Morality Question of the Day - 11/30/09

[Thoreau]

You’re standing in line behind a 103 year old lady waiting to have her lottery ticket checked. It falls out of her pocket. You pick it up and notice it’s the winning ticket. Do you swap it with yours?


(By the way, if you haven't noticed, I will be posting these questions on a daily basis, Monday through Friday each week.)

 

[Enmos]

Nope. I give it back to her.

 

[shichimenshyo]

No, you give her back the ticket.
who knows she might even give you a buck or two for being honest.

 

[kurros]

Lol, I'd give it back, although I'd actually be kind of worried that she would drop dead as soon as she found out she'd won, so maybe I'd be doing her a favour if I kept it .

 

[Nesm]

Easier to answer when one option makes a thief of a person.

But what if it is only me that knows I took the lottery ticket, and there is no chance of the truth ever coming to light. No-one else is harmed or made poorer for my decision. Bear in mind she's not yet won, and so she is not yet richer for it. A week later I have my memory erased. Am I still a criminal?

If no-one knows of my crime, then who can label me a criminal? Only I can do that , and when I lose my memory - all knowledge of my crime disappears.

 

[Orleander]

I would never steal from her. Don't care if she was on her last leg and might be dead tomorrow, I'd never do it.

 

[visceral_instinct]

I would give it back.

 

[draqon]

I will take it, she is too old to use the money wisely anyways. I will cash in the money and give her some money as a "gift".

 

[swarm]

Its difficult to really predict what you'll do in a pinch but I'll go with give to her and hope she's a big tipper.

 

[James R]

But what if it is only me that knows I took the lottery ticket, and there is no chance of the truth ever coming to light. No-one else is harmed or made poorer for my decision.

Nonsense. The old woman will be harmed by losing a windfall gain that was rightfully hers, perhaps to bequeath to relatives or friends or charities on her death.

Bear in mind she's not yet won, and so she is not yet richer for it. A week later I have my memory erased. Am I still a criminal?

Yes. You stole her ticket.

If no-one knows of my crime, then who can label me a criminal?

Nobody, but that doesn't mean you aren't one.

I will take it, she is too old to use the money wisely anyways.

Bullshit.

 

[krokah]

Keep the ticket but offer her some money from the winnings..