using a neighbors wifi: is it stealing?

[KukriKhan]

Is that even possible, to be "a little monomaniacal"? Like "a little pregnant"? :)

I think our disconnect on this is (I may be wrong; I can't read your mind, but your words lead me to believe that you think:) stealing must, by definition, involve some level of harm to the one who is stolen from.

I don't think stealing has to satisfy that requirement. The taking of that which is known to be owned by another, without permission, is enough.

[Lemur]

Okay, let me come at this from another angle, since reading another person's newspaper seems like the best analogy so far:

You're at a coffeeshop reading your paper. You leave for a while. Do you, as the owner of that copy of the paper, have any obligation to, say, take your paper with you, or put it behind the counter, or do something to secure your own property? Or should you wait until someone picks it up and looks at it before you storm back in to declare that stealing is wrong?

I think "theft" is an inexact term for this situation, just as it would be not-quite-right for someone reading the paper over your shoulder. If another man sleeps with your girl, likewise, he's done you wrong, but "stealing" isn't quite right. I'm open to a better, more precise term.

[Fragony]

Had to read that 3 times. More like using a little washing powder someone left behind imho.

And as a term, what id wrong with 'using', nice term, and it already exists.

[Xiahou]

Okay, let me come at this from another angle, since reading another person's newspaper seems like the best analogy so far:

You're at a coffeeshop reading your paper. You leave for a while. Do you, as the owner of that copy of the paper, have any obligation to, say, take your paper with you, or put it behind the counter, or do something to secure your own property? Or should you wait until someone picks it up and looks at it before you storm back in to declare that stealing is wrong?

I think "theft" is an inexact term for this situation, just as it would be not-quite-right for someone reading the paper over your shoulder. If another man sleeps with your girl, likewise, he's done you wrong, but "stealing" isn't quite right. I'm open to a better, more precise term.

Analogies are a tricky business, but I think accessing someone else's network would be more akin to tresspass than reading a paper that they've left lying around. By using someone's wi-fi you're accessing their home network. If you're doing it without their permission it's not much different than accessing any other property without permission. You could cross someone's yard without their permission if they didn't put up a fence. But, just because they don't have their yard encased in razor wire doesn't mean its open for public use.

Call it what you want, but what it really boils down to is that you're using someone's property without their permission. Not a capital offense, but it's not exactly good manners either and could be illegal in many jurisdictions.