A Moral Dilemma

[jimmygun]

Just an exorcise in morallity for those that wish to participate...

Somehow you have gotten hold of a friends private diary. In the diary that friend hatches all kinds of illegal plots, how to rob a bank and get away with it, how to kidnap someone and the perfect way to handle the transfer of the ransom. That sort of thing. You come across one description of a crime that really would work. You would get away with it completely and safely.

What would you do? Call the cops? Try it yourself?

[Yahweh]

I would turn the plot which I read into a book, the book would sell millions (and seeing as how everyone would know of the plot, no one would try it because there would be precautions taken against it), I would be famous. And my loser friend would be none the wiser.

[TruthSeeker]

I wouldn't read the diary.

I am a huge diary writer...so...

Do unto others and all that stuff.


ETA: Boy, I sound full of myself. But, as I read the scenario all I could think of was the betrayal of having read someone else's private diary. I sincerely hope I wouldn't do that. Please forgive what may seem like arrogance. It really isn't.

[espritch]

I would give my friend the benefit of the doubt and assume that he was just hatching scenerios for a book or as a metal exercise or something and I would do nothing.

One's private thoughts can not be a crime - though acting upon them can be.

[MLynn]

I would confront my friend with an open mind, as a friend, and then decide what to do (prevent the illegal actions, get help for my friend), depending on the answers from said friend.

[csense]

Originally posted by jimmygun
Just an exorcise in morallity for those that wish to participate...

Somehow you have gotten hold of a friends private diary. In the diary that friend hatches all kinds of illegal plots, how to rob a bank and get away with it, how to kidnap someone and the perfect way to handle the transfer of the ransom. That sort of thing. You come across one description of a crime that really would work. You would get away with it completely and safely.

What would you do? Call the cops? Try it yourself?

Well, to put it in plain english, if you had no regard for right and wrong before you opened the book, why should it concern you after you close it?

[Seismosaurus]

Originally posted by jimmygun
Just an exorcise in morallity for those that wish to participate...

Somehow you have gotten hold of a friends private diary. In the diary that friend hatches all kinds of illegal plots, how to rob a bank and get away with it, how to kidnap someone and the perfect way to handle the transfer of the ransom. That sort of thing. You come across one description of a crime that really would work. You would get away with it completely and safely.

What would you do? Call the cops?

What on Earth for? I've planned crimes myself, it's a fun mental exercise.

Try it yourself?

Certainly not.

The only moral question in your scenario is what right you reading somebody elses diary in the first place.

[MLynn]

Originally posted by espritch
One's private thoughts can not be a crime - though acting upon them can be.
I agree, and I would only be concerned for my friend if turned out he/she was going to take a dangerous turn in his/her life; I would want to help my friend.