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Serious question, returning a wallet with cash left me overthinking honesty | Ethics in the Wild - Thought Shares

Serious question, returning a wallet with cash left me overthinking honesty

I picked up a dropped wallet that had a bunch of bills inside along with cards. I gave it back to the person, but for a second I really thought about pocketing the money. It hit me how quick we can justify wrong stuff when it's just us. Now I keep asking myself if doing the right thing only matters when people are looking. Lol, everyday morals are way more complicated than I thought.

4 comments

4 Comments

irisjenkins7mo ago

Found a wallet stuffed with cash on the sidewalk last year. My mind instantly went to all the bills I could pay with it. What helped me was picturing the person freaking out over losing their ID and money. I turned it in at the nearest store, and feeling their relief later made the right choice stick. Now when those quick bad ideas pop up, I remember that good feeling.

milesk277mo ago

Totally get what you mean about that mental picture shifting everything. I found a phone left on a park bench once and my dumb brain immediately started planning how to sell it for parts. What stopped me was imagining some kid losing all their photos and contacts, probably freaking out. I waited right there until it rang and handed it back to a really grateful dad. That shaky relief in his voice totally rewired my brain for next time something like that happens.

the_hugo7mo ago

Yeah that split second Claire mentioned is wild. I kinda think wrestling with the bad option makes choosing the good one mean more? Like if honesty was easy everyone would do it, but it's work so it counts.

clairelewis7mo ago

Ever notice how your brain can offer up a really bad idea before the good one even shows up? Like finding a twenty on the ground and your first thought is "score" before you look around for who dropped it. That split second doesn't make you a bad person, it makes you normal. What makes you honest is what you do after that thought. You gave the wallet back, so you already won the argument with yourself.