A moral dilemma (money)
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31365)
Denmark
January 3, 2013 1:53pm CST
Tonight I watched an old tv programme about moral dilemmas. At first we watched a short movie and then the audience had to decide how they wanted the story to end. This is a summary of the story:
A man met a woman on a bus and they talked for a while. The woman had a heart attack and before she died she handed the man her bag and tried to tell him what to do with the bag, but she didn't manage to finish her sentence before she lost consciousness. When the woman was taken to hospital the man kept the bag and he discovered that it contained 400000 kr (about $70000) and as you might have guessed the question is: What is the man supposed to do with the money?
The man is about to lose his house and his wife wants to leave him unless his financial situation changes. If he keeps the money he can save his relationship and save his house from being repossessed. Alternatively he can try to find out who the woman was and what she wanted him to do with the money or hand the money over to the police and let them deal with it.
What would you choose and why?
4 responses
@meumeu25 (913)
• United Arab Emirates
3 Jan 13
Hi,
If I were that man. I will try to find out who the woman was and look for her relatives but I will not give back the money yet. I will try to find out if she has a relative who needed the money and give it to that person. If none then I will give it back to the remaining relatives. I will do this because that money is not mine, I didn't work for it, and that lady must have intended to use that money for something very important or for the medication of someone dear to her. Before that money was handed to me, I was already destined to be broke. I can't take it in my conscience to make another person/people suffer, for me to get out of my own misery.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
3 Jan 13
I also think that the woman intended to spend the money on something specific. She was trying to tell the man that when she lost consciousness, but she didn't manage to finish her sentence. I think that it would be possible to find out who the woman was and get in touch with her relatives. That would be one option. Another option would be the police. Like you I wouldn't keep the money. It doesn't belong to me and I would either find the woman's relatives or hand the money over to the police and let them investigate the case.
@meumeu25 (913)
• United Arab Emirates
4 Jan 13
I'd rather try to find out who the woman is first, and look for her relatives with the help of the police. When a lot of money is involve, some people are capable of becoming greedy, so it's hard to know who we can trust. Although I have to admit that sometimes I can be cynical. If the authorities won't try their best to find out who the woman is, atleast I know her money is safe. I can still ask the help of the media. If nothing works, just then I will tell the police about the money and give it to them, to let them handle the problem.
1 person likes this
@yugocean (9963)
• India
4 Jan 13
Are there only these 3 options with no fourth option?
We can make our own story, but if we have to go with only those three, then second option is better than other two.
First option is for selfish person, the man has a greedy wife who is threatening him instead of helping in home and family, so keeping money will not bring love either. Also this is a Villain's work, and no Hero's job.
Third option is unsure, unless the police you are dealing with is honest, there is nothing good, corrupt police will take away the money and can create problem. Also if the police is honest, this man will no longer be the Hero, this is just a honest side actor's work.
A Hero will take the adventure, and findout about the woman's reality and take decision of what to do next.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
6 Jan 13
I also think that the first option would be selfish. The man is in a situation where he really needs money and he is probably going to lose both his house and his relationship if his financial situation doesn't improve, but it is not his money and I think that it would be wrong to just keep the money. He wants to save his relationship, but it doesn't sound like a good relationship since the wife is ready to leave him if he doesn't get more money. She seems to love the money more than she loves him.
You have a point about the police. In the countries were the police is corrupt it wouldn't be a good option. In my country there is no corruption among the police, so would be a option to hand the money to the police if you can't locate the woman's family.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
4 Jan 13
The man is suppose to give the money to the woman's next of ken. They might need it every bit as much, maybe even more, than he does. It is not his to keep. If he can not find the next of ken, then he takes it to the police, explains the situation to them and leaves it for them to find the rightful owner.
One of the promises in the marriage ceremony is, "for richer or poorer". Too many couples forget that promise when times get tough. That money isn't going to change the reason this couple is in a financial fix. It would only be a temporary solution, and it might not even be that. It could possibly lead to more trouble.
@ZoeJoy (1392)
• United States
3 Jan 13
The honest thing to do is to hand it to the police. Then, if the police can't find who the money belongs to, they will give it back.
If you don't trust the police, then try to find out who the woman is. At least there was an honest effort to find out who the money really belongs to.
If he keeps the money, he will never feel comfortable because he will always be wondering if someone will find out that he has this woman's money. Even if he spends the money on good things such as saving his house for his family, the money does not belong to him. If the woman could not finish her sentence, then she did not say that the money belonged to him.
If his wife is ready to leave him, then she really isn't a very loyal wife and is breaking her wedding vows - 'in sickness and health, for richer and poorer'. If she was a caring and loving wife, she would stay with him, no matter what the situation.
So, he needs to be the honest and caring person in this situation. Somebody does.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
3 Jan 13
In my country you would only get a small percentage of the money if you hand the money to the police. Even if they never find the owner you only get a small percentage of the money. I think that it would be better to give the money back to the person who found it if no one claims it, but they don't do that in my country.
It is true that the money doesn't belong to him. The woman was trying to tell him what to do with the money and she didn't tell him to keep it himself. I agree with you about the wife. She only seems care about the money. She wants to leave him if his financial situation doesn't improve, and that doesn't sound like a loving wife to me. Even if he did keep the money and convinced her to stay it doesn't sound a good relationship.
