Can Law Enforcement Use Social Media and Credit Card Data to Identify You

[Singingnome]

I agree its illegal. It's just odd that we live in a society that so severely punishes low level crimes (petty theft or minor amounts of drug possession) because they are the low hanging fruit and committed by the poor. while large crimes go unpunished because it's either too difficult to charge or the person committing has power:money. I guess it's hard for me as a millennial to get to upset at anyone for minor crimes when I lived through the financial crisis which was essentially a massive crime that devastated America and went largely unpunished. Seems like the rules went out the window.

[Shadowbunny]

I agree its illegal. It's just odd that we live in a society that so severely punishes low level crimes (petty theft or minor amounts of drug possession) because they are the low hanging fruit and committed by the poor. while large crimes go unpunished because it's either too difficult to charge or the person committing has power:money. I guess it's hard for me as a millennial to get to upset at anyone for minor crimes when I lived through the financial crisis which was essentially a massive crime that devastated America and went largely unpunished. Seems like the rules went out the window.

Let me guess: the "friend" (or BFF, as you stated) is actually you? Do you realize that shoplifting costs retailers approximately $50 BILLION a year? Which then costs consumers, many who can ill-afford the extra costs? So how is that petty? Do your research and you'll understand why we, as a culture, shouldn't turn a blind eye to your stealing. Let me ask you this: were you stealing food? No, that's right, you stole clothes. Or did you steal cosmetics? Are you okay with thieves stealing some items, but not others?

[cbg]

And you think us baby-boomers DIDN'T live through that? I'm going to have to work well past my "standard" retirement age because of such problems as you're referring to. What makes you think only millenials were hurt by it?

But you know what else hurts me, as a 60+ boomer who has at least another ten years of working before I could even consider retirement? The increase in prices because of millenials who think low-level crime ought to be forgiven and excused. With all you shoplifters driving up the cost of living, it's going to be just that much longer before I can afford to ease off a bit.

[sniper]

What you put on the internet stays on the internet.

Public online profiles are fair game for law enforcement.

[cdwjava]

I agree its illegal. It's just odd that we live in a society that so severely punishes low level crimes (petty theft or minor amounts of drug possession) because they are the low hanging fruit and committed by the poor. while large crimes go unpunished because it's either too difficult to charge or the person committing has power:money. I guess it's hard for me as a millennial to get to upset at anyone for minor crimes when I lived through the financial crisis which was essentially a massive crime that devastated America and went largely unpunished. Seems like the rules went out the window.

I'm going to guess that you've never been the victim of a minor crime, have you? Never had your5 car window smashed and a purse taken, or a car stereo ... then had to deal with the costs of those repairs because you did not have full coverage or the damage was beneath your deductible?

Being a millennial has less to do with such an attitude than being self-absorbed with a sense of self-importance. If the victim is not YOU, or someone you care about, then it MUST be a nameless entity worth a lot of money so certainly they can absorb the loss. And, in the case of a corporate victim, you know HOW they absorb the cost of crime? They pass it off to the rest of us in the form of raised prices! I remember one of the earliest times I heard this pitiful argument it concerned graffiti at a small 5 store strip mall. Back in those days, damage less than $5,000 was a misdemeanor. Tagger crews thought it a challenge to tag the stores and the rooftop area on a monthly basis. The owners had to spend up to $2,000 each month to repair the damage. They weren't some rich corporation, they were a retired married couple that leveraged everything to buy the strip mall as an investment. what they paid out was a significant portion of their gross income each month (before setting aside money for taxes, improvements to the property, servicing the debt, etc.).

So, maybe you ought to take that faux "millennial" excuse and toss it in the trash heap and get into the world and experience it before you so casually shrug off the losses of the fruits of another's labor.

And you think us baby-boomers DIDN'T live through that? I'm going to have to work well past my "standard" retirement age because of such problems as you're referring to. What makes you think only millenials were hurt by it?

But you know what else hurts me, as a 60+ boomer who has at least another ten years of working before I could even consider retirement? The increase in prices because of millenials who think low-level crime ought to be forgiven and excused. With all you shoplifters driving up the cost of living, it's going to be just that much longer before I can afford to ease off a bit.

Yep! Amen!

Heck, I AM retired, but I'm still working ... full time!