Do you obey laws because they are reasonable, or its the right thing to do, or because you fear punishment?

Question

Do you think most of the laws you obey are reasonable or right, and obey them because they are reasonable, or are you more inclined to obey them because you are afraid of being punished? What laws are you inclined to break? Which are you inclined to obey?

Answer 1

I obey laws because I want to be in control of my own life and decisions. Also because I'm afraid and don't want to fall into the system of the Government. I'm also afraid and dont' want to be punished. Although there are a few who have got away with things like murder, and those who never get caught. They are the rare few. Our government keeps them out on the streets due to technicalities. So be afraid of them. It's the lucky one's who are dead.

Answer 2

This is an interesting question and is worthy of lengthy discussion.

In a nutshell (no pun on West Publishing Co. intended), I would be inclined to think people obey different laws for different reasons.

For example, paying taxes most people obey I'm sure because they fear punishment...no one likes to pay taxes. But then there are probably some who do think it out and pay because they know that's how we receive many services as citizens.

Some laws are just obviously the right thing to do...not stealing, not assaulting, etc. So I'm thinking most people would obey those laws because they know it's the right thing to do...AND they are reasonable.

Obviously there are some laws which are unreasonable, but I would say that most people would obey them (for both the "right thing to do" and the "fear punishment" reasons).

You asked, "What laws are you inclined to break?"...
That would include laws which are unreasonable (for a current example, online music sharing...but there are many old laws still on the books that are outdated, such as one ancient city ordinance restricting having intercourse in a bathtub). Laws which I would consider disobeying would of course have to have no victim, or negative impact on any person, entity, environment, etc. Most of the types of laws I would ever consider breaking are for all intents unenforceable anyway, so there wouldn't be much fear of punishment. If there were a real fear of punishment, I would probably not break them.


You asked, "What laws are you inclined to obey?"...
Laws I'm inclined to obey are those which have a prudent reason for being enacted. The majority of traffic laws, laws regarding crimes and/or protecting citizens from harm, business laws, real estate laws, banking laws, and many others that society has a good reason for creating.

Now please bear in mind that these comments are only my personal opinions and should not be construed as advice to other persons.

Answer 3

That all depends on the law. Most laws, which I never really need to look up to obey, I obey simply because they are both reasonable and the right thing to do. For instance, I do not kill people, because I consider it immoral and I think it is reasonable for there to be a law against murder. However, traffic laws are a much grayer area. I do not go 100, because I think it is reasonable not to, but I don't go faster than about 10 miles over because I don't want to get a ticket.

Answer 4

Sometimes a law is so wrong, it needs to be broken just to bring attention to it. Laws are created by humans. Humans have a record of being wrong from time to time, otherwise how would you explain amendments to the Constitution of the United States. Consider as well, when was the last time you were able to vote on whether something becomes a law or not?

Answer 5

I violate traffic laws throughout my day. That's about it. As long as we don't go too liberal and make crazy laws regulating every aspect of our lives, I should be ok not breaking any other laws. I would never knowingly break a law unless someone messed with my family. I suppose I could unknowingly break a law. It's easier to not break the law than break it I have found. Yes, fear plays a role. The government can seriously mess up your life if you are not careful.

Answer 6

i'm not really big on chaos. even as a rebellious child i would stretch the limit of rebellion but never went that far to cause everlasting problems. i suppose most people are law- biding citizens for any combination of the three reasons you offer. don't want to live by rules & regs? find an island, row out to it & knock yourself out! i will tell you this, friend. own a piece of real estate or a piece of the rock, so to speak, and you too will find yourself obeying a lot more than you thought. he who rows the boat seldoms rocks it!

Answer 7

All laws exist in a paradigm (big word for popular idea).Such a law will exist until another idea becomes popular and overcomes the original idea.

So therefore, if you have an idea you wish to share with your
lawmaker regarding a law..who knows, your idea may become so popular that it becomes a law and you get a big smile from
having that idea...actually helping make a new law

Answer 8

Everyone run's thier occasional stop sign by accident, but myself when i do idiotic things like that,not only do i feel like a moron but I think of what could have happened had the other person not been paying attention.
It is not that I am afraid of breaking them for getting caught's sake it is that my car is expensive yes, but my family and myself are much more expensive and they can't be replaced. It is the smart thing to do, if I want to continue the life that I love so much.

Answer 9

I wouldn't say I obey laws because I am afriad of being punished... I just chose right over wrong because of respect and values.

Answer 10

I do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. That's how I was raised. The law I break is the speed limit law...not meaning too, just happens from time to time.