Comments on: Moral Dilemma?

By: Chuck Gallagher

Chuck Gallagher — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

How would your husband feel if the situation were reversed? How would you feel? There is a universal law – the law of reciprocity (you reap what you sow). In this case you can keep the blower and be morally fine. However, if you return it or offer, you have increased the probability that you will gain even more. I would offer to return knowing that on a universal basis even greater good can come from that honesty and kindness, than can come from a slightly used snow blower.

I have lived this law and speak about it often. http://www.chuckgallagher.com There is great power is doing the right thing even when it seems that the right thing is counter to your immediate benefit.

By: daljack

daljack — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

I think you should keep the blower……but the next time you see the neighbor tell him how you fixed the blower…..I’m sure he’ll be curious.

By: Angela C

Angela C — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

Well, your neighbor could have also had it repaired, he chose not to. I would spray it a different color if it will help you feel less awkward. Don’t feel guilty, you did not steal it, you took something he was giving away. Kudos on your lucky find.

By: ConsAreGoingDownIn08

ConsAreGoingDownIn08 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

Give it back.

By: reggie

reggie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

Tricky one! I know what you mean about feeling you ought to give it back BUT he did give it away it just happens to be you who got it. Keep it. Is he ever going to know anyway that yours is the same one?

By: bam_chica_bam

bam_chica_bam — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

You should keep it. The neighbor was giving it away, to you. I would not advise though spray painting it. Why would you be ashamed? It is yours.

By: dbytz

dbytz — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

As long as the neighbor was giving it away, there is no harm or moral dilemma. Yeah they may have been idiotic about not properly maintaining it, but there is not much you can do about that. If it had stopped working and your husband had told him that it was unrepairable or worn out, that would be different.

By: motochic467

motochic467 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

There is no reason to feel guilty. Your neighbor sounds very lazy. There are many people who throw things away as soon as they stop working because they are too lazy to figure out what caused it to stop working. Don’t worry about it. But if it makes you feel better, you could just snow blow his sidewalk for him after you do yours.

By: Bella

Bella — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

Your right, moral dilemma.
Even if you don’t know the neighbor that well, your husband should go over and ask him about the snow blower, find out if he just didn’t want it, or if he just thought he broke it and was getting rid of it.
If it was just to get rid of them let him know your buddy fixed it up and it runs now and your thankful for the the snow blower. If it was because he couldn’t figure out what was wrong, I’m sure he bought a new one already. You should be in the clear, most people don’t put stuff on the curb unless they want to get rid of it.

Good Luck

By: Tmarie99

Tmarie99 — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:30 +0000

Keep it, paint it, use it in good health. Your neighbor was not smart enough or interested enough to keep it going or take care of it or get it repaired.
He had it on the curb for "Free"… He didn’t say "Free only if you’re not a neighbor".
Your husband did nothing wrong and I don’t see the "dilemma" here.