Handyman finds secret gold stash in kitchen

[Ishkabibble]

Were you on your last dime, your family destitute, the ideals you hold so true might be compromised. Were you wealthy enough that this was but a token, returning it would be easier.

I think we have a lot of idealists on this forum, but I wonder if they could walk the talk. Those who have said they would take the gold are being honest. I appreciate that. Those who repeat the moral obligation to return the gold may be correct about their values, but do they live them? Surrounded by wealth and no repercussions for taking it, many an honest man will turn.

I have been in this position a few times. I can honestly say that it would depend on the circumstance. Once, I was barely able to feed my children and keep a roof over our heads. Times were very tough and I found $1400. At the time, $1400 was more than a month's wages. I saw it as a blessing and spent it wisely. Countless other times, I had enough to get by. Not excess, but enough. In every one of those times, I searched extensively for the individual that lost the item and returned it. I once drove clear across the city to return a wallet to a lady and no I did not accept her finder's fee.

I aspire to be noble, but will admit that circumstance does influence my actions. In the absence of misery, I am honest and true. I am not the same individual when destitute. I suspect that those with strong ideals would find themselves making similar compromises if life dealt them some really rough blows.

Barring the worst of personal circumstance, I would return the gold. But I have answered no because in the depths of despair, that conviction could be challenged.

[Gcubed]

The stash was found by EMPLOYED workers on PRIVATE property. Was anyone starving?

[Ishkabibble]

The stash was found by EMPLOYED workers on PRIVATE property. Was anyone starving?

We have no answer to that. There have been times in my past when I was working and destitute, such as when I found the $1400. I know several tradesmen who are barely able to keep their workers paid, drawing little to no income for themselves and even then having to lay some off. The article does not state the financial situation this man is in. But the question asked what I personally would do. The answer isn't a simple choice. Life complicates it for me, much as I suspect it would for the man in question as well.

[Gcubed]

We have no answer to that. There have been times in my past when I was working and destitute, such as when I found the $1400. I know several tradesmen who are barely able to keep their workers paid, drawing little to no income for themselves and even then having to lay some off. The article does not state the financial situation this man is in. But the question asked what I personally would do. The answer isn't a simple choice. Life complicates it for me, much as I suspect it would for the man in question as well.

That tells me that it may be unwise to hire someone that needs work. Wow, just wow.

[Ishkabibble]

That tells me that it may be unwise to hire someone that needs work. Wow, just wow.

Every man has a breaking point. Mine was watching my children starve. You are blessed to have not learned yours yet. I pray you never do.

[Gcubed]

Every man has a breaking point. Mine was watching my children starve. You are blessed to have not learned yours yet. I pray you never do.

Fair enough. I don't however, believe that the worker mentioned was experiencing dire life circumstances. I have based my comments based on that assumption. How were you in a position to find $1400 and yet your children were starving? Something is missing there.

[Ishkabibble]

Fair enough. I don't however, believe that the worker mentioned was experiencing dire life circumstances. I have based my comments based on that assumption. How were you in a position to find $1400 and yet your children were starving? Something is missing there.

I'd had problems keeping up with rent, food, and family expenses for some time. I was newly married and unfamiliar with the expenses of adulthood. What initially seemed like a good wage wasn't even enough to pay basic bills. I found the $1400 about two years after that very rough start. It was, in fact, a turning point in our lives. Instead of worrying about my family and precarious today, I was able to create our future.

I think we're pretty much in agreement here. My simple point is that there's the right thing to do, and there's what you must do to survive. Having seen myself in a position where the first option was removed, I have to concede that the second option is sometimes the only option.

[Gcubed]

I'd had problems keeping up with rent, food, and family expenses for some time. I was newly married and unfamiliar with the expenses of adulthood. What initially seemed like a good wage wasn't even close. I found the $1400 about two years after that very rough start. It was, in fact, a turning point in our lives. Instead of worrying about my family and precarious today, I was able to create our future.

I think we're pretty much in agreement here. My simple point is that there's the right thing to do, and there's what you must do to survive. Having seen myself in a position where the first option was removed, I have to concede that the second option is sometimes the only option.

I live in a small city with 25% unemployment. That sir is a high rate. Anyone here even near starving can and will get fed with just a bit of effort. Our food bank even puts food in the trash. That said, I can't buy the "starving" argument in order to condone taking that which isn't yours. I may be wrong.

[smooth]

I lost my wallet on the train last year. Cards, CCW permit, $100 in cash, passport card, everything. Four days later the lost & found in the city called me. A conductor had found the wallet and turned it in. Every last dollar was in there. Things like that keep me honest.

I lost my wallet, I believe outside the local handymart one day while buying a six pack. it was about an hour after I got back that I noticed it was missing. I drove the three blocks to the store and talked to the kids behind the counter, but no luck. Went home to call the CC comp. No sooner made it home and a cop pulled in the drive with my wallet. about $100 cash was gone but CC's were still there. Dont know who took the loot

[Silver]

The wallet argument is not relevant to the finding of treasure unknown to any living person.

My girlfriend and I had a customer leave their wallet at our booth at the Farmer's Market last year - we opened the wallet to see who it was, we knew him and immediately found him. He said he had $500 in cash the wallet - we didn't even look to see how much money he had. He was very grateful. This is normal and I would not be able to do otherwise.

Finding a stash of gold that no living person knew about - that would be different and I can't say how I would deal because I've never faced it. Finding treasure on public property is no different than finding it on private property - if you find it on public property, the public has a lawful right to it also.

[Tinbox]

Absolutely, 'do unto others as you would have done unto you' is the golden rule,and the basis of almost all true law...




And they will face their retribution one day...

and you know this how? are you some sort of all seeing eye?

[gtopillado]

This poll just stirs the pot.... I don't have bad or good feelings to each answer, are we all suppose to think the same? Is my judgment better than yours? I think not.....

[arminius]

and you know this how? are you some sort of all seeing eye?

Does one just 'see' with their eyes...

Is the world in front of you all that there is...

[Zilver]

when reading GIM I often open a bunch of links in tabs
and then read them at my convenience in between doing other online work (Ebay listings etc.)

When finally getting to this thread after some time had passed
the first thing I saw after clicking the tab was the; Would you have turned the gold in?
I answered "no" thinking the thread was about the Government gold confiscation

but then I read the story and had no way to retract my "no" response
therefor the poll results are off by one because I would have
however considering my initial response premise;
if the .Gov ever required us to turn in our gold;
I would also do the right thing;
and take it for a boat trip

[Tinbox]

Does one just 'see' with their eyes...

Is the world in front of you all that there is...

ok I'll make it simpler for you, how do you know these people will be receiving retribution one day?

[arminius]

ok I'll make it simpler for you, how do you know these people will be receiving retribution one day?

LOL, you sound very concerned.

Why would that be...

[em ty]

When I was 12 I took $1000 out of the bank to go to an investment house to buy a $1000 bond. When I got there I realised that I had 11 $100 bills, not 10. When I was done I went back into to bank, waited until the teller who gave me the money was available, and gave it back to her. I'd busted my ass for years and saved everything for that $1000 and could have made 10% right away, but it wasn't mine and I didn't want the teller to get into trouble. She looked like she wanted to kiss me and, instead of keeping it quiet, told the bank manager and the other tellers. I was always treated like gold in there after that and, truth be told, it felt like the right thing to do.

I've since found money, jewelry and wallets, sometimes with a lot more than $100, but I've always made sure it got back to the rightful owner. I don't accept rewards and I really don't expect I'll get back anything I've lost (I never have), but I decided long ago that I was going to live life the way I wanted to and that meant being honest. I'll admit I've always been tempted, and been pretty broke at times, but it's nice to know that I've always done what I thought was right. I'll admit, though, that I sometimes wish I wasn't so damned honest at times.

[Unca Walt]

Well... I had my "trial".

I always got to work first at my "retirement" job <-- The job I took AFTER I retired.

I was walking up toward the door, and a car went by in the parking lot. I heard a loud clunk, and saw a really nice metal briefcase that had fallen offa the trunk of the passing car.

The driver did not hear me shout... was gone in a fargin hurry, no error. Picked up the briefcase and brought it inside. When I opened it, I almost catted on the spot.

There were a half-dozen packets of currencies in folders. There were fifteen or so credit cards. And some prescription medication. Passport.

One person comes up to me and sez: "Take the money, and leave the briefcase at the nearest police station." It was hard to figure how much money was in there (this was PRE-euro timeframe), but we added it up and it came to about $18 thousand.

I really had no choice. I called the phone company. Tried to get the guy's phone number by telling them the story of the briefcase. No can do.

Axed for a stupidvisor. When the stupidvisor came on, I told her to just call the fargin guy without letting me hear or know the damned number, and tell him I had his fargin briefcase. I pointed out the prescription medicines might be sorely needed even as we gumped onna phone.

They went along with that.

The guy shows up two hours later, and I gave him his stuff. I had to ask one question:

"Why the hell do you have several duplicates of credit cards??"

He answered: "As you can see, I travel for a living. Some countries (like Germany) will put the value of the car you rent on your credit card. So when you go to check into a hotel, you may find your credit card maxed out. I keep several different accounts with the same credit card companies."

Made sense.

Oh. The guy bought lunch for our whole company (22 people). And I got a rep as an honest idiot.