No duh. On a molecular level, of course every action has a reaction. But this thread is about a specific type of reaction or lack thereof on the social level; no consequences, as in the lack of immediate external punishment imparted by one's peers, which is what Trollheart was referring to. I was just pointing out that his scenario didn't reflect that, since in his scenario there would still be immediate external punishment. However, if you're convinced though that no scenario exists in which people can act without immediate punishment from the people around them, then the point is moot. Since in your mind there is no such scenario, and this thread was created to discuss a scenario that you don't believe exists, then it sounds like you have more of an issue with Trollheart's original prompt than with me. That being so, there is nothing left for us to talk about, and you can feel free to leave this thread to go ponder something else. For example, why New Jersey sucks so much.

You sassy muthafucka. :love:

I always keep a passive aggresive wall of text handy, just for you. :finger:

Someone already did.
You're one seriously ****ed up individual.
Nah, you're not getting it. I'm not talking about a lawless society where everyone can do what they want. Hmm. Okay, look at it this way. YOU and ONLY you can do what you want. Let's say, for the sake of stupidity, you buy a lamp at a car boot sale. Rub it and out pops a genie. "Yo!" says the genie (he's black of course, and listens to hip-hop) ;) "We got a special goin' this century, mothafukka! Yo can break ANY and ALL laws y'all want and you will NEVER and I mean NEVER have to pay in any way. Just yo, not yo friends, not yo family. Yo (ah **** this) You can do whatever you like. You wanna break the law, go ahead!"

So, like I said, there are no zombies, gangs, breakdown of society but you can break laws and commit crimes with no fear of consequences. Hell, maybe you're invisible, I don't know: it's theoretical so the actual circumstances that bring it about don't matter. What does matter is how you respond when the fear of being caught is removed. Do you go crazy, breaking all laws you can? Break a few? Break none?

I'd track down and kill all of the people who conspired to destroy my company and a bunch of people's lives in the process. Then I'd take down a couple of lawyers who've been dragging our lawsuit out for well over two years now. Then I'd kidnap and hold hostage the kids of the head of the finance department for Megacorp until they cut me a check for $25 million dollars to make up for my company's losses.

That felt good! Thanks Troll!

I'd do nothing that would directly negatively impact someone. I might rob a bank or something, but only if it didn't involve threatening anyone.

I'd seize the means of production

I can't say I wouldn't steal. I've been on the end of burglaries and theft so I know how that feels, I couldn't do it to an individual stranger but it's too tempting to rule out other forms of thieving.

Butt thieving?

Arse-on?
Grand LARSEny?