Scruples

Salu · 15-10-2004, 10:46

OK. We need something controversial to whet the forum's appetite....

Let's say you were in financial ruin facing loan sharks, the full caboodle etc.

You discover that your friend has left their lottery ticket out somewhere and when you check the numbers discover that they have won something. Let's say that it is ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£80,000 rather than the Millions..You both buy the tickets from the same newsagents every week and both get lucky dips.

What do you do? Do you swap your losing ticket with theirs knowing that you are in greater need than your friend (he/she is financially sound) or inform your friend in the hope that they will remember you in the glory of their winnings?

If you took the ticket, your friend could find out as they may have marked the ticket or folded it in someway or even remembered the numbers? On the other hand your friend could be absent minded and you know you would get away with it. Answer how you like.

Your conscience is the main debating issue here. Not whether you could get away with it or not.

Me? I'd tell the friend as I could not live with the guilt of denying my friend the winnings. I may be in financial ruin but that is no reason to "rob" someone of something......

Graham F · 15-10-2004, 10:50

tell your friend then they will be so happy they would share it with you. Honesty does pay

Bifta · 15-10-2004, 10:57

Thieving from friends is one of the scummiest things anyone could do.

danielf · 15-10-2004, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bifta

Thieving from friends is one of the scummiest things anyone could do.

Answer the question please

**Chris** · 15-10-2004, 11:07

Well, I handed in a pound I found by the office door the other day ...

No contest really, it's theirs, you have to give it back. To me, the considerations about how likely you are to get caught aren't relevant. The 'wrong' is in the stealing, not the being caught stealing.

**Russ** · 15-10-2004, 11:14

The temptation would be strong, no matter where someone's morals lay.

I for one would find it very very difficult to ensure the money went to the correct owner - but I like to think my conscience would save the day and guide me to the right thing.

Bifta · 15-10-2004, 11:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by danielf

Answer the question please

There's no way I'd ever steal anything from any of my friends, however, if I found a winning lottery ticket lying in the road, that'd be a different matter.

basa · 15-10-2004, 11:31

Umm <coughs> I have to admit I would take the ticket and the money !! But give my freind a decent proportion of the winnings !!

I admit I have very few people I would call real friends :o

ian@huth · 15-10-2004, 11:32

I would agree with Russ on this issue. It is quite easy to say what you should and would do in any situation but it is only when you find yourself in that situation that your true actions are displayed. Think about you being in a really desperate financial situation where you could lose everything that you have built up during your life including your wife / husband and children. Some may think that suicide is the only way out and then they see that lottery ticket.

punky · 15-10-2004, 12:23

I don't think person should keep the ticket, but I think in real life more often than not, they would. Which leads me to my second point...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ianathuth

I would agree with Russ on this issue. It is quite easy to say what you should and would do in any situation but it is only when you find yourself in that situation that your true actions are displayed. Think about you being in a really desperate financial situation where you could lose everything that you have built up during your life including your wife / husband and children. Some may think that suicide is the only way out and then they see that lottery ticket.

Exactly

Bifta · 15-10-2004, 12:44

I'm so glad I don't know any of you IRL, I'd have to nail everything down.

**Chris** · 15-10-2004, 13:14

Oi! I'm a good boy.

MetaWraith · 15-10-2004, 13:21

This thread is a bit like an after dinner social party game I used to play called "Know thy Avatar". Will have to dig up the dilemma's we used for that.

Ramrod · 15-10-2004, 13:56

I don't think I'd keep it. But Russ has a point though.......hopefuly it'll never come to such a situation.....

kronas · 15-10-2004, 13:59

as people know im an honest person i would admit they have won