Man Returns $45,000 Found in New House

Off Topic
121

[quote]cct wrote:

[quote]debraD wrote:

[quote]cct wrote:
The fact is that he is hiding that money in an attic and did not tell anyone. That is a greedy act, no? [/quote]

How is this a greedy act? You say it as though it’s obvious and not debatable but I am totally missing how that could be greedy.
[/quote]

Maybe selfish is a better word. A secret stash is obviously only going to be spent on yourself. It has nothing to do with his kids.
It definitely shows a distrust in his family and society.[/quote]

I don’t see how that is selfish either or obviously going to spent in any way in particular. A distrust in banks perhaps, but who can blame him for that. And even if he didn’t trust anyone I don’t see what that has to do with anything. My grandmother kept 100K sterling in cash in her flat because she was 99 years old and mostly crazy. She didn’t trust anyone because that is what happens when dementia hits. She lived the first 90 years of her life as generous and trusting.

122

Also would you guess your grandparents had anywhere near $45,000 in small bills in your safe?

(Assuming they had regular average paying jobs)

123

[quote]cct wrote:

[quote]Edevus wrote:
I don’t think it’s an age thing, but rather about values. My mother always taught me values like helping those who need it, be honest and humble, etc. She didn’t teach me these things by words, but by actions. Once we took a taxi back home and when we were out of the taxi, she realized that the taxi driver had given totally wrong exchange. I don’t remember the quantities, but the taxi driver had given her back a lot more than she had actually paid. My mother made a big effort to find this taxi driver and give her back the money.

Things like this marked me and made me a man of values. I’m far from perfect of course, but I try to stay as “righteous” as I can. 45000$ is a lot of money, but I know I’d be quite restless if I kept it. Plus, I haven’t earned that money, it’s not mine and this money was intended for someone else. I just couldn’t keep it and spend it.

I’ve gotten in arguments with people who’d keep it and don’t want to believe that some of us wouldn’t.

[/quote]
People make mistakes. When I lose something, I realize my mistake and deal with it. My uncle has lost a laptop worth more than 2 months of his salary. Guess what? He was mentally strong enough to deal with his losses and still slept soundly that night knowing that he would never get it back. Life goes on, it’s alright.
These are random events that occur in life and you’ll just have to make the best of them no matter whether you’re on the losing or the gaining side.
You think the guy who sold the house earned that money? He didn’t earn it either. You think it wouldn’t do the greater good for people if you donated the money to something like doctors or engineers without boarders instead? Look at the global picture, man. The would doesn’t just involve you and the people you directly deal with.
[/quote]

How do you know he didn’t earn it? Taking care of the man, of the house, etc. Little things during life. I don’t know what exactly, but he certainly did more to “earn” it than the guy who just bought the house and found it, don’t you think?

124

[quote]debraD wrote:

[quote]cct wrote:

[quote]debraD wrote:

[quote]cct wrote:
The fact is that he is hiding that money in an attic and did not tell anyone. That is a greedy act, no? [/quote]

How is this a greedy act? You say it as though it’s obvious and not debatable but I am totally missing how that could be greedy.
[/quote]

Maybe selfish is a better word. A secret stash is obviously only going to be spent on yourself. It has nothing to do with his kids.
It definitely shows a distrust in his family and society.[/quote]

I don’t see how that is selfish either or obviously going to spent in any way in particular. A distrust in banks perhaps, but who can blame him for that. And even if he didn’t trust anyone I don’t see what that has to do with anything. My grandmother kept 100K sterling in cash in her flat because she was 99 years old and mostly crazy. She didn’t trust anyone because that is what happens when dementia hits. She lived the first 90 years of her life as generous and trusting.[/quote]

Difference is that you knew about it and she didn’t hid it in a ridiculously suspicious way.

125

[quote]Edevus wrote:

[quote]cct wrote:

[quote]Edevus wrote:
I don’t think it’s an age thing, but rather about values. My mother always taught me values like helping those who need it, be honest and humble, etc. She didn’t teach me these things by words, but by actions. Once we took a taxi back home and when we were out of the taxi, she realized that the taxi driver had given totally wrong exchange. I don’t remember the quantities, but the taxi driver had given her back a lot more than she had actually paid. My mother made a big effort to find this taxi driver and give her back the money.

Things like this marked me and made me a man of values. I’m far from perfect of course, but I try to stay as “righteous” as I can. 45000$ is a lot of money, but I know I’d be quite restless if I kept it. Plus, I haven’t earned that money, it’s not mine and this money was intended for someone else. I just couldn’t keep it and spend it.

I’ve gotten in arguments with people who’d keep it and don’t want to believe that some of us wouldn’t.

[/quote]
People make mistakes. When I lose something, I realize my mistake and deal with it. My uncle has lost a laptop worth more than 2 months of his salary. Guess what? He was mentally strong enough to deal with his losses and still slept soundly that night knowing that he would never get it back. Life goes on, it’s alright.
These are random events that occur in life and you’ll just have to make the best of them no matter whether you’re on the losing or the gaining side.
You think the guy who sold the house earned that money? He didn’t earn it either. You think it wouldn’t do the greater good for people if you donated the money to something like doctors or engineers without boarders instead? Look at the global picture, man. The would doesn’t just involve you and the people you directly deal with.
[/quote]

How do you know he didn’t earn it? Taking care of the man, of the house, etc. Little things during life. I don’t know what exactly, but he certainly did more to “earn” it than the guy who just bought the house and found it, don’t you think?

[/quote]
That’s a very good point. I still probably wouldn’t give it back as he never knew about it and didn’t technically lose it, but I guess I do see some reason in giving it back.

127

[quote]cct wrote:

[quote]debraD wrote:

[quote]cct wrote:

[quote]debraD wrote:

[quote]cct wrote:
The fact is that he is hiding that money in an attic and did not tell anyone. That is a greedy act, no? [/quote]

How is this a greedy act? You say it as though it’s obvious and not debatable but I am totally missing how that could be greedy.
[/quote]

Maybe selfish is a better word. A secret stash is obviously only going to be spent on yourself. It has nothing to do with his kids.
It definitely shows a distrust in his family and society.[/quote]

I don’t see how that is selfish either or obviously going to spent in any way in particular. A distrust in banks perhaps, but who can blame him for that. And even if he didn’t trust anyone I don’t see what that has to do with anything. My grandmother kept 100K sterling in cash in her flat because she was 99 years old and mostly crazy. She didn’t trust anyone because that is what happens when dementia hits. She lived the first 90 years of her life as generous and trusting.[/quote]

Difference is that you knew about it and she didn’t hid it in a ridiculously suspicious way.[/quote]

She did hide it and we knew about it because my aunt found it cleaning out her stuff after she died. My aunt could have kept it for herself (and would have been right to do so because she looked after her every day for almost 20 years) but she told the rest of the family. The family agreed for my aunt to take 50% and the other 3 siblings split the rest.

129

Dude, all you’re doing is trying to rationalize this any which way you can. GDP? Seriously? You don’t know shit about the situation except what you read in a one page article. Maybe the dad intended for the son to find the money and the kid just never looked in the attic? Maybe he didn’t put it in a will because he didn’t want the kid to have to claim it on his taxes, or he didn’t want his other relatives to try to claim it. Who fucking knows.

All the points you’re trying to make say a lot about your character, or lack thereof.

130

Recently found 5 bucks (just the bill, no wallet). Kept it. Y’all mad?

131

[quote]postholedigger wrote:
Another good question would probably be, “what would you have done if you were the guy who had all that money returned to you?”

If I was the guy who found the money, I probably would have given it back.
If I was the guy who go the money back, I would give the guy who returned it some of it.[/quote]

That was my thought exactly. It would be nice to think that someone would turn the money over to you, but in this world I would NOT be counting on it. If someone DID turn it over to me, I would feel like a HUGE dick to just take it and say, “Gee Thanks”.

But if I was the one who found it, I would turn it over to them, and I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be a reward, nor would I expect one.

132

[quote]Vires Eternus wrote:

[quote]postholedigger wrote:
Another good question would probably be, “what would you have done if you were the guy who had all that money returned to you?”

If I was the guy who found the money, I probably would have given it back.
If I was the guy who go the money back, I would give the guy who returned it some of it.[/quote]

That was my thought exactly. It would be nice to think that someone would turn the money over to you, but in this world I would NOT be counting on it. If someone DID turn it over to me, I would feel like a HUGE dick to just take it and say, “Gee Thanks”.

But if I was the one who found it, I would turn it over to them, and I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be a reward, nor would I expect one.[/quote]

What if…there was actually $245,000 in cash and the guy kept $200,000?

134

[quote]debraD wrote:

[quote]Vires Eternus wrote:

[quote]postholedigger wrote:
Another good question would probably be, “what would you have done if you were the guy who had all that money returned to you?”

If I was the guy who found the money, I probably would have given it back.
If I was the guy who go the money back, I would give the guy who returned it some of it.[/quote]

That was my thought exactly. It would be nice to think that someone would turn the money over to you, but in this world I would NOT be counting on it. If someone DID turn it over to me, I would feel like a HUGE dick to just take it and say, “Gee Thanks”.

But if I was the one who found it, I would turn it over to them, and I’m pretty sure there wouldn’t be a reward, nor would I expect one.[/quote]

What if…there was actually $245,000 in cash and the guy kept $200,000? [/quote]

Good point but they supposedly ‘counted it all out’ (in front of their kids no less) , so in this instance I’d probably believe they actually turned all of it over.

135

Saturday I stopped to help a kid (about 17) who had a flat tire. He didn’t have a jack or a wrench, but did have a donut in good repair in his trunk. While I jacked the car up and changed the tire, he mostly watched. This wasn’t all his fault as he tried to work the jack but didn’t have the physical strength.

He also called a friend to report where he was and what had happened.

I finished up around the time his friends showed up. (They happened to be close by) He never said ‘thank you’. I pulled up parallel and wished him a good evening. He ignored me but one of his friends waved politely.

Push: You said something about the 16 - 25 crowd… Man I’m right there with ya.

I see a false sense of entitlement everywhere.

I’m not dissing the ‘I’d keep it’ crowd per se, but I would have thought this would have been mostly unanimous for giving the money back.

136

[quote]pushharder wrote:

[quote]Dre the Hatchet wrote:
Recently found 5 bucks (just the bill, no wallet). Kept it. Y’all mad?

[/quote]

Didja know who it belonged to?[/quote]

No.

Also, Money ain’t got no owners, only spenders.

138

[quote]pushharder wrote:

[quote]Dre the Hatchet wrote:

[quote]pushharder wrote:

[quote]Dre the Hatchet wrote:
Recently found 5 bucks (just the bill, no wallet). Kept it. Y’all mad?

[/quote]

Didja know who it belonged to?[/quote]

No.

Also, Money ain’t got no owners, only spenders.

[/quote]

Well, according to Karl Marx Jr up yonder ^ you should turn that $5 in to the city rather than put it in your Batman piggy bank in your closet. So it can help with our Gross Domestic Product.
[/quote]

You missed the reference there, buddy. But anyways, if I were to spend it on any good or service I would indeed raise GDP.

I did however put it in my Spider Man piggy bank.

139

[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:
ID: That is a crazy story man…nobody had run over the ring or anything? Dude is lucky!

But, I think that situation is a bit different here…again, I’m not trying to justify my stance here as I’ve made it very clear, but I would have done the exact same thing you did with the ring (or really anything that I found outside of my property owned by a living person).

Your story has a certain emotional element to it (the man is distraught over lost valuable that he had an emotional attachment to). Same thing with iphones, the owner’s always have an attachment to the money, for say, financial reasons (they ain’t cheap and they invested their money to buy one). I wouldn’t be able to keep the items in either of those situations, because I would know how emotional the person is over losing it. Plus I would know that it didn’t belong to me (I hadn’t purchased it).

However, with the OP’s scenario, such a bond isn’t present. In fact, the son had no idea the money even existed! This fact changes things drastically for me, because I am divorced from the guilt of emotional attachments…so I could keep a dead guy’s money in good conscience…

This goes back to my Beverly Hillbillies question earlier, which noone conveniently answered–What if you found oil on your newly purchased property quite by accident? Do you have a moral obligation to split the profits with the previous owner (or even give them 100% of the profits, as so many here seem to advocate)?

Would this situation change if you found documents in the attic indicating the old man had suspected oil and had done a bit of speculating, but died before erecting the dyke (heheheheh)?

I see no difference in those two scenarios, and in both of them I am pocketing the profits…[/quote]

Well in my eyes the difference between the two scenarios is clear:

The oil could just as easily belong to any of the previous occupants; nobody put it there so ownership goes to whoever was lucky enough to find it, whereas the money was the specific property of the old man - he earned it and he put it there.

140

[quote]cct wrote:

[quote]Edevus wrote:
I don’t think it’s an age thing, but rather about values. My mother always taught me values like helping those who need it, be honest and humble, etc. She didn’t teach me these things by words, but by actions. Once we took a taxi back home and when we were out of the taxi, she realized that the taxi driver had given totally wrong exchange. I don’t remember the quantities, but the taxi driver had given her back a lot more than she had actually paid. My mother made a big effort to find this taxi driver and give her back the money.

Things like this marked me and made me a man of values. I’m far from perfect of course, but I try to stay as “righteous” as I can. 45000$ is a lot of money, but I know I’d be quite restless if I kept it. Plus, I haven’t earned that money, it’s not mine and this money was intended for someone else. I just couldn’t keep it and spend it.

I’ve gotten in arguments with people who’d keep it and don’t want to believe that some of us wouldn’t.

[/quote]
People make mistakes. When I lose something, I realize my mistake and deal with it. My uncle has lost a laptop worth more than 2 months of his salary. Guess what? He was mentally strong enough to deal with his losses and still slept soundly that night knowing that he would never get it back. Life goes on, it’s alright.
These are random events that occur in life and you’ll just have to make the best of them no matter whether you’re on the losing or the gaining side.
You think the guy who sold the house earned that money? He didn’t earn it either. You think it wouldn’t do the greater good for people if you donated the money to something like doctors or engineers without boarders instead? Look at the global picture, man. The would doesn’t just involve you and the people you directly deal with.
[/quote]

So weighing your eagerness to take the money against your ability to move on from loss, would it be accurate to say that if somebody deprived you of 45 grand under circumstances similar to those in the article, you’d just chalk the whole affair up to experience?