Observer-Reporter forum

SSSS · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:28 pm Post subject:

If E does not share with me I am turning him in! Mad

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busdriver · Journeyman Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 3497

Brant · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:45 pm Post subject:

If I know that painting is worth big money and someone is willing to sell it to me for a dollar, I'm sure I'd buy it, but I also would cut them in on the profit. I don't mind taking advantage of someone in a capitalist pursuit, but I have my limits. Imagine that it's an 80-year-old woman cleaning out the garage after her husband's death, and she doesn't know the painting is worth anything. I really couldn't, in good conscience, buy it for a buck and keep the whole $50 million. At the same time, I'm not going to pass up a chance to help myself in the deal. If we're splitting $50 million, I don't think anyone is going to complain.
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amom · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject:

If I sold a painting I got for $1 for $1,000,000, I'd feel so guilty I'd probably try to find the original owner and give them a portion.

When I have a garage sale, I try to distance myself from what I am selling and who I am selling it to. To me, the painting is only worth $1 and if someone makes more than that from it, more power to them. But you bet I'd be kicking myself if I found out they got $1,000,000!
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Amphikalein · Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 1:57 pm Post subject:

In general, i'd be inclined to refrain from reporting it, but i'd also probably send a good chunk of it to Haiti relief and local charities. Alternately, i also might keep quiet and hang onto it while keeping an eye on the area where i found it. Given the possibility of Brant's scenario of the widow clearing out her husband's detritus, hopefully i'd know my neighbors enough to be aware of the situation, in which case i'd return it to her.

All that being said, once upon a time i actually did find an unmarked envelope containing a sizable amount of cash in a public place and chose to turn it in. It turned out to be money intended for a tuition payment which had fallen out of a student's coat when she was sitting in a lobby at West Virginia University Hospital. She was very grateful.
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dick · Journeyman Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 3134

If I bought the painting because I liked it, and later found out it was worth a million bucks, I wouldn't feel bad for the seller. However, if I knew it was a worth big bucks when buying it, only then would I feel some sense of guilt.

Once upon a time, I had feelings like the rest of yas. I've been influenced by too many shrewd businessmen to not cash in on the few (if any) opporunities I may get in life.
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busdriver · Journeyman Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 3497