Ethical dilemma: hypothetical situations

Urban Ranger · February 24, 2003, 04:58

What would you do in these scenarioes:

1. If you have a chance to be a modern day white collar equivalvent of Robin Hood, will you take it?

2. If you can scam a lot of people each for a small amount of money, e.g. 10 million people at a dollar each, will you do that, providing that the people you scam don't care much about that dollar they lose?

3. As a computer cracker, you happen upon a racket of money laundering. If there's no way you can be found out, will you make off billions of dollars from some druglords?

Asher · February 24, 2003, 05:02

1. No
2. No
3. Yes

C0ckney · February 24, 2003, 05:09

1. no
2. yes
3. no

Berzerker · February 24, 2003, 05:20

all three are stealing, no

Dis · February 24, 2003, 05:29

2 is tricky. You say it is a scam, but the people don't care?

I think of this as cyber-begging. I probably wouldn't mind doing that. If the people don't mind, then I probably would be OK with this.

Definately not #1. Don't get me started on teaching Robin Hood to elementary schools.

Talk about brain washing

. Stealing is stealing.

The only reason I voted on #2 is because you said the people don't mind. Therefore I can't consider it stealing.

#3 is illegas as well.

David Floyd · February 24, 2003, 05:43

No to all.

TheStinger · February 24, 2003, 06:44

no
maybe
yes

Urban Ranger · February 24, 2003, 07:57

Why do you think it is an unethical action to take money from druglords, seeing that it is ill-gotten rich anyway?

Wraith · February 24, 2003, 08:54

1) Which Robin Hood are you talking about? The myths around this have altered rather a lot over time (particularly once Disney got their hands on it, but oh well). I'd rather go the Ragnar Danneskjold route myself.

2) No.

3) Better off playing anonymous tipster to the DEA or someone. I think drugs should be legalized, but druglords aren't nice people.

Wraith
“I've chosen a special mission of my own. I'm after a man whom I want to destroy. He died many centuries ago, but until the last trace of him is wiped out of men's minds, we will not have a decent world to live in.”
-- Ragnar Danneskjold ("Atlas Shruggd")

General Ludd · February 24, 2003, 09:05

No, that's all too much trouble to go through (and get into) for money.

Tingkai · February 24, 2003, 09:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
What would you do in these scenarioes:

1. If you have a chance to be a modern day white collar equivalvent of Robin Hood, will you take it?

2. If you can scam a lot of people each for a small amount of money, e.g. 10 million people at a dollar each, will you do that, providing that the people you scam don't care much about that dollar they lose?

3. As a computer cracker, you happen upon a racket of money laundering. If there's no way you can be found out, will you make off billions of dollars from some druglords?

Sounds like the start of a movie plot.

Solly · February 24, 2003, 09:27

No.
Yes.
Yes.

Skanky Burns · February 24, 2003, 09:28

Number 3 only. Considering there is no chance to be found out, there are no (negative) consequences for doing this. And by removing some of the druglords money, there will be just that many more people no exposed to their evil drugs.

The billions in my bank account would just be a bonus.

Datajack Franit · February 24, 2003, 09:31

Yes
Yes
Yes

I've seen enough people so shamefully rich to feed their dogs with caviar and silver forks

orange · February 24, 2003, 09:37

I'd consider two and three, but probably just three.

Daz · February 24, 2003, 09:47

Gimme!
Gimme!
Gimme!

Boy, would the charity organizations be happy with me or what! I guess I'd have to pay something back to give you myself better conscience (spelling?!).

The most important thing to me would be that the good ones dont get hurt in the process.

C0ckney · February 24, 2003, 12:04

Quote:

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Why do you think it is an unethical action to take money from druglords, seeing that it is ill-gotten rich anyway?

ripping off a drug lord sounds a bit too risky under any circumstances...

The Emperor Fabulous · February 24, 2003, 12:12

1.) Yes
2.) No
3.) No

...I'm unique

Boris Godunov · February 24, 2003, 12:15

1. No - Not my right to decide such a thing. Plus if I got caught, I doubt they'd care about noble intentions.

2. No - It's still stealing from innocent people, even if it is a dollar.

3. Yes - If there's no way I can get caught at all, I'd take the money without guilt from drug lords. I'd give a lot of it away, too. Like to drug treatment programs.

monolith94 · February 24, 2003, 12:21

?I've chosen a special mission of my own. I'm after a man whom I want to destroy. He died many centuries ago, but until the last trace of him is wiped out of men's minds, we will not have a decent world to live in.?
And who would this person be, Wraith?
Yes
No
Yes

I take wealth redistribution into my own hands...

tinyp3nis · February 24, 2003, 13:51

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
2 only because they don't care.

SlowwHand · February 24, 2003, 16:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Berzerker
all three are stealing, no

I concur.

Wernazuma III · February 24, 2003, 17:16

1.) Answering this question depends on the definition of "Robin Hood"-behavior. If it simply means to take the money from any wealthy person, it's a no. If it means to take from those I have proof that their money was acquired by blatant exploitation, theft, drugs (see below) etc., I wouldn't have any problems.
Even less I like the idea to say that every wealthy person should provide everything for the poor and that I am the executioner of this moral statement.
The second is the most obvious NO! This is called deception and is simple theft.
The third is a yes, but I would find it immoral to keep the money (any of it). Though this makes it some kind of a particular Robin Hood situation, I'd do it. If I know that a person is a drug lord, I know how he got the money, thus he has no moral right to have the money. If I find myself in the favorable position to take it away from him, sure. Taking the right into his own hands is great. As long as only I do it, everything will just be fine.

Wernazuma III · February 24, 2003, 17:20

Berzerker and Sloww: Would you also call it stealing if the person who takes the money in case 3 donates it to a drug threapy program?
If so, why?

Wraith · February 24, 2003, 17:36

--"And who would this person be, Wraith?"

Ragnar was talking about Robin Hood, in his currently common perception (ie. stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, no further modifiers).

Which is a far cry from the Robin Hood of legend who stole from the opressive, unjust government to return to the rightful owners.

Wraith
"One of these centuries, the brutes, private or public, who believe that they can rule their betters by force, will learn the lesson of what happens when brute force encounters mind and force."
-- Ragnar Danneskjöld ("Atlas Shrugged")

Ben Kenobi · February 24, 2003, 17:43

Stealing is wrong even if you steal from drug lords.
Why sink to their level?

No to all.

David Floyd · February 24, 2003, 18:39

Quote:

Why do you think it is an unethical action to take money from druglords, seeing that it is ill-gotten rich anyway?

I don't consider profiting from selling drugs to be ill-gotten money.

Berzerker · February 24, 2003, 19:02

Wernazuma -

Quote:

Berzerker and Sloww: Would you also call it stealing if the person who takes the money in case 3 donates it to a drug threapy program?

Yes.

Quote:

If so, why?

Because it still meets the definition of theft, the motive doesn't change that. I see several people here have said they'd steal from drug dealers, would you also steal from the local liquor store owner too? How about tobacco farmers? I'd bet fast food outlets "kill" more people than drug dealers, as long as tobacco dealers aren't included, is it okay to steal from McDonalds now if the money is handed over to Jenny Craig? I see no difference between stealing from a drug dealer and any other person with a product or service for sale.

Charlemagne120 · February 24, 2003, 19:05

yes
yes
no

SlowwHand · February 24, 2003, 20:37

Quote:

Originally posted by Wernazuma III
Berzerker and Sloww: Would you also call it stealing if the person who takes the money in case 3 donates it to a drug threapy program?
If so, why?

Ethics don't bend.
I also oppose "sting" operations.