Wallet

This should prolly go in my blog section but I think it might be a subject for conversation (duck) so I'll just cut to the chase:

Today, I found a wallet outside my dorms to the tune of 25 bucks and credit cards.
Said wallet was returned to security in the same condition that I found it in.
Did I do the "right" thing, or am I just 25 dollars poorer?

[GSLeloo]

You did the right thing. I always think of it as imagine how you'd feel if you lost the wallet and what you'd want the other person to do.

\

[Wezas]

You're a good man, Stanley.

Personally I would have taken the cash and returned the wallet (credit cards are usually cancelled right away, and I don't feel like dealing with security when I try to use them)

[Farquar]

I think most folks would pocket the cash and return the rest untouched. Taking the cash would teach a valuable life lesson to the wallet's owner. Credit card fraud, however, is just wrong.

[Blazing247]

A week ago, I'd have returned the wallet with the cash. Losing a wallet means that, at minimum, a week of your life is ruined. I've never lost one, but if I did I'd appreciate the return of it and/or the cash, and would probably give the person the cash anyhow.

Not so sure, now. I found a Verizon phone the other day, brand new and top of the line. Valued at around $400. I needed a new phone at the time, but instead of taking the phone as my own (via an ESN swap), I took it back to the Verizon Retail store around the corner. I gave it to the lady and asked if she could find and return it to the owner. She grabbed it, said we'll try, and walked to the back. I walked out of the store a little bit bothered by the whole thing, but ah well. My buddy who used to work there told me they will probably sell the phone as refurbished if the owner has claimed a new phone, and thus I am out of a nice phone with not even a thank you to show for it. I'm not sure if I hate Verizon or human nature, but the point is, you do not get anything for being a good guy.

Take two back to back stories in the Trentonian the past two weeks. The first- a guy checks his account balance and finds that instead of it being $500, it is $100,500. Instead of withdrawing money from his bank, he immediately walks back in and says something about it. The bank teller tells him it's not an error, that he made a deposit a week earlier. He could've walked out with $100,000 (though he would probably have had to give it back), but he instead took it up a level to the manager who found the error. Some rich guy deposited it in his account a week prior, didn't notice it went into the bank account because his was so large, and didn't give the guy a damned thing (nor did the bank) for his honesty in their stupid fucking error.

The second story was about a pair of kids who found 100 Yankees playoff tickets that fell off a Wachovia truck, valued at around $25,000. They were avid Yanks fans, but returned EVERY SINGLE TICKET to Wachovia. In return, instead of giving them 2 for themselves, Wachovia gave them tickets to a Nets game. Who the fuck watches the Nets?

The point is, being a nice guy means the benefit is...knowing you're a nice guy. Nobody else will know/care that you are a nice guy, you are just doing it for yourself. I like to tell myself that that is motivation enough to do the right thing, but I'm not so sure if I found $40,000 on the side of the road if I'd return it anymore.

[Farquar]

I have no qualms with the $100K guy. He would have been criminally liable if he took the money, even if the clerk told him it was his. The bank would have discovered the error eventually, because they run periodic audits. I'm sure the bank gave the guy something, albeit nothing significant (think football phone or free checks).

The kids I sympathize with, however. Corporations tend to be generous in these PR/goodwill type cases, and I'm surprised that they gave the kids Nets tickets. Even though the Nets have been playoff contenders for the past few years, the tickets are still much easier to come by than Yanks tickets.

I don't know what I would have done in your phone situation. I tend to be somewhat ethically flexible when dealing with corporations. Every big corporation has an "oh shit" writeoff allotment in their balance sheet, so why deny yourself a piece of that pie?

[Keller]

I'm surprised Arkans hasn't rung in with ...

You should realize no one would leave the cash for you, you should have just taken it. You were nice enough in taking time out of your busy day to return the wallet and not just throw it in the garbage can.

- Arkans


In other news ---- I believe in karma. Even if you don't, it's not your money and God didn't place you on this earth to teach anyone a "lesson." So kudos to you for doing the right thing and returning the wallet with the cash inside.

[Caiylania]

I think you did the right thing. Like others have said, think about how you would like others to return your wallet.

:thumbsup:

[Nieninque]

I found a wallet with some money in at a festival - nothing major just about £20 - but it was the last day of the festival and was skint.
I took the wallet to security including the cash and went penniless for the rest of the fest, It didnt feel as good as it should :(
Thing that gets me about it is there is no guarantee the security arent rifling the wallet and pocketing the cash when you hand it in. Bastards.

[HarmNone]

You did the right thing, Stanley. Then again, I think you already know that. ;)

[AnticorRifling]

You shouldn't have given it to security. Security is 25 bucks richer. Find the owner on your own next time. Same with the phone, don't give it back to the company find the owner via call history or somesuch.

[Betheny]

You did the right thing, Stan. I knew you were a good guy. :heart:

That being said, I've had my stuff lost and returned to me in good condition. It's the best feeling in the world! Though I bet the security guard will pocket the money. Heh.

[Myshel]

I"m proud of you, you did the right thing. But I second calling the person yourself instead giving it to security.

[DeV]

You did the right thing Stan... that's rare.

Credit card theft is fun and games until you get caught. No one can prove shit with the cash. You did the right thing, but still are a sucker that is $25 poorer.

- Arkans

[xtc]

Stanley you did the right thing, you are a man of integrity. I guess I shouldn't judge a man by his iguana or 70's porn star mustache :yes:

[Betheny]

Originally posted by xtc
Stanley you did the right thing, you are a man of integrity. I guess I shouldn't judge a man by his iguana or 70's porn star mustache :yes:

YOU BE NICE TO MY STANLEY OR I WILL CUT YOU!!!!!1

[xtc]

Originally posted by Maimara

Originally posted by xtc
Stanley you did the right thing, you are a man of integrity. I guess I shouldn't judge a man by his iguana or 70's porn star mustache :yes:

YOU BE NICE TO MY STANLEY OR I WILL CUT YOU!!!!!1

I was being nice

[theotherjohn]

you did the right thing.