• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What would you do? (Ethical question)

Status
Not open for further replies.
#141
Schpector said:
Thus, a question for all of you. What would you do? Would you return it, or would you keep it?
Click to expand...

Edit - oops, this has been said, "Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching." Your answer tells what kind of man you are.

CraigTB said:
It's definitely not cut & dry, but for me personally, I don't buy the its-OK-to-screw-institutions-if-theyre-big-enough line of reasoning.
Click to expand...

What part is not cut and dry? Something showed up at your door that you didn't pay for and doesn't belong to you. What ethical standard would you reference that would cast doubt on what you should do?
 
#146
jarrydee said:
I really doubt that 100% of the people saying return it would really return it.....its a lot easier to say something then do it if it was you, but I bet they would not tell anyone on TB about it either
Click to expand...

I don't.

It's an interesting thing to ponder tough. :) Would a person dishonest enough to keep it, also be dishonest about whether or not they would? Hmmm... probably.
 
#147
This DID happen to me with 2 Genz Benz Shuttlemax 9.2s & I notified Genz through here, they took it back!

Now I just ordered a GK NEO 112 & was quoted a price, said yes & the price on my invoice is $50 less than that quote... I'm staying quiet!

So... I guess we all have our lines in the sand.
 
#149
Hey, not to derail, but I was faced with something I really battled with... and wound up not doing for a bunch of different reasons. And guess what, someone else did.

Music dept at school I work at. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY cared nor knew what was in their inventory. Guess what was there. An early 70s P bass. One that was in desperate need of some TLC. Really needed a setup, strings, as it was in the music room it was pretty much unplayable. I could borrow it any time I wanted. Nobody would care. Wouldn't even have to sign out for it... I'm well respected where I work, and I'm good friends with everyone in the music department.

My thought... take this bass which is unplayable, and which someone is going to eventually steal one day anyhow - and replace it with a brand spanking new awesomely set up MIM P bass. I wanted to do this so badly it hurt.

I didn't.

Another teacher stole the bass. I know who too. The guy retired and took it with him.
 
#152
Joe Nerve said:
Hey, not to derail, but I was faced with something I really battled with... and wound up not doing for a bunch of different reasons. And guess what, someone else did.

Music dept at school I work at. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY cared nor knew what was in their inventory. Guess what was there. An early 70s P bass. One that was in desperate need of some TLC. Really needed a setup, strings, as it was in the music room it was pretty much unplayable. I could borrow it any time I wanted. Nobody would care. Wouldn't even have to sign out for it... I'm well respected where I work, and I'm good friends with everyone in the music department.

My thought... take this bass which is unplayable, and which someone is going to eventually steal one day anyhow - and replace it with a brand spanking new awesomely set up MIM P bass. I wanted to do this so badly it hurt.

I didn't.

Another teacher stole the bass. I know who too. The guy retired and took it with him.
Click to expand...

That is an unusually common story, I've had it happen to me (except for the stealing part) with a vintage Fender Bassman and a vintage Fender Precision.

All you guys and gals who work for school systems, it would behoove you to befriend the music department faculty and visit them frequently. You never know what hidden gems are in those instrument lockers.
 
#156
dmusic148 said:
So you did the right thing, and the other guy didn't. Good for you.
Click to expand...

To be honest, this one hurts. Because had I taken it the kids would have had an awesome bass to play and learn on. Now they have nothing. But I'd have never known that had I taken it, and don't think I'd have felt so great about the whole thing in the long run. It's a piece of wood and metal. Integrity is much more valuable to me.
 
#157
Joe Nerve said:
[...]An early 70s P bass[...] which someone is going to eventually steal one day anyhow[...]I didn't[...]Another teacher stole the bass
Click to expand...
Wow, that's a tough one! I personally am not into vintage stuff (and don't really consider 70's vintage) so wouldn't be as tempted as the rest of yous guys but that's just a sad situation to be in :( . You'd be afraid to take it out in public anyways even if you refinished it I think?
 
#158
lfmn16 said:
What part is not cut and dry? Something showed up at your door that you didn't pay for and doesn't belong to you. What ethical standard would you reference that would cast doubt on what you should do?
Click to expand...

The ethics involved are cut and dry, but whether one chooses to adhere to the ethics is definitely not cut and dry.

Like I said, I'm an older guy with just enough discretionary income that if I wanted something bass-related bad enough, I'd just go buy it. And the rest of my life is pretty cushy - I don't feel like I'm being screwed by big corporations, by my employer, by anyone. Things are good.

All that makes it really easy for me to sit back and announce that I would 100% do the right thing. The downside of feeling like I did the wrong thing outweighs the upside of getting something for free that I could just buy if I wanted bad enough.

But if I was younger, poorer, more desperate, etc...?

Who knows?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back