tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post1524172307878229252..comments2024-02-19T08:12:53.815-05:00Comments on The Right Thing: What's not mine is not mineJeffrey L. Seglinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15648051034425906705noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post-12857664767025606142011-10-30T10:06:38.508-04:002011-10-30T10:06:38.508-04:00Charlie,
My comment was that IF he had noticed th...Charlie,<br /><br />My comment was that IF he had noticed the animals after paying and STILL continued out he would have committed a crime. It is specifically the combination of the requisite mental state and the action that constitutes the crime. No, in this scenario where he returned to the register after noticing them, no crime was committed but then again, that wasn't Jeffrey's question either.<br /><br />William Jacobson<br />Anaheim, CAWilliam Jacobsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post-45628403183316882312011-10-24T00:55:39.214-04:002011-10-24T00:55:39.214-04:00The stuffed animals are a little odd. Many people...The stuffed animals are a little odd. Many people would not even want them and the question of how and why were they there comes up. Were they some odd promo gift??? I do not think there is a clear ethical answer here.<br /><br />The tools in your car which was stolen is not the same. If some punk stole your car and left things there, tough turkey for him. What if he left an AK-47 or a vial of Zyklon B. The police are not going to return them and the owner has just gone through a lot of trouble to get his car back. I would not even give this a moment's thought.<br /><br />Alan OAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post-70600639220859781922011-10-23T11:51:20.947-04:002011-10-23T11:51:20.947-04:00I would agree with the first comment to the extent...I would agree with the first comment to the extent that honesty must override any other factor in the examples given.<br /><br />However, I would not agree that the first example provided anything approaching "dishonesty". It was not the buyer's responsibility to minutely search the item purchased for any hidden "goodies". He may have momentarily had a temptation to "abscond" with the hidden items, but he reported the situation and should be given credit for that. And certainly, the temptation that went through the buyer's mind can in no way be considered "illegal". Thank goodness we do not have a police state that would look for reasons to consider a momentary lapse in thinking, but one which was not acted on, as truly illegal. Who among us has not been momentarily tempted to do something wrong or illegal, but it is our character and honesty that causes us to continue our honest life and not give in to take illegal path. Those among us who give in to temptation are the dishonest ones and who look for reasons to make an excuse for their lack of character.<br /><br />Charlie Seng<br />Lancaster, SCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21166579.post-6627838116744045492011-10-23T11:25:29.173-04:002011-10-23T11:25:29.173-04:00Jeffrey,
If in your first scenario, your friend s...Jeffrey,<br /><br />If in your first scenario, your friend spotted the stuffed animals between the register and the door while still on the retailer's property and continued out "with no one the wiser" then not only has he not done the right thing, he has broken the law.<br /><br />The agreement between your friend and the retailer was for exchange of a chest of drawers for an agreed price. Just as your friend would have a case if that chest were missing a leg, the store has a case if any items are tucked inside.<br /><br />The intent to steal need only take a moment. At the point that your friend realized he had extra goods and continued, he has stolen them. Imagine if a security tag set off an alarm at the door and on reviewing the tapes see your friend open the drawers, see the animals and continue.<br /><br />If we want others to be fair with us, we need to be fair with them. And really? Are you willing to sell your character over stuffed animals?!?<br /><br />William Jacobson<br />Anaheim, CAWilliam Jacobsonnoreply@blogger.com