What is the reason for the massive retail looting?

[Silverback]

No doubt there are multiple reasons. Some will blame all this on the pandemic and others on inflation, while some will even point to a reduction in police ranks around the country. Personally, I am 100% convinced that the key reason is the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and related cases like it. What think the rest of you?

They did it because they wanted to...that's the only reason.

 

[CuriousPagan]

The decline and fall of Western civilization.

 

[Basil the Great]

The decline and fall of Western civilization.

So much for the Ten Commandments and Thou shall not steal.....

 

[durangodawood]

AFAIAC whether it is called looting or not is unimportant. It is a sign of societal and governmental disfunction.

For me these things are generally important.

Word meanings matter, and when people lose track of them through carelessness or someone else's malicious intent, their minds are opened to subtle colonization. Orwell wrote explicitly about this.

 

[durangodawood]

The decline and fall of Western civilization.

Oh the drama!

How did we ever survive the "it fell off the truck" era of organized crime family theft?

 

[durangodawood]

There is a disaster, its the riots themselves and looters took atvantage.

There no riots near these thefts. Youre talking about a totally different set of events.

 

[IWalkAlone]

There no riots near these thefts. Youre talking about a totally different set of events.

You are correct. I was referring to the BLM riots.

 

[grasping the after wind]

For me these things are generally important.

Word meanings matter, and when people lose track of them through carelessness or someone else's malicious intent, their minds are opened to subtle colonization. Orwell wrote explicitly about this.

I generally agree with that sentiment. In this case though I find it a nit not worth picking as I don't see the use of the term by those using it as being a means to confuse or to obfuscate or tied to an agenda of some sort. People posting "should of" rather than "should've" bothers me more than using the word looting to describe the activity of wanton and widespread stealing of other people's property without the cover of riot, war or natural disaster. Perhaps we could come up with a new word to fit that definition?

 

[BNR32FAN]

I don't think it is related to anything other than someone figured out how to steal and lower the chances of getting caught. I think the idea is, the more people involved, the lower the probability that any one person gets caught. It's just another form of organized crime, i.e. people working together to do rotten stuff. And, of course, now it's trending.

I think this type of behavior has been trending for decades but perhaps social media has aided in their collective efforts to coordinate these looting sprees.

 

[BNR32FAN]

There no riots near these thefts. Youre talking about a totally different set of events.

If thats the case then the looting resulting from the George Floyd event should be disregarded in the OP.

 

[RDKirk]

We can only hope that it is a passing fad. If this trend were to continue and get worse, our current inflation rate may seem tame in 6-12 months, as stores will have to raise prices all the more.

Not if they stick to luxury stores.

 

[RDKirk]

I generally agree with that sentiment. In this case though I find it a nit not worth picking as I don't see the use of the term by those using it as being a means to confuse or to obfuscate or tied to an agenda of some sort. People posting "should of" rather than "should've" bothers me more than using the word looting to describe the activity of wanton and widespread stealing of other people's property without the cover of riot, war or natural disaster. Perhaps we could come up with a new word to fit that definition?

It matters here with regard to the demand upon law enforcement that the words entail.

If we call it "organized crime," it brings the Feds into the case. Sometimes local law enforcement doesn't want that and will call it something that keeps it within their own jurisdiction. But if this is organized to any level, the thieves will already have a pipeline to fences outside their own states. The FBI can make those connections and bring multiple state law enforcement agencies into the picture. "Organized crime" is the best call if we actually want something done about it.

Frankly, "looting" may sound more dramatic to some people, but it actually the response can be much vaguer (despite claimed racist overtones). No laws in the country actually allow law enforcement to "shoot looters on sight" as some people fantasize.

 

[lsume]

No doubt there are multiple reasons. Some will blame all this on the pandemic and others on inflation, while some will even point to a reduction in police ranks around the country. Personally, I am 100% convinced that the key reason is the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and related cases like it. What think the rest of you?

Lawlessness. Seems ominous.

 

[atpollard]

What think the rest of you?

[Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV]
"The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?

 

[cow451]

No doubt there are multiple reasons. Some will blame all this on the pandemic and others on inflation, while some will even point to a reduction in police ranks around the country. Personally, I am 100% convinced that the key reason is the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and related cases like it. What think the rest of you?

The punishment for shoplifting is pretty light.

 

[IWalkAlone]

The punishment for shoplifting is pretty light.

Depends on how much you steal

 

[rambot]

1. Organized crime
2. People are poor.
3. Little reprocussion

 

[grasping the after wind]

It matters here with regard to the demand upon law enforcement that the words entail.

If we call it "organized crime," it brings the Feds into the case. Sometimes local law enforcement doesn't want that and will call it something that keeps it within their own jurisdiction. But if this is organized to any level, the thieves will already have a pipeline to fences outside their own states. The FBI can make those connections and bring multiple state law enforcement agencies into the picture. "Organized crime" is the best call if we actually want something done about it.

Frankly, "looting" may sound more dramatic to some people, but it actually the response can be much vaguer (despite claimed racist overtones). No laws in the country actually allow law enforcement to "shoot looters on sight" as some people fantasize.

When a person is posting in a forum, I don't think that post causes federal law enforcement to decide a crime it is not a federal responsibility. Therefore, I am not about to get overly concerned when the word looting is used in such a context.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Employers steal an estimated $8 billion from workers every year... perhaps some folks see it as just and deserved retribution?

 

[grasping the after wind]

Employers steal an estimated $8 billion from workers every year... perhaps some folks see it as just and deserved retribution?

Where did you come by this estimate?