The Commandments (of God) #7

Thou shalt not steal.

This is a LARGE commandment.

Of course, we teach our children not to steal - we tell them that the candy bar they lifted from the corner store is STOLEN and - if we care - we make them return it, admit their wrongdoing, apologize and accept whatever consequence the shop-keeper deems fit! If all goes according to plan, our children will not grow up to be professional thieves.

There are other forms of stealing/theft that do not get taught in a formal manner.

1) The theft of another person's time. 

 - when we demand huge chunks of someone else's time in frivolous ways, we are stealing from them. Even if they would normally know how to extricate themselves from a time-wasting situation, we may manipulate the interchange to appear needful and serious in order to prevent their departure. Being this "needy" requires more than the time and attention of a good person/friend, it requires professional help. Should you, upon reflection, realize this is the case, get that help!

2) The theft of another person's reputation.

This is where gossip becomes a most insidious form of theft. More damage has been done through the transmission of malicious gossip than through actual, physical theft. Gossip is rarely based on truth and has destroyed lives and reputations, and led people to depression and (albeit perhaps, infrrequently) to suicide. 

3) The theft of another person's intellectual property.

A friend or co-worker has an amazing idea, writes a stellar report or sketches out an unusual and useful gadget. You undercut your friend/co-worker by taking the idea, copy of the report or purloined sketch to a superior or even worse, to a publisher or manufacturer. This is unacceptable. There is no way to rationalize this behaviour. THIS, MY FRIENDS, IS THEFT!!! It has happened to me, and I hope it never happens to you ... and yes, I quit that job.

These are just three examples of how one simple statement - "Thou shalt not steal" - can and ought to be applied to our daily lives. I'm sure you can think of more. My intention is to encourage you to think, not give you everything already chewed and digested! :)   

Just a thought ...