Kevin's Watch

Can we agree on that?

Without looking it up, my guess would be that's the definition of "crime."

It's a simple question - I'm going somewhere with it but I want to see if everybody can agree with a simple statement first

Well I agree.

Cool Now where's that debating crowd? I need more agreement before the next phase

It depends on the law.

Breaking the laws that protected and enforced slavery and segregation were criminal.
But those that broke them did the right thing.

And then there's that whole jay-walking thing.....(where's that thread?)

We don't yet know where Vain is going with this. Heh. But whether the law is just or not, if it's a law, then breaking it is a crime.


Now, where did Jay walk to?

It depends whether there is another law that supercedes the one you're breaking.

If a state has a law that directly contradicts international law, then breaking that law would not be a crime in the eyes of the international community. It's all subjective really.

My point exactly. It depends entirely on the specific law.

Of course, technically it is a crime to break any law. Legally anyway. Morally though, it's a different issue.

--A

We can argue in hindsight that this law or that law were bad and shouldn't have been followed, or we can argue that certain laws are just plain dumb, but the law is the law, and breaking it is a crime.

For example, the fact that pot's illegal is pretty moronic in my estimation, but it's still the law.

I would add that it depends on what the definition of "is" is.

Breaking a Law is a crime in reference to said law.
Saying more on the subject without more detail is irrelevant speculation and opinion.

Yes. So where the hell is Vain with the details?

--A

Good question! He shouldn't start a thread like this, then disappear. I tell ya, thare oughta be a law...

Ask a simple question

OK phase 2 - so if breaking a law is a crime, then am I correct in saying that doing so makes that person a criminal?

Breaking one of the laws of cricket is against the laws of the game but doing so is not a crime.

Yes.

Was figuring didn't have to spell things out but you know what laws I'm talking about

Sure, somebody who breaks laws is technically a criminal. In the eyes of the law, anyway.

--A

Is it therefore a question of ethics/morality to choose to break a law and commit a crime?