I'm not rationalizing anything.
To use your own words: Read closer and try again.
I said, "That is a nonsense rationalization..." Note how I do *NOT* say who is doing the rationalizing? I very specifically did not say *you* are rationalizing.
So, let us move on.
The book explains that they don't steal, they borrow.
The book explains that the kender don't think of it as stealing, but that pretty much every other race on the planet *does* think they are stealing. Given that we see canon examples of kender lying to themselves and others about it, it is reasonable to take the majority as correct. Taking off with something without permission is theft. The fact that theysupposedly intend to return it, but never do, doesn't make them honest - it makes them bigger, even more habitual liars.
In their society no one would ever think to say no, so they naively assume everyone thinks the same.
They continue to assume that despite being told otherwise constantly. When they can manage *every other* concept, they cannot handle this one? Even Tasslehoff doesn't really get it, as he uses all the same old "it fell in my pocket" nonsense to maintain his innocence. That is beyond cultural differences, into self-supporting delusions.
To those who suggest Kender society is unbelieveable....really? I mean really?
As a self-sustaining society? Yep, really. Because of this, direct from the book, verbatim: "With their short attention spans, kender rarely focus on any one thing for too long. It's when a kender is bored that a kender is most feared. A kender who can't find anything interesting to do determines to do something interesting, often with dire consequences."
So, all those arduous and tedious things like spinning, weaving, farming, mining, cutting and collecting lumber and firewood - kender can't sustain these activities. They cannot produce the basics required to keep an iron age society in motion. Thus, they are not self-sustaining, and can only really exist as leeches on the societies of others who can produce the basic needs of life.
It's incredible the lack of imagination one can find among D&D players.
Because insulting people is an excellent way to get them to accept your points as valid? I strongly suggest you stop accusing those who don't agree with you of being mentally deficient. Such rudeness is not acceptable.
