Profit from things you don't agree with?

Chael2dot0
Chael2dot0 Posts: 1,189 Member
Just a philosophical questions for everyone. So say you have a way to make a good amount of money investing, but the product is something you personal do not beleive in. Do you still invest? This isn't some illegal, but some based on personal or moral choice.

So for example, adult entertainment, gambling, or the now popular cannibus trade.

What say ou?
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Replies

  • kindalikevelma
    kindalikevelma Posts: 1,337 Member
    So, in a way I can relate. I’ve had to work with clients that don’t fit into my moral compass. I asked to be put on another project for personal reasons and management accommodated my request. With this being a personal investment, I think you have to weigh what matters more to you, financial gain or morals. Only you can decide that for yourself.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    My parents invested in cannabis and they are doing very well.

    But to answer your question, no I would not. Morals trump funds IMO.

    Same here.

    My integrity is of the highest importan....

    Wait.

    Exactly how much money are we talking about?
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    I think we all profit from things we don't agree with. As far as my personal money, I haven't had the opportunity yet to take a large amount and profit from it. In my 401k and personal investments I do not look into the equities within the mutual funds I purchase. I do know there are some investors who do, I am just too lazy myself.

    I understand this.

    There are also mutual funds that target specific investor preferences.... social, responsible... whatever.

    I will quietly and personally boycott some companies. I just don't wish to be associated with them in any way.
  • Chael2dot0
    Chael2dot0 Posts: 1,189 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    My parents invested in cannabis and they are doing very well.

    But to answer your question, no I would not. Morals trump funds IMO.

    Same here.

    My integrity is of the highest importan....

    Wait.

    Exactly how much money are we talking about?

    Let's just say I just doubled an investment in 4 days. With Canada approving cannibis related products, and things going into effect in Oct here, there are some interesting investment opportunities avaialbe. I may, or may be capitalizing on the Canadian, Russian, and India markets right now.

    That said, my focus has been in biopharms since I started years ago, so what I select from that particualar market falls in that category.
  • bojack5 wrote: »
    I profit quite a bit from the misfortune of others. I buy foreclosed houses and flip them. A lot of the times the previous owners are long gone and i dont know their story. In those cases its pretty simple. But occasionally there are people freshly booted out when its time for me to take over. Some people are just nasty, and some are real decent people that fell on hard times. I still move forward with it, its inevitable they have to leave with or without me buying it, but it can sting sometimes. There was one house i bought and i went back to check out a few things before closing on it, and i found the owner dead in the basement from commiting suicide. This guy was so nice as to put on a motorcycle helmet when he shot himself in the head to keep the mess to a minimum. He also left a suicide note, but in the note wasnt a final farewell, it was a note to me listing everything he knew that was wrong with the house and things i may want to check out. That one i wish the guy had talked to me first, im all about capitalism but i have a line..... That one threw me off a little.

    That is devastating
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    bojack5 wrote: »
    I profit quite a bit from the misfortune of others. I buy foreclosed houses and flip them. A lot of the times the previous owners are long gone and i dont know their story. In those cases its pretty simple. But occasionally there are people freshly booted out when its time for me to take over. Some people are just nasty, and some are real decent people that fell on hard times. I still move forward with it, its inevitable they have to leave with or without me buying it, but it can sting sometimes. There was one house i bought and i went back to check out a few things before closing on it, and i found the owner dead in the basement from commiting suicide. This guy was so nice as to put on a motorcycle helmet when he shot himself in the head to keep the mess to a minimum. He also left a suicide note, but in the note wasnt a final farewell, it was a note to me listing everything he knew that was wrong with the house and things i may want to check out. That one i wish the guy had talked to me first, im all about capitalism but i have a line..... That one threw me off a little.

    That is devastating

    ..... how do you think the motorcycle helmet felt ?
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited September 2018
    Chael2dot0 wrote: »
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    My parents invested in cannabis and they are doing very well.

    But to answer your question, no I would not. Morals trump funds IMO.

    Same here.

    My integrity is of the highest importan....

    Wait.

    Exactly how much money are we talking about?

    Let's just say I just doubled an investment in 4 days. With Canada approving cannibis related products, and things going into effect in Oct here, there are some interesting investment opportunities avaialbe. I may, or may be capitalizing on the Canadian, Russian, and India markets right now.

    That said, my focus has been in biopharms since I started years ago, so what I select from that particualar market falls in that category.

    I would have assumed that Israel would have made the list right alongside your listed countries, with several biopharma companies working with the Israeli Ministry of Health.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited September 2018
    Chael2dot0 wrote: »
    JuSt a philosophical questions for everyone. So say you have a way to make a good amount of money investing, but the product is something you personal do not beleive in. Do you still invest? This isn't some illegal, but some based on personal or moral choice.

    If I do not believe in the product, then my answer is "no." There is a delineating point, where my morals and Federal law outweighs a business in pretext which allows one to make ridiculously large sums of money in a short period of time. I am one who would vehemently disfavor such a path, factoring in the possibility of Federal law enforcement raids, where the monies you'd assumed you earned legally within the parameters of your State were legally earned. Were they? Yes & no. Too ambiguous a risk.

    From what I peripherally understand, transportation of these goods across State lines and into Canada would still be considered a crime under Federal law. Uhmmm ... No thanks!

    What I would also consider is the end buyer and marketplace. Oftentimes, outside dispensaries, these products are still being hawked on the DarkWeb ... Eg. The now closed Silkroad marketplace, which has morphed several times since. The lack of proper governing, even within approved States makes the reward unworthy of the risk you bear. Raids do not differentiate between products within a family home purchased using funds acquired through Federally approved means VS State approved dispensaries. Eg. SD CBD honey manufacturer lost everything ... Homes, Cars, college funds, savings, investments... Seized.

  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    bojack5 wrote: »
    I profit quite a bit from the misfortune of others. I buy foreclosed houses and flip them. A lot of the times the previous owners are long gone and i dont know their story. In those cases its pretty simple. But occasionally there are people freshly booted out when its time for me to take over. Some people are just nasty, and some are real decent people that fell on hard times. I still move forward with it, its inevitable they have to leave with or without me buying it, but it can sting sometimes. There was one house i bought and i went back to check out a few things before closing on it, and i found the owner dead in the basement from commiting suicide. This guy was so nice as to put on a motorcycle helmet when he shot himself in the head to keep the mess to a minimum. He also left a suicide note, but in the note wasnt a final farewell, it was a note to me listing everything he knew that was wrong with the house and things i may want to check out. That one i wish the guy had talked to me first, im all about capitalism but i have a line..... That one threw me off a little.

    An honest living. 👏👏👏No one can say you lack empathy. You had no way of determining that the foreclosed homeowner would choose to end his life. Flippers like you are brave bojack5, where what you have shared here is the worst anyone would think to encounter ... Oftentimes it's the graffiti, fecal matter, rot, mold and pest infestation.
  • LiveInLeggings
    LiveInLeggings Posts: 222 Member
    bojack5 wrote: »
    I profit quite a bit from the misfortune of others. I buy foreclosed houses and flip them. A lot of the times the previous owners are long gone and i dont know their story. In those cases its pretty simple. But occasionally there are people freshly booted out when its time for me to take over. Some people are just nasty, and some are real decent people that fell on hard times. I still move forward with it, its inevitable they have to leave with or without me buying it, but it can sting sometimes. There was one house i bought and i went back to check out a few things before closing on it, and i found the owner dead in the basement from commiting suicide. This guy was so nice as to put on a motorcycle helmet when he shot himself in the head to keep the mess to a minimum. He also left a suicide note, but in the note wasnt a final farewell, it was a note to me listing everything he knew that was wrong with the house and things i may want to check out. That one i wish the guy had talked to me first, im all about capitalism but i have a line..... That one threw me off a little.

    Oh my god.... I'm so sorry!
  • Chael2dot0
    Chael2dot0 Posts: 1,189 Member
    Chael2dot0 wrote: »
    Just a philosophical questions for everyone. So say you have a way to make a good amount of money investing, but the product is something you personal do not beleive in. Do you still invest? This isn't some illegal, but some based on personal or moral choice.

    So for example, adult entertainment, gambling, or the now popular cannibus trade.

    What say ou?

    What kinda dip shi woo’s a question like this? Really. Ffs.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    Morals are overrated. It's just a matter of time before this world grinds them away anyway, so if you have a chance to make some money on it, go for it.
  • Chael2dot0
    Chael2dot0 Posts: 1,189 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    Morals are overrated. It's just a matter of time before this world grinds them away anyway, so if you have a chance to make some money on it, go for it.

    Agree and disagree. What grinds away at other's morals is a world of people who had their moral's being ground at and gave up for profits. Yeah, there is some wiggle room in moral justification, but you have to keep some core beliefs are you just become part of the problem.

    But hey, up 157.5% in a week of trading in legal products, so I can hypocrite all I want.
  • bojack5
    bojack5 Posts: 2,859 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    Morals are overrated. It's just a matter of time before this world grinds them away anyway, so if you have a chance to make some money on it, go for it.

    Well as long as their are people that think like this, i know ill be safe on top of the human food chain.
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    edited October 2018
    My family farms acres of kava plants. Ideally, Australia and China are the best markets. Australia becomes problematic due to the legalese, akin to US State and US Federal laws regarding illegal transport of prohibited goods & substances within certain territories. We are permitted to export to Australia, only NOT legally permitted to unload, transport or sell. The catch 22, becomes a nonety when the Seller chooses to sell products in country or only supply China in our case.

    Do I believe in the crop? As a cash crop - yes. For personal consumption - NO!
  • 777Gemma888
    777Gemma888 Posts: 9,578 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    Morals are overrated. It's just a matter of time before this world grinds them away anyway, so if you have a chance to make some money on it, go for it.

    Morals .... Let's replace my usage of morals (where from my position ethics and values are a part) with causal.

  • Chael2dot0
    Chael2dot0 Posts: 1,189 Member
    Do I believe in the crop? As a cash crop - yes. For personal consumption - NO!

    Kinda where I am for cannibis overall, but I stick to biopharm usage companies. One is doing well with a Alzhimers treatment that shows good results. That stock is epic.

  • Vikka_V
    Vikka_V Posts: 9,563 Member
    This question is interesting to me.

    My job involves choices people make that I personally have a moral difficulty with, but it's not my choice, it's theirs, and I'm ok with that. Their choice isn't wrong, it's just not mine.

    So I'd have to say yes. I make a living participating in things (occasionally) that I myself would not choose to do because of my morals.

  • CCgal2018
    CCgal2018 Posts: 64 Member
    I think hesitancy is always a red flag that one should listen to. I found myself in the position of being involved in an industry that I agreed with at one point in my life, but no longer do. The struggle of getting out was very real and emotionally taxing. If a person has concerns before entering, those concerns may only be exacerbated as time goes on... and now you’ve tied up money and time into something you don’t believe in. When times get tough in one way or another (as they inevitably do) it’s made even more difficult when you cannot fall back on your belief/pride in the industry or product.

    In the case of foreclosures, I think we can all agree that the process was inevitable for those being foreclosed on. The commenter can lean on the fact that he is restoring these homes for a new family that needs a home. Although it is a painful situation for one family, it is a blessing for another. In the case of the cannibus industry, although one may not personally smoke they can agree with scientific studies that show its benefits for a particular population. You do not have to experience chronic pain to help heal others who have it.

    Do research on the positive and negative aspects apart from your moral viewpoint. Then try to judge the product objectively, without the amount of profit involved. If your financial goals did not come to friuition, would you still want to be a part of it? There may lie your answer.