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Stupid Thinking
Can you think things through? When you do something, do you consider what will happen next?
If you hit your hand with a hammer, it will hurt. If you scream at people, you will not be loved. If you steal cars, you will go to jail.
If you can think in sequence, you are probably not a criminal. You can see the consequences of a crime. A criminal cannot think that far ahead.
"This is a consequence. 'If you saw off the limb you are sitting on you will of course fall.'
"Police try to bring this home often to people who have no concept of sequence; so the threat of punishment works well on well-behaved citizens and not at all on criminals since they often are criminals because they can't think in sequence." -- L. Ron Hubbard
For example, a murderer may only think about revenge. He cannot see beyond the death of the person he hates. He does not think about living in prison for 50 years.
Smart people get what they want without crime. Only criminals are stupid enough to think a crime has no consequences.
For example, if you want $500, you can just work at a job. Even at $7.00 per hour, it only takes two weeks to earn $500. You can spend it however you like, no stress, no secrets, no risks.
A criminal robs a store for $500 without thinking it through. If he's not caught right away, he must keep his crime a secret. He might need to hide. His life is no longer open, happy and trusting. For just $500, he ruins his life and reduces his chances for success.
A criminal also fails to see how he or she hurts others. A stolen car, even when insured, can take months to replace. Stolen money might represent someone's life savings and ruin their retirement years. The victims of a violent crime can suffer a lifetime of pain as the result of the criminal's act.
Street-drug users can only think about their next high. If they looked further into the future, they would see damage to their bodies, financial ruin and failed marriages. Prison time is also a real possibility; in fact, half of the inmates in US prisons are there for violating drug laws.
Only when a criminal gets smart and thinks in sequence does he or she stop committing crimes.
Small Crimes
People who commit small crimes do not think in sequence either. "If I take a few office supplies, no one will know." This person does not see the nagging feeling of guilt or the possibility of getting caught, getting fired and being labeled a criminal. This person does not see the big risks far outweigh the tiny benefit.
Crimes against your spouse, friends or family might not lead to jail time, but can be equally devastating. For example, the sequences of a sexual affair can lead to disease, blackmail, legal problems and divorce.
Even lying is a sign of stupid thinking. People who lie are shocked when no one believes them any longer. They fail to consider at least three sequences of a lie: you need to remember your lie for a long time so you do not accidentally tell the truth; if caught in your lie, you look twice as bad than if you had just admitted the truth in the first place; lying can also make you feel guilty and unhappy.
Recommendations
1. When making a big decision, think in sequence. If you do Plan A, what are the consequences? If you do Plan B, what are those consequences?
2. Teach children how to think in sequence. "If you hit your brother, what might happen? Let's ask him." "If you don't do your homework, what will happen?" "If you steal candy from the store, what might happen? What would it be like to get caught? Let's ask the store manager what would happen."
3. Talk to criminals about sequences. Help them see the bigger picture. Get them to practice thinking in sequence. As crime hurts everyone directly or indirectly, we all increase our chances of success by helping criminals get smarter.
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