Money Moral Dilemma. Would you keep the lottery ticket?

Former_MSE_Wendy · 29 July 2008 at 4:39PM

Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on:

Would you keep the lottery ticket?

You’re in the lift at your local shopping centre, a woman talking excitedly on the phone says she won an unspecified amount on last night’s lottery. Yet she’s saying she can’t find the ticket and asking her husband if he’s got it. She gets out at the next floor, and you notice its fallen from her bag and on the floor, as the door closes.

Click reply to have your say.

Previous MMDs:

Would you pick herbs from a strangers's hedge?
Should Arkwright give Granville his money back?

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Winky,_The_House_Elf · 29 July 2008 at 10:18PM

No, it's not mine. I would call after her to come back.

Could you honestly look yourself in the eye in the mirror? Its completely wrong as you clearly know who the owner of the ticket is, it then amounts to theft...where do you draw the line? "it was half hanging out her pocket anyway?"

MRS_TO_BE_2 · 29 July 2008 at 10:22PM

Couldn't live with myself...having money out of someone elses misfortune who be terrible. Would try and find her.

Beate · 29 July 2008 at 10:35PM

Same here, I would feel like a thief. I would definitely call after her.

greenstick · 29 July 2008 at 10:47PM

I couldn't keep it if I knew who's it was

If I found the ticket in the street without knowing who it belonged to, I'd pick it up and check the numbers. If it turned out to be a winner, fantastic.

SonOfPearl · 29 July 2008 at 10:47PM

No brainer. I'd give it back, of course. Keeping it would simply be stealing!

Wistful100 · 29 July 2008 at 11:04PM

I'd chase the lady down the hall if necessary. What a dreadful idea to walk away with someone else's winning ticket when you know who it belongs to.......! There is certainly no happiness to be had from keeping it under those circumstances although I'm sure some will imply it would be OK. Shame on you for even suggesting it!

JPS · 29 July 2008 at 11:29PM

No doubt about it - run after her and give it back! She would feel like she had won it all over again! Would be great to make someones day like that

Sharp_Eyes · 30 July 2008 at 12:37AM

Run after her through the lift door? Sounds like a job for Superman! *LOL* My local shopping centre is quite big. Am I going to chase after this stranger for hours? Nope! You snooze, you lose.

In these moral dilemmas everybody seems to want to qualify their answers so here goes:
1. If the question had asked if I noticed the ticket on the floor WHILE she was asking her husband would I keep quiet about it and then take it for myself, then NO. I'd point it out to her. To do otherwise would be dishonest.
2. To notice the ticket AFTER she left AND the doors have closed is completely different. Learn to take better care of your stuff!

skintchick · 30 July 2008 at 12:43AM

Give it back, like I would anything i saw someone drop. To do anything esle is theft.

skintas_2 · 30 July 2008 at 1:08AM

keep it, would she give it back to me if it was the other way around...no...sorry, she may have won it, but the cash inst in her hand yet, so in theory she hasnt had the money yet, so how can she miss it

Money Moral Dilemma. Would you keep the lottery ticket?

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