Poll: An ethical question

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Hello Escapist!

I'm working late here in a computer lab at my university alone, trying desperately to catch up with my assignments when I notice a green bag on one of the desks. Out of casual curiosity I poke inside seeing as no one has been around for about two hours. Inside is a handful of papers and one white gleaming Macbook. If I were the type of person who would have been able to walk off with it, I certainly could of. It would have been easy cramming it in my bag and walking off to the bus. I could have done a horrible thing and maybe made some money selling it or end up using it myself.

Instead I immediately called a security guard who took my ID and thanked me for being honest before taking it to the lost and found. It didn't even occur to me that I could have just walked off campus with it until he took the bag from me and searched it for ID to use to locate the owner. He just left actually and that is when I started this thread.

Would you have taken it? I can guarantee you that if I was a different person with different morals, I could have stolen it without a problem.

[sub]I'm not trying to highlight my good character or anything, I'm just interested in how many people would have just taken it to punish them for being so thoughtless.[/sub]

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

I don't really need a Macbook. If it was a duffel bag full of money however...

 

[MellowFellow]

I probably would have left it there. Mostly because I would be too scared to go over there and look to see what was inside because I always assume the minute I go over to the bag is when the owner walks in and it looks like I was trying to take it. But that is just me.

So yeah, I would have just left it alone and forgotten about it after I left the computer lab.

 

[Custard_Angel]

Security definately. I once lost an iPod at my university. Felt really shitty.

Went to security and found someone had handed it in. Felt pretty excellent.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Security definately. I once lost an iPod at my university. Felt really shitty.

Went to security and found someone had handed it in. Felt pretty excellent.

Well then I certainly hope this person gets there computer back. I feel warm and fuzzy about it. You hear that universe?! Give me a random act of kindness now

 

[emeraldrafael]

I'd hand it into security, though i might look through it for names on the paper first to see if i know the person.

I'm not a mac person. cant stand macs, never will. SO I wouldnt use it. It'd be hypocritical.

 

[neoontime]

I'd call security. I couldn't live with myself if I did otherwise.

 

[Nouw]

Macbook? No way, I'd hand it into Security or leave it there out of fear.

 

[Gypsy Ninja Pirate Zombie King]

I'd call security i'd just feel bad otherwise

 

[Manicotti]

I don't need or want another Apple product, so yeah, security it is.

 

[Tasachan]

I honestly would have called security as well. Too many times as a teen I lost my wallet and had it returned with all my money removed. It may have only been like $40 here, $80 there, but that crushed me back then. My sister had my family's digital camera stolen at her prom. She never got it back, so we have no photos of her in her dress to show my grandma, and all of our other family photos are gone now, too.
I couldn't imagine losing a macbook. That'd be insane.


Not to mention my husband would probably question me about how I got it.

 

[Hawk eye1466]

Recently i lost my laptop and had no backup for my files about 1 panic filled week later some random person comes up to me and gives me my laptop he said he knew i took the same bus as him i havent seen him since and no one knew his name but if i ever see him again i will thank him

 

[AvsJoe]

Not a chance. In that situation I would've done the exact same thing: call security and/or bring it to lost and found. I wouldn't have even poked around in there in the first place.

[sub][sub]Actually, knowing me, I probably wouldn't have ever noticed it was there.[/sub][/sub]

 

[Nerdy Seraphim]

I have too much of a conscience to take something that belongs to others. Besides, i hate Macs =P

 

[GodofCider]

If I knew the person, then I'd take it with me, find them, and return it. Otherwise, I'd give it to security.

 

[The Hero Killer]

Not a Macbook, but if it were money or a game yeah I would have taken it. Sorry just being honest.

 

[Zenomorph]

Truthfully? umm i would of just left it there and wouldnt of even told anyone, Im as neutral as they come.

 

[archvile93]

No, but only because I know that its owner would return and report it stolen, and possibly track it back to me. If I was sure I could get away with it I would, though.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

[sub][sub]Actually, knowing me, I probably wouldn't have ever noticed it was there.[/sub][/sub]

It was in plain sight, ontop of a desk behind me. Natural curiosity compelled me to check and see if there were valuables in it. If it was just papers, I would have just left it but I couldn't leave it there once I saw it. It would have bugged me on the bus ride home.