Philosophically, what type of a crime can be termed as a 'cool' one? Can you give a hypothetical illustration?

Answer 1

The coolest criminals in the movies are the ones whose crimes only hurt people who "deserve it." Examples would include George Clooney & co. in the recent remake of "Ocean's Eleven." They're stealing from a ruthless, corrupt casino owner, so the theft seems "cool." Another example might be Mel Gibson's various murders in "Payback" -- nobody cares if you kill Mafia members, and if you do it with a certain degree of style and audacity it could be considered cool.

Real life, of course, doesn't work like this. In Ocean's Eleven, the crew was actually stealing from an insurance company, which has more complex implications than stealing from an individual. The people that work at the insurance company aren't bad people; the people whose premiums might go up as the result of the company having to pay out millions of dollars in losses aren't bad people. Criminals are mostly not as photogenic as George Clooney and Brad Pitt. In short, the whole situation would be markedly less cool if it occurred in something besides an escapist entertainment.

Some elements of cool movie crime translate to real life (audacity, inventiveness, a certain kind of charisma on part of the criminal), but the kinds of crimes that can be called cool are more limited. Crimes that change things or help people are potentially cool; breaking out of (or circumventing) the stupid "free speech zone" near a Presidential appearance is definitely cool, even though people get arrested for it. Illegaly protesting unjust laws is potentially cool, provided you find a novel way to do it. Staging public performance art in malls and Wal-Marts and so in is illegal, but it can be pretty cool.

Answer 2

A "cool" crime depends on the culture and society the crime is taken place. Currently in the United States Army, Lt. Watada is refusing to go to war to fight in Iraq with his unit because he believes that the war is illegal. With his refusal to be deployed, he faces court martial and a possible 4 year sentence at a military prison. By UCMJ law, Lt. Watada is looked upon as a criminal who disobeyed a direct order. However, many Americans support his decision and has looked up to him as a hero for standing up against his superiors when they are wrong. What do you think?

Answer 3

Steeling all the financial records in the world so that no one can find out who owns what or how much anyone is owes for anything. In short an economic do over of global proportion.

Answer 4

In truth, there are no crimes or criminals, victims or perpetrators, and hence no judgments or punishments; as Universe sees them all as an equal expression of the Divine at play, in Leela.

However, there are Karma and their consequences, just as for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Our righteousness or judgmental attitude is only a product of our need to feel superior or boost our ego and self esteem.

Answer 5

I'd forward this question to Hannibal Lecter, he's the very coolest ever!!
Apart from that, everything that gives a big "f*** you" to the establishment and/or authorities and is original, at best if you can get away with it.

Answer 6

You should have posed the question as "theoretically".

If you want to commit a cool crime I suggest you go to ALASKA, that's the coolest place. Or Siberia, it is really cool over there.

Hope you don't get caught.

Answer 7

Robin Hood - Stole from the rich and gave to the poor.

Answer 8

Robbing an ice cream store of $1,000,000. Then you'd have a cool million

Answer 9

How about.....We invite the Rabbi over to meet my catholic mother and she makes for him a ham and cheese sandwich....which she knows to be a crime for a practising jew. and then have Buddha visit to tell the TRUTH........which is?????

Someone...intrigue me with a good middle part to this crime!!!

Answer 10

I always thought it would be cool to see someone arrested for shoplifting at a Goodwill store..but I don't reccomend it or condone that.