Do you know how, in most countries - really, just about all of them - stealing is a crime? Taking something you don't pay for is usually against the law (except of course for music and for jokes). At least it was until an Italian court ruled you can steal food...but only if you're really hungry. "Really hungry" has yet to be scientifically defined.

In Italy it’s now acceptable to steal small amounts of food – but only if you have an empty stomach.

The nation's top appeals court on Monday overturned a conviction against a homeless Ukrainian man who stole $4.50 worth of cheese and hot dogs from an Italian supermarket because he was starving, the BBC reports.

The court ruled that because Roman Ostriakov was looking for something to eat at the Genoa store, the theft is not a crime.

"The condition of the defendant and the circumstances in which the seizure of merchandise took place prove that he took possession of that small amount of food in the face of an immediate and essential need for nourishment, acting therefore in a state of necessity," the court said in a statement.

So, here's the question. Which do you think is more likely to happen?

1. This causes a predictable slippery slope?
2. Leftists in our country start pushing for this? Because feelings of goodness, warmth and Oliver Twist.

If you voted both, you're probably right. That scares me a little. If you're at all familiar with basic history, you've read of the Enlightenment era. A time of great philosophy, when introspective individuals tried to unravel the meaning of humanity, to delve deeper into our intellects. It was a celebration of meaning, logic, and purpose. Cogito ergo sum. "I think, therefore I am."

Yeah, those days are long gone.

We're entering a new era. It's called The Age of Emotions Matter More than Anything. With the subtext: screw you for thinking about things, you unfeeling, uncaring bastard. No, the movement cannot have a better title. That requires thought. Thinking is not allowed in the new Age of Feels. It's now commonplace for people to say "I feel X about this thing," more often than they say "I think X about this thing."

Feelings > thoughts.

This Italian law is based solely on the feels. Nobody stopped to think about this law's ramifications. Nope, the law is a simple gut reaction. A heart-string tug. But not a heart-string tug for the food providers, might I add. Nobody dared feel about the people who are the victims of theft. Nobody dared feel about how this law could be taken advantage of. No, no. "We must do something to save the hungry!"

How about providing that person with a job? Or helping him learn skills so he might find employment. So he can buy his own food. I know, hate speech. But if you want to help a man, the best way is not to excuse his theft. It's to teach him how to provide for himself. Not victimize people who provide for themselves.

Critical thinking. It's a thing.

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