Abuse of ethics

[Rodion Romanovich]

What are your most often encountered examples of abuse of ethics in your everyday life? Here are a few quite annoying ones I run across quite often:

- a person wants something from you, but that person has never given you anything back and probably never will. So when he wants something, you demand something in return, that would be easy for him to get hold of and give you. But when you do this, he replies that it's "unethical and calculating" to demand something in return, attempting to abuse ethics to be able to get everything he wants from you, without giving anything at all in return.
* Solution: generally, I say "no deal", and the problem is solved

- a person does some unprovoked evil to you, then insists that "revenge is unethical" when he sees your ability of reprisals. It is obvious from repeated unprovoked attacks that the attacks are deliberate and not merely an accident or coincidence. The person uses ethics as a way to protect himself from any reprisals while unjustly trying to steal what he wants.
* Solution: since it's deliberate beyond doubt, I make clear that in my ethics system, "turn the other cheek" doesn't apply to deliberate attacks, but only to accidents, and that in accident cases the offender is expected to repair the damages, and in deliberate repeated attacks, the offender is expected to pay indemnities of a size that is precisely so large that 1. damages are repaired AND 2. the total affair results in no gain for the offender.

So, what are your examples of people abusing ethics in your everyday life? And how do you generally solve these problems?

[Bijo]

What are your most often encountered examples of abuse of ethics in your everyday life? Here are a few quite annoying ones I run across quite often:

- a person wants something from you, but that person has never given you anything back and probably never will. So when he wants something, you demand something in return, that would be easy for him to get hold of and give you. But when you do this, he replies that it's "unethical and calculating" to demand something in return, attempting to abuse ethics to be able to get everything he wants from you, without giving anything at all in return.
* Solution: generally, I say "no deal", and the problem is solved

- a person does some unprovoked evil to you, then insists that "revenge is unethical" when he sees your ability of reprisals. It is obvious from repeated unprovoked attacks that the attacks are deliberate and not merely an accident or coincidence. The person uses ethics as a way to protect himself from any reprisals while unjustly trying to steal what he wants.
* Solution: since it's deliberate beyond doubt, I make clear that in my ethics system, "turn the other cheek" doesn't apply to deliberate attacks, but only to accidents, and that in accident cases the offender is expected to repair the damages, and in deliberate repeated attacks, the offender is expected to pay indemnities of a size that is precisely so large that 1. damages are repaired AND 2. the total affair results in no gain for the offender.

A most foul thing it is when people have such conduct.

So, what are your examples of people abusing ethics in your everyday life? And how do you generally solve these problems?

Perhaps making promises and not living up to them could be one. Or lying. I recently had a case where a high-positioned being made an important promise but did not see it through and most likely does not plan to do so. Addition: this being lied about the occurred fact and hid -- like a foul-smelling coward -- behind his secretary as this person approached me instead and behind the power the liar wields. He either acts justly, or his head must roll -- it must roll anyway.


I usually do not encounter cases of the kinds you have mentioned. Avoidance is required therefor. And when properly observing and reading people, you could easily detect who should be avoided.

But to be certain: unless interaction is necessary, avoid all of them. I mention this for many who are encountered are generally alike having the same typical human traits. They will lie, steal, deceive, destroy, and satisfy themselves and themselves only.

That which I have stated is cynical but generally true nonetheless.

[Odin]

Situation: A single mother and child ask for financial assistance for childcare expenses. They have all the proper paperwork and seem to be a very good candidate for the assist. However, you know this person from prior expirence in a similar situation, and you know thier intent is to take the funds and pay for rent and food. The assist is specifically for childcare at the facility and if it isnt used there the person looses the assist.

Part of the deal is they have a 6 month child care voucher which they are committed to paying 30% of. The money given to them cannot be directly applied by the institute offering the assist because it is awarded to individuals only. Essentially, a check is handed to the woman, she then is exepected to use it to pay that balance (it is expected some will be used for other childcare expenses which she must document).

I am the person who approves or disapproves of the disbursement to her. Having full knowledge of the circumstances, and knowing she dosent intend to use the money for what its designated for, thereby expending resources someone else could use. I approve her voucher, she gets the money, pays her rent and gets some food, a month later she recieves the 2nd payment of the voucher does the same thing and makes no payment toward the childcare she was supposed to.

So am I unethical for giving her the voucher knowing she wasnt going to use it for what it was meant for ?

Thoughts please.

[TevashSzat]

Odin, I would not make a decision until more about the situation is learned like is the single mother working and if not, is she trying to remedy the issue or is not capable of working either physically or mentally. Furthermore is the mother trying to make the best out of her situation??

[Odin]

Odin, I would not make a decision until more about the situation is learned like is the single mother working and if not, is she trying to remedy the issue or is not capable of working either physically or mentally. Furthermore is the mother trying to make the best out of her situation??

Well that would be ideal, but that is beyond the scope of requirements for childcare assistance. Not only that but I know what the situation is, she does work when she can and does the best she can (in this case).

So do I give her the money knowing it isnt going to be used as intended, and perhaps limit funding for someone else?

[Papewaio]

If she is using the money to provide for the needs (shelter and food) of a child and not using if for wants (iPod) or self destruction (alcohol) then I don't think it is unethical... it does point however to a broken system. She should be able to get welfare to cover those basics like here in Aus plus childcare can be subsidised by the Family assistance office here (where you go in, nominate the child care and the centre directly gets the deduction to costs... the percentage paid goes down as your family income goes up)... so the issue would not occur here in the exact format, but I'm pretty sure case officers have a discretionary ability that puts the childs welfare at the highest importance... so they would probably not chase after the women, they would be looking for a better solution. A bureaucratic systems failure is not something that a child's life should be paid for with... so in balance I think you are doing the ethical thing.