Serial Switching for Rewards. Not good.

masonic

scgf wrote: »

Now that information I can't remember - I suspect it was the former.

Well that's rather shocking if true. We can argue the toss about people switching bank accounts and investing in the stockmarket, but here we have an example of a bunch of Buddhist monks, arranging the slaughter of some sentient beings, merely for existing in the wrong place, when humane alternatives could have been used. I bet they didn't even eat them

Terry_Towelling

scgf wrote: »

Money earned from working is something I'm comfortable with.

I think we are (probably) all comfortable with being rewarded for working. Do you have a view on the difference between what someone is paid and what they actually earn? A premiership footballer, for example, might be reported as earning millions. My argument might be that they get paid millions but they actually earn very little of it.

When working as a teacher, did you ever feel you were being paid more (or less) than you earned or did you never consider this angle? If you loved your job would it be immoral to get paid for it?

If you had a mortgage at say 5% interest and your lender said they were feeling benevolent and said you could have it at 3% instead, would it be immoral to accept the discount, or should you accept it on the basis that you are preventing a lender from making 'immoral' gains out of interest income?

Apologies for the slight diversion - and no, I'm not looking for other opportunities to attack anyone; I'm interested in the debate.

System

Terry_Towelling wrote: »

I think we are (probably) all comfortable with being rewarded for working. Do you have a view on the difference between what someone is paid and what they actually earn?

When working as a teacher, did you ever feel you were being paid more (or less) than you earned or did you never consider this angle? If you loved your job would it be immoral to get paid for it?

I often think of such things. It is hard to justify what a top footballer is paid compared to how little a nurse is paid. I do wonder how it would look if we could wipe the slate clean and start again. Unfortunately the result might be a very planned economy where no account is taken of market forces. Countries which have tried to pursue such a path have failed miserably so I'm not sure what could realistically be done. Many look to the Scandinavian model of high taxes and excellent public services but I have no idea of the relative income of workers in that system. As regards my own earnings as a teacher I was always aware that I could earn a lot more for my IT skills in the private sector, but I really did enjoy my job and I was earning enough to live reasonably comfortably. Enjoying what you do as a job is worth an awful lot of money - but it should not be an excuse to pay workers less. I never had a desire to earn huge amounts. In fact I have always had something of a dread of being really rich. If I ever came into a windfall the first thing I would do is think who I could help and work out which charities I could donate large amounts to.

Terry_Towelling wrote: »

If you had a mortgage at say 5% interest and your lender said they were feeling benevolent and said you could have it at 3% instead, would it be immoral to accept the discount, or should you accept it on the basis that you are preventing a lender from making 'immoral' gains out of interest income?

I would welcome the discount. Of course. Why would a reduction in the interest rate charged on my mortgage be immoral? As long as others didn't suffer as a result I'd be quite happy. Was that a trick question?

Wheres_My_Cashback

scgf wrote: »

I really don't like it when people appropriate money or other rewards through serial switching. I am obviously only speaking for myself, but this doesn't automatically invalidate my point of view. I try and lead my life according to basic values of right and wrong. If these values need firming up I refer to my own choice of religion, Buddhism, and also 'What Would Jesus Do?', which effectively amounts to the same thing. I do what I think is right, just and kind - regardless of the ethics of the other party. A person who will go out of his/her way to make money by taking advantage of rewards which companies offer to attract customers when they have no intention of using the account in the way it was intended is, in my opinion, doing something wrong.

Am I in a minority of one? On this forum I feel I am.

Banks will be fully aware that there will be a minority who are in it to take the money and run. They will account for that, but the money paid out will pale into insignificance against those who switch, get the reward and stay, whilst opening further accounts along the way. The bank will exploit those who stay earning billions from those customers in various ways.

Most large companies will at times offer loss leading/free accounts/products....why? To exploit those same people further down the line.

Now who's the immoral one ?

I dread to think what else concerns you in life !

System

My biggest concern in life is trying to be a good person every day. I try to do good deeds whenever I can. I weigh up every decision I make and if there is a moral element I try to discern the right way forward. I know I often fail, like in starting this thread, but I try.

System

masonic wrote: »

Very kind of you to continue teaching on a voluntary basis after retiring!

I do occasional supply work in local schools.

pphillips

WWJD? I think he would reply by quoting Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it.."

System

pphillips wrote: »

WWJD? I think he would reply by quoting Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it.."

I'm on a learning curve here. Does this mean one should not call out the actions of others? We should always remain tight-lipped when we feel there are bad actions taking place? Have no opinions on what others do?

Terry_Towelling

scgf wrote: »

I would welcome the discount. Of course. Why would a reduction in the interest rate charged on my mortgage be immoral? As long as others didn't suffer as a result I'd be quite happy. Was that a trick question?

Not really a trick question but I was suggesting the drop in interest payable might be analogous to receiving interest in a savings account and might therefore create disquiet for you.

pphillips

scgf wrote: »

I'm on a learning curve here. Does this mean one should not call out the actions of others? We should always remain tight-lipped when we feel there are bad actions taking place? Have no opinions on what others do?

Jesus commands that we love other people and not judge them. The word "judge" is referring to condemning, criticising or belittling another person. Only God knows what's in someone's heart and so to judge another person shows arrogance. When we judge others, we break Gods law and are inviting the same amount of judgement we dole out on other people to come back to us.