Why is it wrong to take advantage of other people?

[Nik709]

Or is it at all?

If you ask if it is most people would say so. Are you one of them? If that is the case, can you explain to me why you hold that moral view?

I can think of the following possibilities:

1. You believe in religious teaching that tells you it is wrong.
Reply: Hard to argue with that without arguing with the religion as a whole. If you care please explain how your religion explains it.

2. You think you shouldn't do onto others that which you would not have them do onto you.
Reply: You can't influence their behavior. Just because you don't do it doesn't mean they will return the favor. In the same vein doing it won't automatically mean getting to the recieving end of it. Simply put, life ain't fair.

3. You just can't do it because your conscience would torture you for it.
Reply: Then you are probably a better person that most. Or a liar. Or a coward.

Please tell me about other angles to look at this from.

 

[Red Door]

Why? Because usually that person does not have the same benefits as you, and they aren't getting a fair shot at whatever you're taking advantage for them.

If you saw a homeless guy on the street, would you give him a dollar now, only if he promises to give you 2 dollars tomorrow. It's just plain wrong to take advantage of people.

 

[Nik709]

Why? Because usually that person does not have the same benefits as you, and they aren't getting a fair shot at whatever you're taking advantage for them.

If you saw a homeless guy on the street, would you give him a dollar now, only if he promises to give you 2 dollars tomorrow. It's just plain wrong to take advantage of people.

'It is just plain wrong' is nothing else that answering 'because'. Why is it plain wrong?

 

[Red Door]

Because those people usually don't realize you're taking advantage of them.

 

[Nik709]

Why is that bad? Do you owe them anything?

 

[Masquerouge]

2. You think you shouldn't do onto others that which you would not have them do onto you.
Reply: You can't influence their behavior. Just because you don't do it doesn't mean they will return the favor. In the same vein doing it won't automatically mean getting to the recieving end of it. Simply put, life ain't fair.

I disagree. You CAN influence their behavior. When you want something, politely asking for something will in most cases yield much better results than cursing and shouting, even in the long term.
Just take a look at the pizza delivery thread. Everybody who has delivered pizzas said they were particularly nice to customers who treated them well and tipped them, like making sure their pizzas were delivered fast.
Hey, the whole tipping system is about influencing behaviors.

 

[Nik709]

I disagree. You CAN influence their behavior. When you want something, politely asking for something will in most cases yield much better results than cursing and shouting, even in the long term.
Just take a look at the pizza delivery thread. Everybody who has delivered pizzas said they were particularly nice to customers who treated them well and tipped them, like making sure their pizzas were delivered fast.
Hey, the whole tipping system is about influencing behaviors.

That's not what I mean.

Of course you can influence people. Doing so to your advantage and their disadvantage without them noticing is an example for what I mean.

But if the pizza guy is an ******* he will still spit on yours no matter the tips you give him, that's the point.

 

[Red Door]

Why is that bad? Do you owe them anything?

You should help out your fellow man, but do you feel the need to take advantage of?

 

[Nik709]

You should help out your fellow man

Why?

but do you feel the need to take advantage of?

Could happen.

 

[Red Door]

Why?

Because not every one is as fortunate or wealthy as you, and sometimes they have no means of getting out. I go to school in inner D.C., and I see these kind of people every day, it's sad. Some of them are alcoholics and such, but there are others who are genuily nice people, but they made one mistake and now live on the streets. Those guys will always get food or money from me.

Could happen.

I'd like you to please name one example where you could take advantage of someone less fortunate than you.

 

[Rambuchan]

I'd like you to please name one example where you could take advantage of someone less fortunate than you.

How about a $20 BJ from a crack whore?

 

[Masquerouge]

That's not what I mean.

Of course you can influence people. Doing so to your advantage and their disadvantage without them noticing is an example for what I mean.

But if the pizza guy is an ******* he will still spit on yours no matter the tips you give him, that's the point.

Mmh. Yet apparently few people are true *******s, and so it might be statistically worth it to be nice to people, no? Apparently it's worth it being nice to pizza delivery guys...

 

[Nik709]

Because not every one is as fortunate or wealthy as you

Why should that be my problem?

I'd like you to please name one example where you could take advantage of someone less fortunate than you.

Just one?

Well, think of buying cheap stuff somewhere and then sell it to rather poor but gullible old people for loads of money, telling them some nice story they believe. Maybe tell them it'll help poor children.

 

[Xanikk999]

Because not every one is as fortunate or wealthy as you, and sometimes they have no means of getting out. I go to school in inner D.C., and I see these kind of people every day, it's sad. Some of them are alcoholics and such, but there are others who are genuily nice people, but they made one mistake and now live on the streets. Those guys will always get food or money from me.



I'd like you to please name one example where you could take advantage of someone less fortunate than you.

I dont give money to the homeless only because a few dollars wont sustain them. They can get help equivelent to the money i could give them for free.

 

[De Lorimier]

How about a $20 BJ from a crack whore?

Or as she calls it: breakfast.

 

[Ecclesiastes]

Why should that be my problem?

Just one?

Well, think of buying cheap stuff somewhere and then sell it to rather poor but gullible old people for loads of money, telling them some nice story they believe. Maybe tell them it'll help poor children.

Now its wrong becuase your lying, and if you dont beleive that lying is wrong than you have already been lost my friend.

 

[Nik709]

Mmh. Yet apparently few people are true *******s, and so it might be statistically worth it to be nice to people, no? Apparently it's worth it being nice to pizza delivery guys...

Now think of it from the pizza guy's perspective.

There are people who will always give the same good tips no matter the time of delivery, simply because they are that way. After a while he will realise that and then decide to go to those who only tip well for fast delivery first and only after that to the one always giving good tips. He would then take advantage of their general generosity or whatever makes them tip well every time.

But for the pizza guy it makes sense. Why would it be morally wrong?

 

[Nik709]

Now its wrong becuase your lying, and if you dont beleive that lying is wrong than you have already been lost my friend.

Everyone lies dozens of times a month. If you don't believe that you're lying to yourself.

 

[Red Door]

Why should that be my problem?

It doesn't have to be, but you should feel bad if you don't. I can't name a reason without using Religion, and you're obviously not Catholic, so you won't listen to my example.

Well, think of buying cheap stuff somewhere and then sell it to rather poor but gullible old people for loads of money, telling them some nice story they believe. Maybe tell them it'll help poor children.

You really need to look inside yourself if you do that.

I dont give money to the homeless only because a few dollars wont sustain them. They can get help equivelent to the money i could give them for free.

It'll help them, they have no other way of getting that money.

 

[Ecclesiastes]

Everyone lies dozens of times a month. If you don't believe that you're lying to yourself.

Millions are murdered a month, does that justify it?
no.