Poll: You come across a broken ATM...

[tippy2k2]

I was listening to the radio earlier today and a somewhat fascinating discussion ended up occurring that I wanted to bring to The Escapist for I have no original thoughts and can only copy what I see others doing.

Let's say that you are in line at the ATM. There are two people in front of you and they are crowded around the ATM. Once they leave, you get to the ATM but before you put your card in, the ATM starts spitting out money! After a nice amount of money spits out, you realize that the camera watching the ATM is broken...

Do you keep the money? For this exercise, there is no connection that would point this at you. You could walk away with the money and no one would know it was you. Does the amount matter? Are there any other factors that would influence your decision? Is it a moral decision or would you just be afraid of being caught?

Out of the hosts of the show, two of them said that they would keep the money and one of them said that they would not. Personally, I don't think I could keep it without feeling guilty about it. I would end up not taking it.

EDIT for clarification: The two men ahead of you hacked the machine. The money is not coming out of anyone's account; they programmed it to just spit out money and evidently did not realize that it wasn't out of money yet...

Actually, strike that. Let's just say it was a glitch and that's why the machine is spitting out money. It is not directly coming out of anyone's bank account.

EDIT the 2nd: The max amounts you could possibly get (according to Google) would be $200,000 at a bank-located ATM. I do not know how reliable that answer is since it seems all over the board when you Google it but we'll go with that number for those who have asked about it.

 

[Goofguy]

I don't want to be a pain in the ass but that depends. If it was some sort of glitch from the previous peoples' account and their money was being thrown at me, then I'd feel guilty. If the ATM was just randomly doing it, I'd probably take it without remorse.

 

[Generalissimo]

I'd have a quick look around, check my balance to ensure that my numbers aren't being messed with. if both are positive, then i'd pocket as much as I could and briskly walk away.

I might have a twinge of guilt, but it would wear off quickly. after all, free cash!

 

[MASTACHIEFPWN]

I'd yell shakesperian quotes at it and just stand there.
A worker or someone will likely become concerned and check to see what the feck is wrong.

 

[bananafishtoday]

As long as it's not coming from an actual person, yeah, I'd keep it. Or, rather, I'd take it and share it. Banks steal hundreds of billions every year, fuck 'em.

If it was a local credit union or something though, I'd turn it in to a teller.

 

[Basement Cat]

I'd like to think that I would keep the money but I've got an annoyingly broad 'nice guy/good guy' streak that would probably lead to me suffering severe pangs of conscience if I didn't return the money.

Well, if it was a $20.00 or something...I'd really want to keep it.

 

[Darken12]

No. Unearned money is no money of mine. If I didn't suffer for it, I have no right to keep it.

 

[Ryotknife]

no, its still a crime in the US. My desire not to be raped in prison outweighs the monotary gains, especially since you wont actually get that much.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/atm-error-lets-detroit-man-gamble-15m/story?id=16595361

Not to mention, unless you are very careful on what you purchase the IRS will be all over your A$$

 

[game-lover]

*reads*

Oh, in that case, yeah. I could totally see myself doing so. In fact, it'd be easy.

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

No. Unearned money is no money of mine. If I didn't suffer for it, I have no right to keep it.

Pretty much. What right do i have to fuck over another person. Even if i felt ok screwing over a bank (which i cant because thats morally corrupt as fuck) who is to say the guy who is meant to fix the camera and ATM isnt totally fucked because money was lost. What if he loses his job?

My general advice is never be an asshole, even if said assholery can be excused with "BUT IN THIS CASE IM BEING AN ASSHOLE TO NO ONE OR SOMEONE THAT CAN TAKE IT" because assholery doesnt always affect the person you assume its going to. A lovely tip is you NEVER need to say the phrase "I never thought id hurt anyone who couldnt take it" if you never do something that will obviously hurt someone.

Also unless youre a filthy hypocrit, if you were the bank youd expect and be ok with people taking the money FROM you if youre willing to take it from them. If you can morally justify taking the money surely its morally justifiable if you own said bank and someone takes that money from you. Morality works no matter which way around you are. If youre ok to inflict something on someone else and wouldnt take it in their situation youre a hypocrit plain and simple.

Im a little bit irked many people are like this. Id give it back no question.

EDIT: To clarify if i find money on the floor i always put it into the first collection tin i see if its a note. Ive never found more than 10 pounds so its been easy enough.

 

[geK0]

I voted no

not sure how honest that is

Ethical dilemmas aside, in a real-life situation I'd probably consider the risks of taking a bank's money too great.

 

[Tony2077]

when i think about it i don't know i'm a jerk but still can be nice when its called for so i'm not sure which way i'd go

 

[Zhukov]

I had my doubts until you said it wasn't coming out of anyone's account.

I'd grab it up like there was no tomorrow.

 

[The Goat Tsar]

I think I would take it. But then again, in the situation itself, my paranoia would probably tell me that someone will see me take it, and this would prevent me from doing so. But if I had a second to think, yeah, I'd probably take the money.

 

[Professor Lupin Madblood]

If it isn't coming out of anyone's account?

Son, I'd scoop that shit up like there wasn't no tomorrow.

 

[smithy_2045]

If it gave an extra note or two on top of what I tried to withdraw, I'd just keep it. If it was a massive error, I'd probably let the bank know.

 

[Nouw]

After intense contemplation, I'd take as much as I could carry. It would probably go towards my emergency Daft Punk tour funds and sponsoring my friends doing charity work. I can't just suddenly go on a splurge because my parents would know.

 

[Ljs1121]

If I won't get caught, then yes. Money is cool and as long as there's no legal repercussions, I'll take all the money ever.