Comments on: What to Do When Money Conflicts with Ethics

By: Neil

Neil — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:00:41 +0000

I like the example of your Father – a very good one to follow. Although my own Dad didn’t have a story like this, his natural sense of right and wrong has guided me in my dealings with others.

I’m not sure that I see that much of a moral issue with the MJ memorial. The thing that I think is strange about that is that so many people are desperate to attend a memorial for someone that they didn’t really know. It says a lot about our obsession with celebrity.

By: Wilson Pon

Wilson Pon — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 11:00:50 +0000

Ning, when it comes to the money, many people seem to forget about the ethics, as some of them might say, “I’ll keep my moral in first priority, if only you’re helping me paying the household bills and installments!”

By: Wealth Pilgrim

Wealth Pilgrim — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:20:31 +0000

Fascinating.

On the way in to work there was a discussion exactly on this question. What came up was that our actions speak much louder than words – as in the case with your dad.

I have made errors in this area in the past. I’m trying really hard to not repeat those mistakes. Thanks for your reminder!

By: MoneyNing

MoneyNing — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:10:19 +0000

The funny thing was that my dad never thought about resisting. To him, refusing was the only way to react.

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:33:26 +0000

Great story – yes, that would’ve been hard to resist, especially if you thought it was undetectable – but the story shows it’s always detectable in the end. I’m glad your dad didn’t have to worry. I think the Happy Rock makes a good point.

By: MoneyNing

MoneyNing — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:39:33 +0000

Yup you never know how someone will react to different scenarios, but hopefully your grandkids will be more receptive to the “right” ones.

I think the best way to teach them is to teach them lessons whenever they experience something similar. For example, teaching them about ethics and fraud is much easier when they are watching news about Madoff than when they are watching the superbowl for example.

By: MoneyNing

MoneyNing — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:36:49 +0000

So true. The potential nightmares are definitely something I don’t want to even think about.

By: The Happy Rock

The Happy Rock — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:57:00 +0000

I think you Dad’s story illuminates a one point that is often missed in business ethics. It is hard to be unethical in business without it coming back to bite you. It might 5, 10, 30 years, but eventually you end up in jail, or with a destroyed career. The short term gains, although tempting, aren’t worth the long term pain.

The other side of the coin is the emotional and physical toll that comes from having to cover your tracks and keep you unethical behavior hidden.

By: marci

marci — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:49:27 +0000

Wish all kids had parents like yours
Would have made my days as a school secretary much much easier!

So hard to impart the ‘right thing’ to the grandkids these days, altho their parents are all trying to do it – what with their peers not all being taught the same values and TV putting down the same values…. Thank goodness both at home and in Sunday School they are absorbing the right values…

But only time will tell which side ‘wins’ out….

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:42:38 +0000

This is so true, but a point that most people never realize until they are haunted by their actions.

I wish there were more parents like David’s parents that will teach them with stories while they were young!