Law-abiding majority 'is a myth'

Law-abiding majority 'is a myth'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6235988.stm

More than six out of 10 people regularly commit crimes against the
government, their employers or businesses, research suggests.

[...]

The study's author, Professor Suzanna Karstedt, said: "Contempt for the
law is as widespread in the centre of society as it is assumed to be
rampant at the margins and among specific marginal groups.

"Anti-social behaviour by the few is mirrored by anti-civil behaviour by
the many.

"Neither greed nor need can explain why respectable citizens cheat on
insurance claims or in second-hand sales, and do not hesitate to discuss
their exploits with friends in pubs."

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It's a pity they didn't survey traffic offences. I can't imagine the
numbers are any lower.

Marc Brett wrote:

"Neither greed nor need can explain why respectable citizens cheat on
insurance claims or in second-hand sales, and do not hesitate to discuss
their exploits with friends in pubs."

Actually, I think greed explains it rather well...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On 25 Jun, 08:29, Marc Brett wrote:
Law-abiding majority 'is a myth'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6235988.stm

More than six out of 10 people regularly commit crimes against the
government, their employers or businesses, research suggests.

[...]

The study's author, Professor Suzanna Karstedt, said: "Contempt for the
law is as widespread in the centre of society as it is assumed to be
rampant at the margins and among specific marginal groups.

"Anti-social behaviour by the few is mirrored by anti-civil behaviour by
the many.

"Neither greed nor need can explain why respectable citizens cheat on
insurance claims or in second-hand sales, and do not hesitate to discuss
their exploits with friends in pubs."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

It's a pity they didn't survey traffic offences. I can't imagine the
numbers are any lower.

The risks of getting caught are low
The punishment if caught is not a deterrent
So looks like it worth doing things to your advantage if you do cheat/
abuse/misuses/break the law to do/get what you want.

I would have though the freer the society, the harsher the punishments
for infringing those freedoms. If the freedoms get abused with no
suitable deterrent, then the state will adapt laws to remove that
freedom, look at the present government.

On Mon, 25 Jun 2007, Marc Brett wrote:

Law-abiding majority 'is a myth'

It's a pity they didn't survey traffic offences. I can't imagine the
numbers are any lower.


They survey some - look at the DfT 'Transport Statistics for Great
Britain' report.

For 2006, on motorways only 44% of cars below the speed limit, average
speed is above the limit, motorbikes even worse. 30mph roads, 50% of
cars and motorbikes below speed limit.

So, assuming (reasonably) that on some occasions it was not possible
to exceed the limit (congestion etc), it is fairly clear that the
majority of motorists really do break the speed limit. Add the fact
that at least some of them are breaking other laws and it's clear that
there's no such thing as a law-abiding majority on the roads, and I
don't think there ever has been.

regards, Ian SMith
--
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On 25 Jun, 13:40, Ian Smith wrote:
... and it's clear that
there's no such thing as a law-abiding majority on the roads, and I
don't think there ever has been.

Indeed, and yet our roads are generally safe, and getting safer.
Small wonder there's little respect for the law.

Cheers,
W.

wrote:

Indeed, and yet our roads are generally safe, and getting safer.
Small wonder there's little respect for the law.

So safe, in fact, we only kill 3,000 people on them every year. So
that's all right, then!

3k people on a recurring annual basis /should/ be a cause for
considerable concern, and something that still allows a lot of room for
improvement.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 06:12:11 -0700 someone who may be
wrote this:-

... and it's clear that
there's no such thing as a law-abiding majority on the roads, and I
don't think there ever has been.

Indeed, and yet our roads are generally safe,

You think that at least ten deaths a day is safe?

Are there any more examples of your foolishness you wish to share
with the newsgroup?


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

On 25/06/2007 14:23, Peter Clinch said,

3k people on a recurring annual basis /should/ be a cause for
considerable concern, and something that still allows a lot of room for
improvement.

Ah, but by the time the government have put their spin on it, 3000
(isn't it actually 3500?) people every year is an improvement because
the number of cars on the roads has increased, therefore the number of
deaths as a percentage of the number of cars is reducing. /SPIN

And yes, it should be a cause for concern. If 10 people were killed
every day on the railways, for instance, there would be a massive
uproar, quite rightly. 10 people killed on the roads every day just
seems to be accepted.

At the time of the last fatal train crash where the media were up in
arms about how dangerous the railways were, the BBC listed all fatal
train crashes over the previous 10 (I think) years. I did suggest to
the BBC that they list every fatal road accident over the same period,
but they declined. Probably not enough room on their servers.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Paul Boyd wrote:

And yes, it should be a cause for concern. If 10 people were killed
every day on the railways, for instance, there would be a massive
uproar, quite rightly. 10 people killed on the roads every day just
seems to be accepted.

Lots of wee stings are easier to shrug off than a single, big pain
though, or at least that's how it seems.

There was a particularly bad weekend earlier this year when 15 people
were killed in Scotland over a weekend on the roads and it did rate
front page news on most of the papers. Of course, aside from expressing
outrage for a day nothing was actually /done/, compare and contrast to
the outcome of past train crashes which have had serious knock-ons to
services.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

In article , Peter Clinch wrote:
Marc Brett wrote:

"Neither greed nor need can explain why respectable citizens cheat on
insurance claims or in second-hand sales, and do not hesitate to discuss
their exploits with friends in pubs."

Actually, I think greed explains it rather well...

It explains the cheating, but not the willingness to discuss it.