I kill powder gangers and get good karma, but if I touch any of their stuff, I get bad karma? really?
I find an abandoned farm with stuff all over and it is all red... negative karma for taking it.

why? makes no sense what so ever,.

yeah i dont get that to? i still stole the stuff any ways?

Karma really doesn't matter. I'm a good guy, I do things the "good" way, yet my Karma rating is "Scourge of the Wastes." It doesn't affect how people view you in the game; only reputation matters.

The only time stealing hurts your relations, is if you're caught.

:shrug: In the long run it doesn't matter much. My character is a kleptomaniacal cannibal but still manages to have Very Good karma.
I agree, it is pretty weird. It was probably just an oversight.