Nick has an interesting post on his blog about wills and the lack of any sort of checks to ensure the executor is doing as instructed. It's true and it's not something I've thought about before.
Last year I was executor for Uncle's will and it would never have crossed my mind for a moment to do anything other than obey it to the letter. To have ignored his wishes and kept all the money for myself would have been a simple matter but it didn't come into the equation.
I am far less gullible these days than I used to be but I still work on the assumption that the majority of people are honest, that what they say is true and what they do will conform to normal decent human standards. Which isn't necessarily the case. Probably because what I think of as normal standards aren't for others.
If undercharged in a restaurant or shop I will tell the till operator/waiter. I couldn't do otherwise no matter the value involved. But some people view it as a bonus to celebrate. And I'm not talking about the poverty-stricken. I still feel guilty from a time years ago when I was outnumbered and my suggestion that we should mention the mistake to the waitress was pooh-poohed and I wasn't brave enough to insist.
It's a chain, it's big business, they can afford it.
I don't think that matters. While prices may rise because of 'theft' it's not that that concerns me but my conscience and doing right. Am I the odd one?
4 comments:
I ashamed to say if I was undercharged at a restaurant or shop I probably would not tell them and it wouldn't affect my conscience.
Sad eh!
Peggy
I'm generally honest but a surprising number of people aren't. If they think they can get away with some little fiddle, they'll do it. I must admit though that I bought some groceries the other day and only noticed after I had left the shop that one item wasn't on the receipt. Did I go back and pay them? Er, no. It was a big supermarket chain so....
I prefer to be honest but not because of shining virtue, more a feeling that we're all going to live more comfortably in an honest world.
Self-interest again, you see.
Peggy, I don't know you well (yet) but I'm sure you have many other fine qualities!
Nick, I am surprised at you! I have been known to make a special journey across to the other side of town in the cause of honesty.
Self-interest in this case is a perfectly good reason, sonata. We all want to ensure the survival of our line and for that we need a good world.
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