Carolyn Hax: Is it stealing to pick up a dollar from the sidewalk?
Dear Carolyn: If I find a dollar bill on a city sidewalk, I pick it up and keep it. My husband says I am stealing and should leave it where it is.
Given that there is nothing identifiable about a dollar bill, and its location is the sidewalk of a public street, I don’t see my picking it up and keeping it as stealing.
Am I right about this, or is my husband right?
— Consider Myself an Honest Person
Consider Myself an Honest Person: What about a $100 bill?
Or, if you found thousands in cash on the street, then would your answer be different? Would his answer change if it were only a penny?
Would it make a difference if a found wad of cash was loose, or in an envelope? Plain, with just a bank logo, with a receipt or person’s name?
What if it weren’t cash, but, say, a gold chain or a diamond engagement ring?
It makes for an interesting thought experiment. If it’s “stealing” to take a loose dollar bill off the sidewalk, then it’s stealing for a penny, too. Or a wad of cash. That’s because your husband’s position (given what you shared) is absolute, and doesn’t make allowances for: the inherent value of the item, the degree of loss the original owner might feel, or the likelihood of reunifying the lost item with its true owner.
If it isn’t stealing to pick up a penny because a penny lacks sufficient value, but is stealing to pick up an engagement ring — monetary value plus emotional value plus realistic means to track down its rightful owner — then where’s the line between the two? Where does the moral imperative to leave something in place or find the true owner kick in?
The sidewalk dollar you leave behind, out of moral rectitude, for its original owner to claim likely will find the pocket of the next pedestrian in line. But it could also be worth $1 to you to know you did the right thing in not pocketing it.
tudza Premium Member about 3 years ago
Nuts to you.
GreasyOldTam about 3 years ago
(continues)“I have an open account with Door Dash.”
MeGoNow Premium Member about 3 years ago
He orders his from Amazon.
RonnieAThompson Premium Member about 3 years ago
Have a wonderful day my friends.
lunatic03867 about 3 years ago
Hubby is a [bleep]ing idiot.
Carolyn Hax: Is it stealing to pick up a dollar from the sidewalk?
Dear Carolyn: If I find a dollar bill on a city sidewalk, I pick it up and keep it. My husband says I am stealing and should leave it where it is.
Given that there is nothing identifiable about a dollar bill, and its location is the sidewalk of a public street, I don’t see my picking it up and keeping it as stealing.
Am I right about this, or is my husband right?
— Consider Myself an Honest Person
Consider Myself an Honest Person: What about a $100 bill?
Or, if you found thousands in cash on the street, then would your answer be different? Would his answer change if it were only a penny?
Would it make a difference if a found wad of cash was loose, or in an envelope? Plain, with just a bank logo, with a receipt or person’s name?
What if it weren’t cash, but, say, a gold chain or a diamond engagement ring?
It makes for an interesting thought experiment. If it’s “stealing” to take a loose dollar bill off the sidewalk, then it’s stealing for a penny, too. Or a wad of cash. That’s because your husband’s position (given what you shared) is absolute, and doesn’t make allowances for: the inherent value of the item, the degree of loss the original owner might feel, or the likelihood of reunifying the lost item with its true owner.
If it isn’t stealing to pick up a penny because a penny lacks sufficient value, but is stealing to pick up an engagement ring — monetary value plus emotional value plus realistic means to track down its rightful owner — then where’s the line between the two? Where does the moral imperative to leave something in place or find the true owner kick in?
The sidewalk dollar you leave behind, out of moral rectitude, for its original owner to claim likely will find the pocket of the next pedestrian in line. But it could also be worth $1 to you to know you did the right thing in not pocketing it.
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