'How honest do you think people are?' poll discussion

Poll started 02 August 2011
please vote here before discussing

How honest do you think people are?

Do you think people are generally honest, do you trust 'the populus' – and do views change with age? Take the following scenario.

Ten minutes after leaving a busy train station you realise your purse/wallet fell out on a bench. You go back, which of the following scenarios do you think most likely?

I am under 25yrs old

It'll still be there, money intact
It'll be there, without the cash
It will have been handed in
Someone will have taken it

I am 26-40yrs old

It'll still be there, money intact
It'll be there, without the money
It will have been handed in
Someone will have taken it

I am 41-60yrs old

It'll still be there, money intact
It'll be there, without the money
It will have been handed in
Someone will have taken it

I am 61+yrs old

It'll still be there, money intact
It'll be there, without the money
It will have been handed in
Someone will have taken it

Please vote here, or click 'post reply' to discuss below. Thanks :)

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Comments

  • Bella56
    Bella56 Forumite Posts: 215 Forumite
    Based on DH's experience of doing just this....it will have been handed in :T
    Debts 2004: £6000..............................................Aug 2007: £0!!!!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Forumite Posts: 0
    Holiday Haggler
    Newbie
    Last time I 'lost' my wallet, I was 16 and it was taken from the back of my rucksack. Back before mobile phones, I kept a little printed list of my friends and families phone numbers.

    Somehow, the thief realised he knew someone on my list and posted it through his front door.. so I got it back about 3 days after it was stolen. The money was gone but all my cards were still there. Odd form of honesty, but I appreciated getting the wallet and cards back.

    These days, i think i'd say "the cash would be gone, but it'll be handed in" - (26-40 category)
  • skylight
    skylight Forumite Posts: 10,716
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker Home Insurance Hacker!
    Forumite
    Baseing my answer on having several purses lost/stolen that would seriously bias my opinion. On the other hand, I have handed in (intact!) more handbags/purses/wallets than I have lost, so that balances it all out!
  • FluffyFiFi
    FluffyFiFi Forumite Posts: 585 Forumite
    I'd like to see a poll on what you would do if you found a purse? I have found three in the past couple of years and each time I've handed them in. However, I am cynical and would presume that if I lost mine it would be gone.
  • Maggie_Bob
    Maggie_Bob Forumite Posts: 280
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    It would depend where you lost it too I guess.

    I once dropped my purse in Glasgow on a flying (literally) new year visit, and had to beg EasyJet to let me fly back without ID.

    2 days after getting home I had a phonecall from Glasgow Police - someone had found my purse and handed it to them - with everything (including the money) still there. The police posted it back to me :j
    In a better financial position than ever before (thank you MSE!). Moved back to Scotland and now trying to keep debt-free!
  • ScarletBea
    ScarletBea Forumite Posts: 2,910
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    I can't believe most people say that someone would have taken it... that's really an awful view to have of the world...
    Being brave is going after your dreams head on
  • DrZoops
    DrZoops Forumite Posts: 16 Forumite
    Like ScarletBea, I am surprised by how pessimistic most people are. I have twice lost a wallet and on both occasions it was handed in to a nearby police station complete with cards and cash.
  • Umble
    Umble Forumite Posts: 1 Newbie
    I think that it may depend on where you lost your purse. In smaller towns and villages people seem to be more honest.
  • tco03
    tco03 Forumite Posts: 73 Forumite
    Chances of getting it back would be slim to none. Money is tight and ones mans loss is anothers gain.
  • ulleswater
    ulleswater Forumite Posts: 92
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Forumite
    Can 25 year olds vote?
    :money: Matched betting total 2016 £455 :beer:
This discussion has been closed.
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