Hypothetical questions about ethics in your job field...

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Replies

  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member


    Agree...building a reputation is a long process of many. many years..yet it can be lost in a minute.

    yep. this.
  • just_Jennie1
    just_Jennie1 Posts: 1,233
    If you had to remain competitive in your field by doing something that was technically illegal but the only negative consequence was your own personal integrity, and virtually everyone you were competing against in your field was doing it, would you do it as well to remain competitive or would you accept the competitive disadvantage to maintain your personal integrity?

    "Technically illegal" means it's actually illegal and the fact that no one has been caught yet just means they are biding their time and making their case before they actually pursue legal action.

    To answer your question I would rather have my moral and personal integrity in tact as well as my business, my earnings and my possessions. It's not worth it to risk what I have worked so hard to obtain just to be competitive and to gain a small lead on the competition.
  • SerenaFisher
    SerenaFisher Posts: 2,170 Member
    Would you hypothetically be okay with it or would you flay yourself with guilt because of it? What would make this hypothetical person ok with the decision s/he made?

    Essentially the only negative consequence would be your own personal views of yourself...
    First I wonder what everyone where anyone works could be doing something that was 'technically illegal' to further their career. If every body is doing it and it is illegal couldn't you just point that out? Certainly that would have the same result.

    Second if it is illegal the consequences wouldn't only be your own personal views, but also the ramifications of the law. :(
  • funforsports
    funforsports Posts: 2,656 Member
    Depends on how good looking my boss was.

    Oh, never mind, that is not illegal. Just frowned upon like masturbating in a airplane.
  • adayinaz
    adayinaz Posts: 20 Member
    I have a tough time doing things I wouldn't tell my family or friends about.

    Me, too. If people knew about the hypothetical action, would they think less of me? Would I be in trouble? Would my reputation be damaged? Then it's not worth it. There is *always* a way to do the right thing.
  • Erin_goBrahScience
    Erin_goBrahScience Posts: 1,215 Member
    If you had to remain competitive in your field by doing something that was technically illegal but the only negative consequence was your own personal integrity, and virtually everyone you were competing against in your field was doing it, would you do it as well to remain competitive or would you accept the competitive disadvantage to maintain your personal integrity?

    If it's "technically illegal" you can try to justify it, but its still illegal. So there are risks posed however minute. If an when you decide that the risk it worth the reward, you can venture down the rabbit hole.

    Should consequences arise for whatever reason down the road you are ultimately at fault. Nobody made you make the choice.
  • Keto_T
    Keto_T Posts: 673 Member
    I just left a job for being asked to sign off on things that were done "probably technically ok" but not documented correctly according to the regulatory bodies that my industry is subjected to. I signed because I needed my job but left as soon as I could find another position and am MUCH happier for it. I suck big time at spinning/ telling lies and there was no way I wanted to explain why i'd signed something I knew was wrong. So, did I do it? Yes. Did it advance me? No, but i probably would have been fired had I been "uncooperative" and THAT would have hindered me.
  • neandermagnon
    neandermagnon Posts: 7,436 Member
    in my field that would be breaking health and safety rules to do more spectacular practicals (read: blowing stuff up) to get the kids more interested in science. Or teaching human evolution in a USA state where it's outlawed to kids who want to learn about it.

    the former I wouldn't because I'm not a chemistry specialist and don't know how to break safety rules without being actually unsafe. The latter yes I would.
  • michellemybelll
    michellemybelll Posts: 2,228 Member
    I have a tough time doing things I wouldn't tell my family or friends about.

    hmm. you must have skipped ages 16 - 23 or so. i've done a lot in my past i wouldn't want select family/friends to know about.

    but then, i'm quite a private individual.
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  • just_Jennie1
    just_Jennie1 Posts: 1,233
    I don't really care about the law. It's not important to me...especially if I can't be caught, or if it is highly unlikely. you said illegal, so I'm responding to that. i have absolutely no moral responsibility to man-made laws. I follow my own code. I obey laws to the extent the laws have fines attached or jail time, or really sucky consequences. But, I don't follow laws mindlessly and I don't feel that breaking man-made laws is unethical or anything else at all. The only laws I adhere to are the laws of physics. :drinker: ...and thermodynamics, and maybe a few others that are absolutely unavoidable.

    You follow your own code and the law to the extent that there are fines and jail time attached. Isn't that every law? What, by chance, would be something of your "own code" that doesn't involve a fine or jail time?
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  • just_Jennie1
    just_Jennie1 Posts: 1,233
    I don't really care about the law. It's not important to me...especially if I can't be caught, or if it is highly unlikely. you said illegal, so I'm responding to that. i have absolutely no moral responsibility to man-made laws. I follow my own code. I obey laws to the extent the laws have fines attached or jail time, or really sucky consequences. But, I don't follow laws mindlessly and I don't feel that breaking man-made laws is unethical or anything else at all. The only laws I adhere to are the laws of physics. :drinker: ...and thermodynamics, and maybe a few others that are absolutely unavoidable.

    You follow your own code and the law to the extent that there are fines and jail time attached. Isn't that every law? What, by chance, would be something of your "own code" that doesn't involve a fine or jail time?

    I'm just saying I don't feel a moral obligation to follow the law. The law isn't a moral or ethical issue.

    Maybe not laws that are sanctioned by the State or Government but there are moral and ethical laws guided by ones conscious.

    You didn't answer my question. What would be something that you consider above the "law"? Something that abides by "your code" what ever that may be?
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  • BinaryPulsar
    BinaryPulsar Posts: 8,927 Member
    Or teaching human evolution in a USA state where it's outlawed to kids who want to learn about it.

    If that was a law, I'd be breaking that law everyday.
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  • bd0027
    bd0027 Posts: 1,053 Member
    I'm an honest abe, so I wouldn't do it.
  • AyeCorona
    AyeCorona Posts: 204 Member
    My industry is highly regulated- and while other businesses may or may not choose to risk bending the rules for monetary gain, that's not how I operate my business. I'd rather sleep well at night. And it would be my luck to be singled out for any infractrion. There are plenty of opportunities to make money.
  • kbitikofer
    kbitikofer Posts: 43 Member
    If everyone else jumped off a bridge to their deaths, would you do it too?
  • just_Jennie1
    just_Jennie1 Posts: 1,233
    I don't really care about the law. It's not important to me...especially if I can't be caught, or if it is highly unlikely. you said illegal, so I'm responding to that. i have absolutely no moral responsibility to man-made laws. I follow my own code. I obey laws to the extent the laws have fines attached or jail time, or really sucky consequences. But, I don't follow laws mindlessly and I don't feel that breaking man-made laws is unethical or anything else at all. The only laws I adhere to are the laws of physics. :drinker: ...and thermodynamics, and maybe a few others that are absolutely unavoidable.

    You follow your own code and the law to the extent that there are fines and jail time attached. Isn't that every law? What, by chance, would be something of your "own code" that doesn't involve a fine or jail time?

    I'm just saying I don't feel a moral obligation to follow the law. The law isn't a moral or ethical issue.

    Maybe not laws that are sanctioned by the State or Government but there are moral and ethical laws guided by ones conscious.

    Correct.

    My question still has gone unanswered: What would be something that you consider above the "law"? Something that abides by "your code" what ever that may be?

    Or perhaps you just simply don't have an answer because there is none.
  • celtbell3
    celtbell3 Posts: 738 Member
    Sounds close to a slippery slope to me
  • Tigerman999
    Tigerman999 Posts: 288
    If your job is to color and you don't like to color get a new job.... You'd be out of a job if you continually put in poor performance

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