Is it still stealing if you tell the person you're going to take something from that you're taking it?

I think it’s still stealing. Just because you know who took it and that they were going to take it, doesn’t mean you gave them permission to do so. Oncer permission is given, it’s no longer stealing. If you say “I’m going to steal a piece of chocolate” and the person says “okay”, they are giving you permission and it’s not stealing. Same for the stapler.

I think “stealing” requires that the item be taken against the owner’s will and not returned.

Similarly, it bugs me when someone asks to borrow a tissue!

The criminal laws are all based on intent. What was this person intent, when taking whatever?

Since everyone works in the same office, it would not be considered actually stealing an object(except for the cholcolate which could be replaced). The stapler was left in plain view and not concealed from the owner.

This situation is more or less borrowing rather than stealing. I don’t think I would use this choice of words, like stealing. I would rather say, I am borrowing your stapler.

I do not believe the intent of the borrower was to hide it from its true owner. This would eliminate the intent portion of a crime.

It’s stealing when you do not have permission to take something. If the woman has chocolates out for people to take, it is not stealing. If the stapler is to be shared, it is not stealing. If you take a sweater you like from someone who doesn’t know it or hasn’t given it, that would be stealing. The basic lesson is taught to children in a store—“first we pay for it, then you can have it—you can’t just take it.”

Candy that is out on the desk is for sharing. Taking a piece is not stealing.

If the stapler belongs to the employer and is not taken out of the office, I don’t consider that stealing. When a worker takes office supplies home, that is stealing.

I think that’s just a figure of speech. If the woman has the chocolates in her office where people can get to them and doesn’t mind if people help themselves then it’s not stealing and if the person brings the stapler back and just says “stealing” instead of “borrowing” and the stapler’s owner doesn’t mind then it’s not stealing. If the owner of the stapler gets tired of people borrowing it and begins hiding it in her desk drawer and someone takes it and doesn’t give it back it’s stealing. If someone goes into her drawer and takes it and does bring it back then it’s still not stealing, it’s just rude and annoying and the woman will need to hide it somewhere else :-)

If you take it from them and tell them you are taking it but you know you don’t intend on bringing it back I would say more like a bobbery.

Your scenarios aren’t stealing. Now, there is a fine line between a person offering out goodies and someone else comes by to say, “I’m going to steal one of…” and when a person opens up a bag of chips for their own consumption and someone else who doesn’t ask first puts scoops up some chips and then says, “I’m going to steal some of these…”

@lillycoyote is on to something “figure of speech” you gals have a local code and know you really mean “mmm, I’d like one of those chocolates, ..do you mind?” There is sufficient respect given in the notification so the victim could stop you (sorry , I need that stapler for the report I’m collating right here now in my lap) and the social contract allows for these transactions.
The speed bump occurs for new staff trying to figure out if there are nuances for what you’re saying or you just have a village vernacular.

Stealing is when you take someone else’s property without their consent.

It’s not about whether the owner knows about it or not. If you go into your coworker’s office, say “I’m going to take some chocolates,” and she says “no, don’t” in all seriousness, and you take some anyway, be it right in front of her or behind her back, you stole them.

Stealing also isn’t about whether the item is returned or not. I could take $60 from my friend’s purse and replace it in a week, but I still stole that $60.

I use the same expression. It is an expression, not to be overanalyzed in my opinion. If you announce you are doing it, it isn’t stealing, unless the owner has an objection. If the “owner” has an objection, then it is stealing, or at least wrong.

On a similar note, I had a friend who golfed with the same 3 guys all the time. His motto was, ‘it’s not cheating if I tell you I’m going to’. And then he would cheat outrageously!

Cha!