Moral choice? Long Story

[bull]

I would not do it.  Some of the best advice I have ever heard was "no one likes a snitch."  In my life that has been confirmed time and time again.  Ask yourself, why would you do it, what do you gain, what does it cost you?  As I read it, all you gain personally is the feeling of revenge, not much more.  At what cost?  Well, the jobs of your friends and the rumors in what has to be a close knit security environment in your community, remember, no one likes a snitch.  There might be a way to effectively use the information, but getting the government involved, at least in my opinion, is not the best way for you personally.  The costs, by far, outweigh any potential benefits.  Kim

Some people on this planet often look beyond their own personal interest when making decisions about right and wrong. I understand that you are proud of your amoral world view, Kim, but I for one am happy that there are people out there willing to look beyond their own self to help make the world a better place. If it weren't for them a bunch of mini-Hitlers (like the guy described in this thread) would be running the show. This is one reason why we have a court system (where you work), unions, various government agencies, etc., to protect the little guy from tyrants. I would think a defense attorney of all people would be more apt to encourage the average Joe to protect his own rights and livelihood.

[last426]

Now let me get this right.  According to you, he is being moral by turning in his friend in order to get his own self-proclaimed revenge/vengeance?  You prefer gaining revenge to the strength of friendship?  Vengeance to the day-to-day survival of his friend and her sister?  Sorry, my morals don't allow me to sacrifice a friendship for nothing more than revenge; I value friendships too much.  But I kind of expected that unexamined view from some folks.  Oh, below is what he actually asked, just to remind everyone of their moral conviction.  Kim
   

By law in Canada you must be licensed to work public security. A friend of mine is currently working for him without a license. I have a chance to mention this to the government which would create him some serious problems and maybe a review. [snip]  The problem is my friend and her sister both rely upon that company for their jobs and paychecks. Do I keep this damning info to myself and forget about revenge/vengence?

[Drache]

Everyone has made some really good views. Sadly my only evidence would be for the goverment to ask my friend and her sister (not my girlfriends) if they have licenses. Personally this would make them lose their jobs and maybe even fined or banned from working security.

On the other hand I have warned them both many times over the past year that they need to become licensed incase something like this happens. When I started working for him I had two weeks for my license to arrive although I had taken the courses. I was told to work and if anyone asked just lie aobut having my license. Here though, my friends havent even taken the courses!

I'm going to talk to my supervisor when he gets back next week and give him this information although I won't tell him exactlly about my friends. What he's doing is against the law and so I told myself that I'm not doing this for revenge but so someone like him doesn't keep getting away with it.

My friends have had AMPLE time over the past year to take the courses and get licensed and even work for the company I'm working for. Even though it might end my friendship with them, what he's doing can end up hurting the community.

[bull]

Now let me get this right.  According to you, he is being moral by turning in his friend in order to get his own self-proclaimed revenge/vengeance?  You prefer gaining revenge to the strength of friendship?  Vengeance to the day-to-day survival of his friend and her sister?  Sorry, my morals don't allow me to sacrifice a friendship for nothing more than revenge; I value friendships too much.  But I kind of expected that unexamined view from some folks... Kim

I guess it would depend on the type of friendship they have, and I hate to say it but this one seems pretty thin anyway. As Drache said above they have been warned about operating without a license and yet are apparently condoning this guy's lousy business ethics by playing along with his game. They too are only concerned about their own agenda rather than obeying the law. If someone is doing something illegal and you draw attention to that is it your fault for exposing it or their fault for breaking the law? I guess I don't have a set of relative ethics for different situations because I feel we are all accountable for our own actions. If these people get fired for not having a license isn't it really their fault for not getting the license? I don't think that means we should go around pointing out flaws and condemning everyone we know on every little fault we can find but I think this situation goes beyond that. And of course there's obviously a little "if you screw with me I'm going to screw with you" taking place, a bit of prideful power-struggle if you will, so a little introspection on Drache's part might be a good idea. If Drache's only motivation here is to exact revenge then I have to agree somewhat that it's not a very good motivation. Still, no matter what the motivation, the results would be the same if he or anyone else decides to expose this guy at some point.

[70charginglizard]

revenge/vengence?...has nothing to do with that.

It has everything to do with right and wrong. Thats what you should consider.

[Drache]

i guess I should ALSO mention that this guy is a registered TEACHER for security courses as well? 

[41husk]

You know if he has done you this way, why would you think he won't do your friend wrong?  Dig up every thing you can and put this guy OOC.

[last426]

I guess it would depend on the type of friendship they have, and I hate to say it but this one seems pretty thin anyway. As Drache said above they have been warned about operating without a license and yet are apparently condoning this guy's lousy business ethics by playing along with his game. They too are only concerned about their own agenda rather than obeying the law. If someone is doing something illegal and you draw attention to that is it your fault for exposing it or their fault for breaking the law? I guess I don't have a set of relative ethics for different situations because I feel we are all accountable for our own actions. If these people get fired for not having a license isn't it really their fault for not getting the license? I don't think that means we should go around pointing out flaws and condemning everyone we know on every little fault we can find but I think this situation goes beyond that. And of course there's obviously a little "if you screw with me I'm going to screw with you" taking place, a bit of prideful power-struggle if you will, so a little introspection on Drache's part might be a good idea. If Drache's only motivation here is to exact revenge then I have to agree somewhat that it's not a very good motivation. Still, no matter what the motivation, the results would be the same if he or anyone else decides to expose this guy at some point.

Now that is a nice post -- no personal attacks or anything -- gee, I hope you're not depressed or something!  I tend to agree with your post but some of the information you are relying on only recently came to light.  The poster initially did not say that he had repeated warned his friends and said that his motivation was revenge -- I tend to believe that but it is his conscience.  Kim

[bull]

I guess it would depend on the type of friendship they have, and I hate to say it but this one seems pretty thin anyway. As Drache said above they have been warned about operating without a license and yet are apparently condoning this guy's lousy business ethics by playing along with his game. They too are only concerned about their own agenda rather than obeying the law. If someone is doing something illegal and you draw attention to that is it your fault for exposing it or their fault for breaking the law? I guess I don't have a set of relative ethics for different situations because I feel we are all accountable for our own actions. If these people get fired for not having a license isn't it really their fault for not getting the license? I don't think that means we should go around pointing out flaws and condemning everyone we know on every little fault we can find but I think this situation goes beyond that. And of course there's obviously a little "if you screw with me I'm going to screw with you" taking place, a bit of prideful power-struggle if you will, so a little introspection on Drache's part might be a good idea. If Drache's only motivation here is to exact revenge then I have to agree somewhat that it's not a very good motivation. Still, no matter what the motivation, the results would be the same if he or anyone else decides to expose this guy at some point.

Now that is a nice post -- no personal attacks or anything -- gee, I hope you're not depressed or something!  I tend to agree with your post but some of the information you are relying on only recently came to light.  The poster initially did not say that he had repeated warned his friends and said that his motivation was revenge -- I tend to believe that but it is his conscience.  Kim

Maybe I'm turning over a new leaf. I said what I said because Drache's posts did not really have a vengeful tone, even though he used those terms. It seems that he logically thought through the possible ramifications of his actions and was willing to cool off and think about things before diving in head first. Had he been spitting nails and saying 'to hell with this guy and damn the consequences' I'd be more apt to think that revenge was his only motivation. In other words, he mentioned revenge, and I'm sure that's a big part of his mindset, but to me there seemed to be a lot of self-preservation involved, ie., saving his job and reputation while cleaning house and making this particular business more professional rather than simply just getting back at someone and smiling as they go down in flames. People are not always able to express themselves accurately in this format.