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[ChrisReid]

Give the money back.

I found a wallet with $80 when I was in middle school. No ID. Turned it in. Six weeks later, after I'd long forgotten about it, I got a call down and they told me I could have the money because nobody ever claimed it. $80 to a 13 year old is probably roughly equal to about $600 for an 18 year old or whatever you are.

 

[Seth C]

I say keep the money. If you lost a wallet with that kind of money, what are the odds you'd ever get it back? Zero, those are the odds. Don't be the one nice guy in this situation. It's just forward payback. If this guy found your wallet crammed with cash, he'd pocket it.

 

[Ristamar]

No, give it all back.

Just because he fucked up doesn't mean he should lose 20 - 30 percent of his money. What if he really needs it? And who carries 600 bucks in their wallet? It was there for a reason, so just give it back.

Yeah, just return the damn thing.

I found someone's wallet many years ago. I don't even remember if there was any cash. I just looked at thr ID and went to the address. Nobody answered, I waited around for a few minutes, and eventually just put it in their mail slot/box.

I used to carry around $600 or more in cash shortly after I got a job after coming out of college. Admittedly, it was dumb, but I had hardly any bills while living at my parents (I had just returned home from an out of state school), and occasionally I'd cash a check instead of depositing it. Thank god I never lost it...

 

[Morbo]

I once found purse. Checked the ID, looked up the phone number, rang up and got the address. I knocked on the door and a guy answered, "Does this belong to someone here"
Angrily "Yes" takes purse, closes door in my face.
Not getting a reward was of no concern, a thankyou would have sufficed, but to slam the door in my face that's just rude.

Despite that I's say return it.

 

[J2 Cool]

dude, you have the power to reignite this guy's faith in humanity. I know if I lost that much I'd be pretty upset. But if it was unexpectedly returned I'd be pretty damn happy and give a reward between $100 and $200. But then again it wasnt me who lost it so.. but if it were me I'd return it.

Anyway, off to feed the orphans and provide shelter to the homeless. Just need to grab my wallet... *feel* *feel* wtf, where's my wallet?! Oh no !!

 

[john tv]

The fact that you're even considering keeping it speaks volumes.

You should return it ASAP. Karma doesn't take prisoners.

 

[MrCheez]

I know I said it a few pages ago, but I'm simply appalled at this thread. The fact that so many of you just don't give a shit about hurting others is depressing.

 

[Rei_Toei]

I'm too lasy to read all the pages, but if it's not suggested yet: go meet him semi-accidentally, become friends with the dude, never mention the wallet, get real close, be buddies, be hist best men at his wedding, eventually feel bad about you having his cash and return it to him when you're both 70. Or something. And then tell him why you became friends. Or something. That would be original. And fucked up.

*goes back to bed*

 

[CurlySaysX]

Take half of what is in the wallet, then with his half mail it to him using express post.

 

[Felidae_Khrall]

Strange, you always hear people ask the question about what you'd do if you found a lost wallet, but you never really expect to actually find one....as I did walking home the other night.

So anyway, contacting the owner would be a relatively simple task, but damned if this isn't a ton of money. There's no credit cards or anything, but the IDs put the owner around my age....which means that all this cash is probably not some rich dude's chump change, and is somewhat important.

The funny thing is that I don't think I would have any trouble returning it if there was a couple hundred bucks, but damn I could use half a grand. It would probably be an interesting experiment to drop wallets all over the place with different sums of money inside them, and see whether people are more likely to return the large sums or the small sums. On one hand you'd think they would be more apt to steal it if there's a lot of money, but on the other hand they might feel bad about depriving someone of so much cash (while taking 50 to 100 bucks might be more morally justifiable).

So I guess the options are many:

--take money, toss wallet in dumpster
--take money, throw wallet on ground outside and hope that someone else returns it (at least he gets IDs and stuff back)
--take money, return wallet to owner and claim that I found it without the cash (and deal with possible suspicion)
--return wallet with all money intact, feel very good about myself but reamain quite poor

Possible justifications for taking money: I could use it, IDs show he has a steady job and residence anyway (probably won't destroy his life), he gets an expensive lesson about why you shouldn't carry around huge sums of cash, finders keepers, nobody carries around that much money unless they are doing something illegal with it (drug buy)

Possible justifcations for returning money: It's not mine, he could really need it, etc, etc

So what would you do? What should I do?

Oh thank god! You found my wallet!

 

[TheGreenGiant]

a) watch him for a couple of days to see what sort of fellow he is and then decide

b) fucking return it. $600 is a lot of money and it could have been important for whatever reasons.



see: B. Its quite painful to lose that much money - I recently lost my wallet with $200 bucks in it but got it back. Have to say it really restored my faith in people.

 

[Morbo]

Stalk him for a while to learn his movements. Put the wallet in a phone booth and ring the booth as he walks by. When he finds the wallet follow him to observe his reaction.

 

[duckroll]

WTF? Why does this thread even exist? Seriously think about it. Anyone who is posting on a gaming forum obviously does not need to resort to keeping someone else's money to survive. So at this point it's either a) be a dick and keep the money, or b) do the right thing.

The fact that you had to ask pains me.

 

[Bristow]

I know I said it a few pages ago, but I'm simply appalled at this thread. The fact that so many of you just don't give a shit about hurting others is depressing.

I'm not saying that keeping the money is the right thing to do, but how in the hell is it hurting someone? It's not border's fault this dumbass kept that much money in his wallet and subsequently dropped the damn thing.

Maybe this will teach the guy a lesson and save him from being a dumbass in the future.

 

[AeroGod]

Have fun wuth it. Take the 600 to the bank and turn it into a shitload of pennies, without the wrapper. Just big jars filled with 600 dollars worth of pennies. Then return it to him, people hate pennies. That'll teach the dumbass.

 

[Kiriku]

I would return it all. Taking the money is just stealing, even though you might claim that nobody would ever know about it thus it 'never happened' or something like that. But one person would always know about it. If it was me, my conscience wouldn't be able to handle that. The money would feel 'tainted', wouldn't feel like my money.

 

[DarienA]

I'm not saying that keeping the money is the right thing to do, but how in the hell is it hurting someone? It's not border's fault this dumbass kept that much money in his wallet and subsequently dropped the damn thing.

Maybe this will teach the guy a lesson and save him from being a dumbass in the future.

It's hard to term someone a dumbass when you don't know the situation.

Maybe he had just cashed a check and was on his way home?
Maybe he just received the money and was headed to pay a bill?

Instead of thinking of all the "he was probably just walking around with the money in his wallet for no reason" possible reasons, why not attempt to look at the other side too?

 

[Miburou]

If it were me, I'd return it simply because it's the instinctive thing to do. We've evolved to feel guilty about stealing, lying, etc. because having a deterrent to such an instinctive thing (like taking what's not yours) has helped us live together in peace.

But if you think about it logically, there's no reason why you should. There's no such thing as karma, hell or other such nonsense. Nobody is ever going to know. And that golden rule doesn't work when you're living in a big community (unless you believe there's a omnipresent being that makes sure that if you take someone else's wallet, your wallet will be taken and vice versa). If you follow the golden rule with your friend and other people you know, you will eventually be rewarded, but with strangers who you'll probably never see again, what you do to one person has little bearing on how you will be treated by others.

 

[Late Stage Marxist]

Have fun wuth it. Take the 600 to the bank and turn it into a shitload of pennies, without the wrapper. Just big jars filled with 600 dollars worth of pennies. Then return it to him, people hate pennies. That'll teach the dumbass.

:lol I like your style!

 

[Brofist]

Have fun wuth it. Take the 600 to the bank and turn it into a shitload of pennies, without the wrapper. Just big jars filled with 600 dollars worth of pennies. Then return it to him, people hate pennies. That'll teach the dumbass.

:lol that's like 100 lbs of pennies for sure

 

[Brofist]

Believe it or not I've found wallets on 2 occasions.

The first time, I was 16 and working in a movie cinema. Found it in the theater after movie finished. It had $150. I kept the money and brought it to lost and found. It did nag at me for a while.

The second time, about 5 years later, I found a wallet on the sidewalk near my house. It had a couple hundred bucks. I looked up the woman's ID's name in the phone book, called and returned the whole thing to her. Not to sound all corny and shit, but the surprise look that she gave me when I returned it with the money was worth more than the couple hundred bucks..it was like I made her year.

 

[Bristow]

It's hard to term someone a dumbass when you don't know the situation.

Maybe he had just cashed a check and was on his way home?
Maybe he just received the money and was headed to pay a bill?

Instead of thinking of all the "he was probably just walking around with the money in his wallet for no reason" possible reasons, why not attempt to look at the other side too?

That's very true. Like I said, I don't believe keeping the money is the right thing to do. I'm practically only playing the other side for the sake of everyone else being a boy scout.

Besides, border already has his mind made up on what he is going to do. I seriously doubt our opinions hold much ground with his final determination.

 

[Bauer Action Hour]

All the karma and "morals" talk in this thread is bullshit. All of that stuff is bullshit created to keep people in line (the "morals" I'm refering to are the biblical, bullshit, made up kind).

The people calling border a thief are pricks trying to make him feel guilty. Fuck you and your moral high ground. I'm sure none of you have mp3s, movies, tv episodes, console roms, ripped PC games or computer software running on hacked serial #s on your computers. :rolleyes

border, you found the money so make the best of it. It's not your responsibility to alleviate his mistake. Keep the money.

 

[DarienA]

All the karma and "morals" talk in this thread is bullshit. All of that stuff is bullshit created to keep people in line (the "morals" I'm refering to are the biblical, bullshit, made up kind).

The people calling border a thief are pricks trying to make him feel guilty. Fuck you and your moral high ground. I'm sure none of you have mp3s, movies, tv episodes, console roms, ripped PC games or computer software running on hacked serial #s on your computers. :rolleyes

border, you found the money so make the best of it. It's not your responsibility to alleviate his mistake. Keep the money.

Morals, being nice to other folks, etc. is bullshit? Hey could you come by my house and knock on my door? I'd like to shoot you in the kneecap.

 

[MrAngryFace]

I can just imagine a 'fuck I lost my wallet with 600 dollars in it' thread.

 

[Pfucata]

Personally, I'd just return it to the guy in a public/safe place like a bank or police station. At the end of the day, you're going to be better off than that guy in the future. Simple as that.

If you feel like you just don't have the moral fiber to return the money straight up, try this. Offer to return the wallet in person, make the guy meet you at the police station (since it's safe). When you return it, tell the guy that you wish you had the money to make a donation to the police force in your name. If you were in California, you could suggest the 11-99 program.

No matter what the guy does, all the cops in your local area area are going to remember that you were such a good guy and that could come in handy someday.

 

[8bit]

Have fun wuth it. Take the 600 to the bank and turn it into a shitload of pennies, without the wrapper. Just big jars filled with 600 dollars worth of pennies. Then return it to him, people hate pennies. That'll teach the dumbass.

I had to take 4 years worth of loose change back to the bank over the last week. 5 seperate trips because the bags were so heavy. I've now got ~1000 USD in my wallet, which will not leave my sight until I pay it into my bank later today.

To be fair to the Swiss, I could probably lose my wallet here and I think I'd get it back.
If that happened in the UK, it would be long gone.

 

[bob_arctor]

I can't front. I'd keep the money without hesitation. The idea of returning even a cent wouldn't cross my mind. What would cross my mind is a nice Yamaha Dolby reciever, though. That and the orgy of holiday games I'd suddenly be able to afford. Or the copious amounts of herb needed for said games.

 

[Doth Togo]

Strange, you always hear people ask the question about what you'd do if you found a lost wallet, but you never really expect to actually find one....as I did walking home the other night.

So anyway, contacting the owner would be a relatively simple task, but damned if this isn't a ton of money. There's no credit cards or anything, but the IDs put the owner around my age....which means that all this cash is probably not some rich dude's chump change, and is somewhat important.

The funny thing is that I don't think I would have any trouble returning it if there was a couple hundred bucks, but damn I could use half a grand. It would probably be an interesting experiment to drop wallets all over the place with different sums of money inside them, and see whether people are more likely to return the large sums or the small sums. On one hand you'd think they would be more apt to steal it if there's a lot of money, but on the other hand they might feel bad about depriving someone of so much cash (while taking 50 to 100 bucks might be more morally justifiable).

So I guess the options are many:

--take money, toss wallet in dumpster
--take money, throw wallet on ground outside and hope that someone else returns it (at least he gets IDs and stuff back)
--take money, return wallet to owner and claim that I found it without the cash (and deal with possible suspicion)
--return wallet with all money intact, feel very good about myself but reamain quite poor

Possible justifications for taking money: I could use it, IDs show he has a steady job and residence anyway (probably won't destroy his life), he gets an expensive lesson about why you shouldn't carry around huge sums of cash, finders keepers, nobody carries around that much money unless they are doing something illegal with it (drug buy)

Possible justifcations for returning money: It's not mine, he could really need it, etc, etc

So what would you do? What should I do?

Give everything back. If it was your wallet that someone had and you needed the cash, you'd be so happy if they did that. Do the right thing, be honest and return it.

 

[All Hail C-Webb]

I would keep the money without a second thought.
I know a few people who walk around with $500+ on them, they also tend to walk around with yeyo, and other shit.

If you're really worried that the guy might need the money, there are a couple of things you can try. Stakeout the dudes house, then trail him MGS style, see if he does anything that you would not approve of. You could also just go to his house with the wallet (empty) and see how reacts. If he starts ballin, saying that it was for an engagement ring or something, you give the money back (he won't be upset, he gets his money back, you can even explain why u waited, and he will understand).

 

[All Hail C-Webb]

Was watching a NY1 story on New York vs Tokyo subway systems and the Japanese always seem to return stuff they find. I wish people were more courteous here.

Plus their trains come on time and they give you a late card if their trains are late.

During the late night hours they also put women in special cars so that they can't get groped.

 

[SickBoy]

Frankly, I think this thread should set a new trend. Whenever someone posts a thread talking about how they've done something even remotely wrong, everybody jump in and say it'll teach them a lesson.

Example:

"My dog died, and now I feel horrible for not taking him to the vet when he got sick two days ago. I thought he just ate some grass or something."

"That'll teach you a lesson about being stupid, dumbass"

EDIT: To tell the truth, I respect the people who say they'd keep the money just because they would more than the people who justify it by saying it's a lesson.

 

[Seth C]

I think more than anything this thread answered an important question for me.

Would I steal if I knew I'd not be caught? Yes, yes I would.

 

[Pimpwerx]

If you lost a wallet with that amount of money in it, would you expect to ever see it again? No. Would you be really happy if someone returned it to you? Yes. Would that person be a complete sucker for not keeping the cash and bailing? Yes. Do you want to be that sucker? No.

Seriously, I'll refer you to the case of Finders v. Keepers. The ruling was finder, keepers. Losers, weepers. If you return that wallet and money, I'll lose faith in humanity. Human nature is greed. $600 for free is no small potatoes. I wouldn't even have thought about it. I would have made sure the coast was clear, transfered the money to my wallet, and chucked the wallet into some bushes. Probably buy a t-shirt that said, "Smartest Man Alive" on it, and high-fived everyone on the way home. I'd then probably preorder a PSP, b/c there's really no way I'm gonna do that with my own cash.

That said, I'm glad there are so many honest folk on here. If I ever lose my wallet again, I want you guys to find it. But don't lose your stuff around me, 'cause its mines. And fuck karma up its ass. There's no such thing. PEACE.

 

[rastex]

Give everything back. If it was your wallet that someone had and you needed the cash, you'd be so happy if they did that. Do the right thing, be honest and return it.

Yup. Honestly, if I lost $600 and my wallet and someone returned it all back, that'd be RIDICULOUS. Hell, I once lost my bookbag, and got that returned and that made me feel awesome. If it was $600 I'd be that guy's new best friend. I just think that'd be such an awesome situation to be part of, since it IS so unexpected and welcome. But I'm corny like that.

 

[BojTrek]

I found a bag once with $15,000 in it, a wallet and a set of keys... well I called the guy and his wife answered and said that they lost the down payment on a bunch of crack. So I brought them the money and they bought the crack.

Moral of the story... you never know what the $600 could have been for... it could have been part of his rent payment, it could have been gambling winnings... it could be his work money that goes toward a car payment that was already late...

I personally give things back... it could that persons ass having the money...

I say give it back... or keep $60 for an X-Box game... you have to live with yourself...

I used to steal $20-$60 a night from a place I worked at growing up... at the time from ages 17-20... it was huge money... Now being 35 years old, it kills me... I seriously dream about it, I have long fits of deciding to call the owner and apologize for what I did 10-15 years ago... I personally would return everything to the guy if I could. I hate guilt.

 

[shuri]

If you lost a wallet with that amount of money in it, would you expect to ever see it again? No. Would you be really happy if someone returned it to you? Yes. Would that person be a complete sucker for not keeping the cash and bailing? Yes. Do you want to be that sucker? No.

I cant believe someone else saw A mighty Wind. I thought i was special!

 

[Escape Goat]

It shouldn't matter what the hell he was going to spend that 600 bucks on.

 

[Papi]

This is a moral question. Everyone has different morals based on a whole heap of crap, which has influenced them since their birth, such as the society, culture, and religion. Someone growing up in a society where the majority believe that finders-keepers is the right notion will probably adopt a similar perspective. No society's way of thinking is superior to another and no one's moral is superior to another person's.
You can't say that keeping the wallet is wrong - what is the reason why it's wrong? It might be wrong based on your personal morals but your morals can't be shown to be correct.

If i was in border's situation i'd give everything back except for the money. I'd probably gamble some of the money, throw some parties, get really drunk, and buy some clothes.

 

[Escape Goat]

Moral relativists SUCK

 

[Papi]

Excellent.

 

[Ristamar]

Morals, being nice to other folks, etc. is bullshit? Hey could you come by my house and knock on my door? I'd like to shoot you in the kneecap.

:lol

 

[Drek]

The second time, about 5 years later, I found a wallet on the sidewalk near my house. It had a couple hundred bucks. I looked up the woman's ID's name in the phone book, called and returned the whole thing to her. Not to sound all corny and shit, but the surprise look that she gave me when I returned it with the money was worth more than the couple hundred bucks..it was like I made her year.

Yeah, but did you FHUTA!?!

Anyways, look man, you obviously want to just give it back, stop rationalizing, it won't work for you. Hell, I don't even know you and I can tell by your posts on a damn message board that you don't have twisted enough morals to pocket $600 on some dude that you have a name and face for. It'll get to you man, just chalk it up as the price you pay to be a good person.

Now if it was me, well, is it a nice wallet? If its better than mine I throw away all his IDs an' shit, and start using it. New wallet +$600. Win/win. If its a piece of shit I'd just pocket the green and toss the rest. But then, I'm a mean ass prick. Is that who you want to be?

 

[Ninja Scooter]

you gotta love people trying to reason their way out of being selfish pricks. Just admit it, you would keep the money because YOU WANT THE MONEY. Don't give us this "teach him a lesson" bullshit. Last i checked, carrying around lots of cash isn't illegal. This guy doesn't have to explain to you or border or anyone why he has that kinda cash. Like i said, if a guy goes around leaving his keys in his car, thats pretty fuckin stupid, but are you gonna go jump in his car and steal it to "teach him a lesson"?

 

[Azih]

apparently if 80% of the population of the board could get away with it, they would to 'teach him a lesson'.

 

[J2 Cool]

Does this whole thing remind anyone else of that episode of Doug?

All the karma and "morals" talk in this thread is bullshit. All of that stuff is bullshit created to keep people in line (the "morals" I'm refering to are the biblical, bullshit, made up kind).

The people calling border a thief are pricks trying to make him feel guilty. Fuck you and your moral high ground. I'm sure none of you have mp3s, movies, tv episodes, console roms, ripped PC games or computer software running on hacked serial #s on your computers. :rolleyes

border, you found the money so make the best of it. It's not your responsibility to alleviate his mistake. Keep the money.

wow, Im with Darien, I'd like to shoot you in the kneecap. Are you trying to tell me Batman is bullshit? Man, he'll fuck you up! Anyway, I have a pretty decent life, pretty decent living. If I ever wanted or needed something I'd want to earn it.

 

[DCharlie]

"Tokyo subway systems and the Japanese always seem to return stuff they find"

there is a guaranteed reward though for the Japanese. 10% of what you find.
Saying that, i've seen strange stuff....

In Osaka, there was a wallet, quite obviously full of cash/cards selotaped onto a wall in a subway station with a little note saying , effectively, "Is this your wallet? It was found Wedneday 11 o'clock on this platform."

Everyone had a quick look, but no one dared take it.

In the UK, if you hand something to the police and no one claims it within 2 weeks, then you get to keep what you found.

As a kid, my family had feck all. My mother lost her purse full of cash when i was shopping with her when i young and she was devestated - there goes the shopping budget for a couple of weeks. However, some one had handed it in which was great.

My parents found a hand bag full of money, couple of thousand GBP, also when our family had very little cash. But they handed it in - it turns out it was a local "holiday club" and that was the final cash to buy the holiday for a gang of about 50 people on our run down, lower class estate. If they'd have kept that money and said nothing, then they'd have had to face those people every day.

 

[Loki]

Does this whole thing remind anyone else of that episode of Doug?



wow, Im with Darien, I'd like to shoot you in the kneecap. Are you trying to tell me Batman is bullshit? Man, he'll fuck you up! Anyway, I have a pretty decent life, pretty decent living. If I ever wanted or needed something I'd want to earn it.

:lol

This post cracked me up-- arguing with a moral relatvist by invoking the "Batman argument".


Poster 1: "Absolute truth cannot be ascertained through either the senses or philosophical inquiry."

Poster 2: "Are you telling me that Batman is bullshit!?" (also known as the "what you talkin' 'bout, Willis?" argument)


J2 Cool: Master of the argumentum ad Batman

 

[Naked Snake]

 

[Mashing]

Well fuck, if I am going to return it I would at least like to meet the guy in person and get whatever "thank you" there is to be had. If I have to do it anonymously and/or expose myself to some sort of legal trouble.....shit, it's just aggravating and makes for a harder decision =\

There's an ATM/Teller receipt folded up inside that shows a fairly recent large cash withdrawl, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't a case of dropping a bunch of money on the way to the bank. It was late last night so I'm assuming the dude was just out and about. Probably too young to have a bunch of starving kids or a mortgage payment.

(I haven't read the entirety of this thread so I apologize if you've already made up your mind)

It looks to me like you've already made up your mind... you're trying to rationalize a crime by trying to avoid any potential consquences to yourself despite that fact that it is the right thing to do.

They can not prove that you stole the money. There is suspicion of course, but they really have no case. It's purely circumstancial... whoever, even if it was the Pope, would have such suspicions about the returner of the money. And being young means nothing, you can be young and still have debts or familial responsiblities.

Return it!