Generic Moral Problem Solving

[Clare]

So, this morning at work, I found £60 on the floor, folded up, outside the changing rooms. I held it in my hands for a few moments, before closing my eyes, sighing and handing it in. It's not like I don't need the cash - because I really do - but I guess it was just those ingrained morals that suddenly sprung out. They don't during instances of shoplifting or dealing, but they're the same responses that cause me to open doors for old people, give my seat on the bus home to a pregnant woman and... And hand money I really need in.

Was it the right thing to do? Well, I guess if they'd caught me, I'd have easily lost my job - not cool, in the slightest. But another part of me just thought of someone doing their Christmas shopping and finding themselves £60 down, and that didn't sit so right with me. So, instead of just pocketing the money and having a stellar night out with it, I signed myself up for working Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and the 2nd of January. The latter two are public holidays in Scotland, so I should earn about £60 each day.

So. To reassure me that I'm not a ridiculous freak for not keeping the money, tell me about your situations like this - help someone you don't even know or help yourself? Or rejecting your internal greed. Or even just internal conflict in situations.

[youhippy]

I gave half my student loan to my mother, despite needing it for such necessities as food and travel, but mainly i just don't want to get chucked out of the house over christmas. so actually i guess its rather selfish

[chloelovespw]

You did the right thing.

[mimicry]

That's the good thing to do, I guess. I know in America that after a certain time period-- I'm not sure if it's 14 days or 30-- then the found object can be claimed by its finder. Someone I know works in a grocery store and actually gets more cash than you'd think by being honest.

[sarah]

depends if you're a utilitarian or a deontologist

[abolishconfusion]

I'm utilitarian.

[obeseguy]

Eh.

If it'll make you feel guilty, it's not worth it. You lose more than you gain.

For example: Stealing from supermarkets and chain stores does not make me feel like a bad person. Stealing from market stalls, small shops, people, etc, is far more personal and I do still feel bad about some of the things like that I've done, years later.

Moral of the story: You can't buy back your self-respect.

[Clare]

You're totally right - I feel no guilt from stealing from massive companies, but I couldn't steal from a family business or whatever.

[Debs]

littleredgrrl said:

You're totally right - I feel no guilt from stealing from massive companies

I work for a massive company. Over the last two days I've unpicked quite a large fraud conducted by one of the bar team. Now, I'm sure he sees it as ok that he's stolen around £5k in the last three months from a large company, but he's not just hurt the shareholder but has financially hurt his management team and colleagues.

His management team will receive smaller bonuses from reduced top line sales, and his colleagues will all suffer drops in pay - as the sales drop so do the hours allowed for the team to work, so they don't get extra hours at a time they really need them.

What I'm trying to say is that there is no victimless crime.

I think you did the right thing; I just hope that if that person comes back to where they work that they thank the honest person who handed the money back in.

[obeseguy]

Minor shoplifting is entirely different to defrauding thousands of pounds.

Also, a depressing thought just struck me: whoever lost that £60 may not bother trying to find it because they assume whoever found it would have just taken it. Sad .

[chloelovespw]

Has anyone seen the episode of South Park where Wal-Mart is the devil?

That is pretty much my views on big corporation/mom-n-pop stores.

[allison]

today i left my wallet on a bus bench. i hope someone returns it.