using a neighbors wifi: is it stealing?

[KukriKhan]

if you don't ask first

If it's not stealing, why the need to ask?

[Fragony]

If it's not stealing, why the need to ask?

Because you are using his acces-point. If I can't ask wether or not I can use it, different story. Neighbour has protected network and I asked his password. Sure! If it wasn't protected I would have asked anyway it's my neighbour after all.

[KukriKhan]

Because you are using his acces-point. If I can't ask wether or not I can use it, different story. Neighbour has protected network and I asked his password. Sure! If it wasn't protected I would have asked anyway it's my neighbour after all.

Exactly. You are respecting your neighbor's ownership of a service by politely asking to share it. Not doing so = stealing. Albeit, a petty theft.

[Hooahguy]

but now, you have a problem. what if you live in a densly populated area and you cant find out who the owner of the router is?

[Fragony]

but now, you have a problem. what if you live in a densly populated area and you cant find out who the owner of the router is?

Then he should have secured it, how should I know it isn't a public network?

[Lemur]

Kukri, I think you also need to consider the responsibility of a person who chooses not to secure their own "property," which in this case is broadcast well beyond the borders of their physical home. Let's say a hot brunette chooses to dance naked in front of her window. Is it voyeurism to look at her lithe body? Yes. But shouldn't she have considered closing the freakin' drapes?

The one does nothing to excuse the other, but I find your exclusive focus on the CRIMINALITY of using wide-open wifi to be a little monomaniacal.

I'd also like to point out that the only criminal case in which a man was charged for leeching a coffee shop's wifi was an extreme case. The staff even told the dude that if he would just buy a cup of coffee, they'd leave him alone; but he sat in his car leeching for days and days, and refused to patronize the business even slightly. In other words, he was a jerk, and was charged under conditions no normal person would provoke.

[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.

[Gregoshi]

Let's fix this little Lemur analogy to fit the wifi scenario:

Let's say a hot brunette blonde chooses to dance naked in front of her window. She doesn't know how to operate the drapes nor is she even aware that people outside might be able to see her. Is it voyeurism to look at her lithe body? Yes. And the proper thing to do is the tell her that she can be seen by people on the street and teach her how to operate the drapes (or at least attempt to teach her).

My apologies to women and blonde women in particular for the above remarks. However, as you well know, you often have to speak to men in a language they understand.

[Andres]

I don't think using the wifi of his neighbour is that bad. Ok, it's not done, but not worth to make a drama of it, let alone to call the police for it.

What bothers me more is the lack of respect the kid shows to his parents by circumventing the punishment (but then again, at that age, I would probably have done the same ).

I do hope his parents find out and punish him a bit more thoroughly, by just taking away the kids' PC for a whole month.