartbeat. I dont know that I would ever be to that point, I would ask for help before it came to that.