Modern Ethics I Fail The Tests

[pharmer]

I find navigating the world as it is seems to become harder daily. Technology definitely makes everything more "sketchy" for lack of a better word. My current case: There is a "WalMart neighborhood store" less than a mile from my house. Apparently I spend $100/week there according to my CC annual statement. Several years ago they went to "self checkout" line with 2 cash registers. "I'll wait for the human" was me for awhile then a dozen "diy" stations and no cash registers made me grudgingly change. I soon realized I could walk in, grab a dozen eggs and be out the door in seconds. The dilemma: 2 weeks ago my wife went with me for a 9pm run (best time, nobody there and everything stocked for tomorrow). I never bag produce but rather throw tomatoes, onions, lemons, apples etc in the cart (to be "green"). Takes me quite awhile to check out to be accurate. So after I finally put my card in, pay, get printed receipt, I look down and there's $9.43 sticking out of the slots. The courtesy desk closes @8 and the employee is on her phone so in my pocket it goes. My wife gave me **** all the way home about my lack of integrity. I guess I could have just left it there. Well, last night I do a run (folks will cut your tires over a spot on the gas lines during the day to save $.04/gal), check out at leisure taking at least 15 minutes. Put in the card, pay, get printed receipt, take a last look in case I left a bag and bingo-a crisp $20 is again sticking out of the slot. Asking the "Universe" for guidance I'm thinking: "Somebody got cash back and walked off." Nobody around except a different girl on her phone. What to do? Well I failed the test once again. This never would happen before technology "altered my paradigm."
PS I'm not seeking consensus; everyone knows that they would have "performed saintly" in the same situation, certainly better than I did. Upside is everyone gets a bigger tip month of February. Joe

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Time to come clean!
A while back I rang the Help Murder Police Button at the Walmart Ammo case.
When the clerk finally arrived, I asked how much are those Stingers?
Long story short, I got 5 boxes of Stingers for the price of one.
If I had tried to explain and got into a long harangue with the clerk -
He would have probably concluded these old gray haired guys know everything and they are a Pain!
He swiped my card and I walked.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

If it was last month, you could have dropped it in the Salvation Army kettle! I'm not sure of the correct depository at other times of year. In the days of Moses, we'd have called that "Manna" (loose translation: What the heck is that?)

Ivan

 

[ACORN]

I’ve been on the opposite side, twice.
Once I got $20 from the self check out. Grabbed my stuff and left. About an hour later my wife calls and asks if I took $20 out of our acct. Then it dawned on me, I left the $20 in the machine.
A guy using the machine next found the $20, went to the customer service where they were able to view the video tape.
Somehow they were able to get my home phone number and called my wife.
The finder wouldn’t give the money to them, but left his number for me to call and meet him.
He wanted to make sure I got it.
Quite admirable.

The second time I was at WM, and again got $20 out.
I gathered my purchase, receipt, ATM card. Put the card in my wallet and left.
When I get to my car I realized I never took my $20.
I ran back in and told the attending clerk what I had done.
She says, she had it, opened her cash drawer, and handed it to me.
My wife worked at WM and she told me that if an employee finds money in the store they are required to turn it in, or risk termination.

 

[pharmer]

.......My wife worked at WM and she told me that if an employee finds money in the store they are required to turn it in, or risk termination.

Duly noted, thanks. Joe

 

[kozmic]

Machines are programed. Employees are trained. Merchandise is marked and other customers are responsible for their actions (or in-actions). The only intangible is internal to each of us. Sometimes we need to make a game time decision on how we would react.

 

[Bald1]

“ go on take the money and run”

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Back in the '70's while drinking with a friend I found a $50 dollar bill on the floor of the bar. Well back then, a $50 was a rarity and its absence would have been noticed by the owner, so rather than spend it there and risk discovery, we made the decision to go to another bar. Worked well. I suspect that is on the "to be discussed" list with St. Peter if I get that far

 

[kozmic]

Back in the '70's while drinking with a friend I found a $50 dollar bill on the floor of the bar. Well back then, a $50 was a rarity and its absence would have been noticed by the owner, so rather than spend it there and risk discovery, we made the decision to go to another bar. Worked well. I suspect that is on the "to be discussed" list with St. Peter if I get that far

If it seems like the line is moving slow, just be patient, chances are I'm still pleading my case with him.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

If you can readily identify an owner I think you're obliged to return it. I found a wallet, contained credit cards, a library card but nothing with an address, I turned it into the police. Stopped at a branch of my bank to use the ATM, saw an elderly lady walking to her car, she dropped a $50, I returned it to her. Found a laptop in a park in my town, belonged to a student. Sent him an email, he got it back.

 

[brendonjames65]

“Ethical behavior is doing the right thing when no one else is watching—even when doing the wrong thing is legal.”

Aldo Leopold

 

[M29since14]

If it was last month, you could have dropped it in the Salvation Army kettle! I'm not sure of the correct depository at other times of year. In the days of Moses, we'd have called that "Manna" (loose translation: What the heck is that?)

Ivan

Ivan, last I checked The Salvation Army takes donations twelve months a year, or at least they do from me. Never had one turned down yet.

 

[SMSgt]

Back in the '70's while drinking with a friend I found a $50 dollar bill on the floor of the bar. Well back then, a $50 was a rarity and its absence would have been noticed by the owner, so rather than spend it there and risk discovery, we made the decision to go to another bar. Worked well. I suspect that is on the "to be discussed" list with St. Peter if I get that far

At least you have a lawyer to speak for you.

 

[Telecaster]

Give the free cash to a beggar.

And maybe go to Vegas and try the slots, since machines like to spit money at you.

 

[MRB1]

I still refuse to use the self-checkout. My local Lowes went total selfie, and I moved to Home Depot because they still have humans checking out. It won't be long before we're required to unload the trucks and stock the shelves.

 

[Peak53]

Since we are confessing: Once upon a time, in another universe (1982), I was on a honeymoon Windjammer cruise out of the Bahamas. The only currency accepted at the bar was Francs, but they had a currency exchange system. I gave the guy a C note and he screwed up the exchange rate by 6 to 1. I ended up with a large pile of Francs and a lot of friends.

 

[handejector]

In 1969 in RVN, we pulled into some base just after dark cause it didn't pay to travel the roads at night. It was big enough to have an NCO or EM club, maybe both, but one was a whole lot closer. Can't remember which. We hadn't had a drink in a while, so off me and a buddy go to whichever was the closer walk. I was an E-4 and he was an E-7, so one of us had to remove our rank insignia. I did that all the time. I drank in NCO clubs as an E-4, in EM clubs after I made Sgt, and even an Officer's Club or two. Just lay low and avoid unnecessary conversations with people you don't know. Rank was shown with collar brass (subdued), so it was quick and easy to pull if I even had it on. We often had fairly ragged, dirty fatigues on, so nobody looked too close. If we had been in the field for awhile, nobody stood close enough to question us. Anyway, we drank ourselves broke at 25 cents a shot and headed for the barracks, lacking any military bearing. Just outside the door, where available light was fading away, I spied an MPC $5 bill on the ground. I said: "Art, lookee here- we got 5 more dollars." Without another word, we both did an about face and headed back in.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Back in the '70's while drinking with a friend I found a $50 dollar bill on the floor of the bar. Well back then, a $50 was a rarity and its absence would have been noticed by the owner, so rather than spend it there and risk discovery, we made the decision to go to another bar. Worked well. I suspect that is on the "to be discussed" list with St. Peter if I get that far

Per Inflation calculator ..........That is $283 in todays dollars!

 

[BAM-BAM]

I hate having to look up loose fruit and vegetables pricing!!!!!!

 

[pharmer]

Well, on my way over to my FFL/pawnshop I stopped into the “MiniWally” and handed the double sawbuck to the manager. Chances of the owner getting it back are slim. Point is it was never my money. In the future I’m just walking away. Minding my own business just got bigger. Joe