by Romstar » 24 Jan 2005 21:37
I honestly can't believe that we are having this discussion again.
I understand the abstract issue of your question, and in other circumstances it may be appropriate for other matters. This however is an issue where the tampering with, and/or potential removal of a lock endangers the public safety.
The matter at stake here is the overall public's perception of lockpicking. Both the hobbiest and professional. At stake here is the very right to own something that for any other purpose would be completely benign. I have stated over and over again that it is easier to break a house with the tools used to construct it than it is to pick the locks.
The problem is that if we go around using what we know for actions which endanger the public good, or brake laws regardless of how we may feel about them, we cannot expect others to take us seriously, or to accept that we are not a danger.
It has been stated that teenagers make poor decisions. That these decisions can be compounded by peer pressure. I have argued that simply knowing how to pick locks does not make a person a criminal.
While your intention may be for purely exploitory or educational purposes, you would in fact be breaking the law. The consequense of which could be disasterous to your future plans. Bear in mind that many people take a dim view of lock picking, and you would merely be reinforcing that opinion.
It can take a long time to build a good reputation, and only a moment to ruin it. Don't make the mistake of throwing your future away for the brief thrill of picking a lock that doesn't belong to you.
Lockmistress had it dead to rights.
IF IT AIN'T YOURS DON'T TOUCH IT!
Romstar
