I have a theory that, as a society, we believe that there’s a minimum level of decorum that most every person possesses. Because we assume that most members of our society possess more decency than the bare minimum, we’re pretty lax in establishing rules about certain things or protecting certain possessions. For someone with the guts or lack of decency to exploit these assumptions, there is much to gain if you actually consider it.
 
Example 1: Starbucks Order Pickup Counter.

If you’ve ever been to a Starbucks, you know that the person who you order from is usually not the person who makes your order. This leads to cups being placed on a counter and the contents of the cup being yelled out. Starbucks and its patrons assume that no one would take a cup that’s not theirs. We all assume that the type of people who frequent Starbuck don’t steal. We assume that they don’t conduct themselves like that. So, there’s no security.
 
If you had the guts, you could just walk in when it is really busy. Stand waiting by the pickup counter. And take the second or third Cup they put up there and tell them it is yours. If the person who actually ordered the drink speaks up, all you have to do is tell them you’ve been waiting almost 20 minutes for your drink and they’ll back down. When that person realizes that a long time has gone by and they haven’t received their drink, they will tell the person making them and boom… they make another one. No harm, no foul. It’s sort of like a victimless crime… well except for Starbucks. But, who would feel that bad about stealing overpriced coffee from Starbucks?*

Example 2: Movie Theatre
 
Most, if not all, larger movie theatres funnel customers to one entrance with an usher stand. Once you’re inside, an honor system exists that you will go to the movie you’ve paid for and will leave once it is over. Kids, especially 15- and 16-year-olds, are watched because they will try to sneak into rated R movies. But adults? No one watches us.
 
So, theoretically of course, on a busy day or night, you could pay to see one movie, and then check out a second movie for free by just walking from one theater to another. You just cut your movie ticket price in half by doing that.
 
The movie theater, like Starbucks, assumes that we, as adults, know better, and don’t conduct ourselves in that way. They assume that we’ll obey the unspoken, but silently understood rule that we pay for one movie, we go to one movie.  What’s to stop us from breaking that rule? Nothing, other than the fact that we’re adults and don’t behave that way.

Example 3: The Office

At the office, people assume that their belongings, including lunches, are safe. That’s a pretty reasonable assumption, especially if you work in a very small office in terms of number of people. If you work in a larger office, the risk of theft goes up, but for the most part, we all assume that working professionals don’t steal items from their colleagues. And when something does go missing, we usually think it’s someone from the janitorial crew, or someone with a personal vendetta against us.

Putting your name on your lunch is not a security feature. It simply lets the thief know whose food he is eating. I’ve seen countless notes on my office refrigerator chiding someone for stealing the writer’s lunch. But people still put their lunches in there, unguarded.
 
Why? Because we assume working professionals know how to act and won’t steal lunches. So, to someone who doesn’t care, there’s free food ripe for the picking.
 
These are just three examples. There are several more, I assure you. But these illustrate the point that most of us expect people to conduct themselves with a minimum manner of decency. And, because of that assumption, we take for granted the fact that anyone could simply lower their level of decency and take advantage of us.

*  I do not condone stealing from Starbucks, violating the movie theater’s policy of purchasing a ticket for every movie you see, or taking your coworkers’ lunches. These illustrations were for comedic and philosophical purposes. I assume no liability if any of you are arrested while attempting any of the things outlined in this posting.