Why do men steal more then women???

[suncrafter]

A sociological experiment was conducted in Illinois called the "Wallet Test". You can read about it at http://www.wallettest.com/

The researchers deliberately dropped 100 identical wallets (containing money and ID) in public places to test honesty.

The test results were broken down by age, gender and race ----> http://www.wallettest.com/Lost_Wallet_Test/Results_Page.html


http://www.wallettest.com/Lost_Wallet_Test/Results_Page/IMAG003.JPG


What I'd like to know is why did men steal over twice as much as women?

[Varia]

Women don't need to steal. They just whip their man.

Men steal because they have to pay for said whipping woman.
________
Mflb Review (http://vaporizer.org/portable)

[Mechs]

^ I think that puts it best.

[Roxie]

In this test? Who knows.

However, looking at the results, this sample is INCREDIBLY SMALL!
I don't think 100 people truly speak to the attitudes of general Americans...you know the 3 million of us.

It's interesting, but I'd only truly and seriously consider the results if the sample had been much larger.

[Candyvan Stan]

Note: It was not the intention of this experiment to make any particular group look bad, reinforce stereotypes nor to further a hidden agenda of any kind. The actions of a few members in a group should not, of course, be used to judge the whole group.

Why did 'black' people steal more than 'white' people?

I don't really think of this a proper 'sociological experiment'. The sample group is way too small, for one.

[Y.T.]

Hmm.. honesty.

Is it dishonest returning ID and pocketing some money that one spent in the act of returning the wallet?

Or does that make one an honest asshole..?

[Roxie]

Why did 'black' people steal more than 'white' people?

I don't really think of this a proper 'sociological experiment'. The sample group is way too small, for one.
Exactly. there are only 23 black people and 77 white people.

[Random]

And 10 of those 23 of the black people nabbed the wallet :3

[Decade]

Women don't need to steal. They just whip their man.

Men steal because they have to pay for said whipping woman.
I'll quote that for the motherfucking truth.

I don't think 100 people truly speak to the attitudes of general Americans...you know the 3 million of us.
Isnt there like something like 230 million people in the states or something?

Google time for me :gloomy:

[Citizen]

No. There are roughly 300 million.

[akitaka]

Hmm.. honesty.

Is it dishonest returning ID and pocketing some money that one spent in the act of returning the wallet?

Or does that make one an honest asshole..?
...and that, sire, is what makes us men :-)

I don't normally carry much cash ($10-20 at most), so I'd feel no contentions if it came back cash-empty. If it didn't get returned by the next day, though, I'd have already frozen all of my accounts :watson:

Strangely, the only times I've forgotten my wallet was on college-campus; it always came back full, and by an old lady >.>

So yes, my vouch does go for women, based on personal experience.

[Roxie]

No. There are roughly 300 million.
Oh shit! That's what I meant. apparently I used up all my zeros for that statistics test i had yesterday.

[Citizen]

This is just idle speculation, but maybe a small factor in this may be the fact that wallets are more commonly associated with men, making them feel less suspicious-looking about picking up and keeping a random wallet they found. After all, many people don't refrain from doing illegal things because they're honest. They just don't do them because they don't want to get into trouble.

[MNJetter]

looking at the results, this sample is INCREDIBLY SMALL!
I don't think 100 people truly speak to the attitudes of general Americans
Maybe it looks that way, but in terms of statistic analysis, 100 people is quite enough. It is generally accepted that a minimum sample of 30 is sufficient to glean statistic evidence from an experiment, and this experiment had more than three times that amount.

[Roxie]

yeah, but you have to consider where you're sampling from. If it was to be a sample of that town or perhaps the state, but not of the country. Maybe it's just personal for me.

[MNJetter]

Personally, I agree with you, but Academia insists that 30 is the magic number. When I get my PhD in 6 years (hopefully), I'll be qualified to challenge the idea, but until then, America is all just one big homogenous country with one culture that has no notable regional differences, and you could take a sample of any 30 people from any part of it and be able to statistically apply that to the whole thing.

:D

[Kyletherealninja]

Men don't steal more than women. Men just suck at getting away with it.

[jindojim]

The thing is, I'm not sure if you can extrapolate anything from this experiment, even if there are a good number of people. You have to keep the participants unknown to the experimenter by giving them no identity when you're tabulating the results. I'm also not sure how random the subject pool is, since they were people who happened to be in the area. So, you can't say it's indicative of an entire race or gender. Plus, I'm pretty sure you need to have consent from the people involved in an experiment, even if you end up deceiving them.

The wallet only had $2.10 in hard cash anyway. I'm sure you'd see a different scenario had it been $20.10 or $210. Women just don't want to seem "cheap" by pocketing such a petty amount of cash :P

[ZaichikArky]

What I'd like to know is why did men steal over twice as much as women?

Because men are more evil and have worse souls than women. Here is how I came to that conclusion:

1. All evil leaders who killed lots of people in the past were men. Adolph Hilter: MAN, Stalin: MAN, dumbfuckdictator of N Korea: MAN, etc.

2.Men are more evil because they have 2 heads and women only have one. Whenever men have to make a tough decision, they have to consult both heads as to what the appropriate course of action is, and sometimes the smaller head is far more persuasive. The small head, however, is also more evil and dangerous. Women have only one head, and it's a smarter, level-headed head so women are hence smarter AND not evil.

3.I hate men. I don't hate women. This must factor because I hate only bad people and I'm a really good judge of character.

It's taking too much time to think of more explanations for your question. I hope I have been enlightening to you.

[h2orowe]

ZA, I hope your post wasn't serious. Because if it was, that was grade A bullshit. :P Men are more evil than women? What form of morals are we gonna use to judge this "evil"? You realize that evil has tons of different connotations with it. I can think of plenty of evil things women have done, and to make men sound like devils and women sound like angels is just idiotic and horribly, horribly sexist. If we're going to make horribly, horribly sexist remarks, I have to say that women tend to be way too over dramatic for their own good. Do I believe this? No, but it carries the same merit (if not more :P ) than your MEN ARE EVIL, WOMEN ARE NOT.

[ZaichikArky]

Bloody Mary did not exist, Joey. She was just an urban legend! I don't know why people don't realize this.

[Dresh]

Who needs Bloody Mary when you've got Elizabeth Bathory?

[h2orowe]

Who brought Bloody Mary up? I didn't. You have to realize that it is just your opinion that men are more evil than women. You can be a good judge of character to YOURSELF and a horrible judge of character to someone else. You have your own morals, I have my own morals, Pooka, Shamu, Az, everyone else has different morals. No one has the same set of morals, or at least most people have a varied set. Not only that, but everyone perceives things in a different light. To say things about men being more "evil" like it's scientific fact is rather infuriating, because, well, last time I checked, I was male.

[Roxie]

some one didn't pack their sense of humor.

[Citizen]

I have no morals. I roll 2d20 to make all decisions.

[darighaz]

1 word for joey: WOOOSH

[Silverhawk]

Maybe its because generally men take tend to take more risks than women? The 1st reply to this topic is probably the right answer though.

[h2orowe]

1 word for joey: WOOOSH
Yeah, I kinda figured that out after my second reply :box:

[volomavi]

I have no morals. I roll 2d20 to make all decisions.

I usually flip a 2$ coin. Its much easier and seems more exotic. Plus the coin doesn't poke through your pants.

[Exeter]

I don't understand why anyone wouldn't return a wallet that only had $2.10 in it and some gift certificate. If it was $210 like jindojim suggested, on the other hand...now that would be a moral quandary.

[Swede]

I have read nothing but the title of this thread. In response, I am going to say because men are bigger and stronger. Grrr.

[Trump]

I am honest with myself and honest with others. I'd take the money and then return the wallet. But if it was only $2, I'd probably leave the money as it isn't worth my time to take it. I'd probably leave the gift certificates too unless it was to a place I normally shop at.

To me the pain and hassle of replacing my drivers license, credit cards, etc is well worth the cost of the cash in there. I wouldn't complain at all if I lost my wallet, and it was returned with no cash (even though I keep ~$100 in there).

So would I fall under the honest or dishonest category?

[ZaichikArky]

One time I found a wallet. I found some ID with a phone number and called the person. it was an elderly lady who said that she let some strange woman into her house to "use the phone". Some of the contents were gone, but a lot of her IDs were intact.

I did the same thing with a fishing license I found >_>

Maybe I'm overly honest, but I like to think that if I ever lost my wallet, someone would do the same.

[Citizen]

If there was an ID or some sort of contact information, I'd return the entire thing, including the money. Because really, even if it's got a few thousand bucks in it, no wallet is going to make me a millionaire or anything. I'd have some spending money for some CDs or whatnot, but in the end, nothing significant. I'd rather just return it. Might even get a reward. But if there was nothing but money in the wallet, I'd pocket the money and toss the wallet. I'm not going to go on a wild goose chase or go to the police station just to return a wallet.

[Exeter]

I've worked at retail stores and movie theaters, places where people drop their wallets on a pretty regular basis, and I always felt weird about handing one over to my manager when I found it (which was the proper procedure). I never knew whether they actually followed up on returning it or just pocketed the money and called it a day.

[MNJetter]

I am honest with myself and honest with others. I'd take the money and then return the wallet. But if it was only $2, I'd probably leave the money as it isn't worth my time to take it. I'd probably leave the gift certificates too unless it was to a place I normally shop at.

To me the pain and hassle of replacing my drivers license, credit cards, etc is well worth the cost of the cash in there. I wouldn't complain at all if I lost my wallet, and it was returned with no cash (even though I keep ~$100 in there).

So would I fall under the honest or dishonest category?
Dishonest. At least in my opinion. It's not that complicated of a differentiation.

Taking something that isn't yours without permission = stealing.
Stealing = dishonest.

The rest of the specific situation doesn't factor in. In fact, I would venture to say that it's worse than just plain taking everything in the wallet, or taking the money and leaving the wallet in a dumpster. Their money is gone, but you claim to have simply found the wallet and returned it, so unless you admit to taking the money, you have compromised any evidence on the wallet that might have led them to getting their money back. Not only stealing, but also messing with their means of getting back their stolen property.

[volomavi]

Zing (http://snafu-ed.blogspot.com/2007/11/women-indicted-for-stealing-candy-from.html)

[dzee]

wow, you guys actually think of specific circumstances under which your behaviour would differ..

personally, i'd return it, money/not. i don't know, the wallet could be of sentimental value, etc.. :knockout: and as an aside, i'd feel really guilty. i've misplaced my purse several times, and i've always gotten it back with everything intact (yes, including possibly large amounts of cash).

[ZaichikArky]

I've never lost my wallet before and I've lost quite a few things. SOmeday, I'm sure I'll lose my wallet and I'll be really sad because not only for the sentimental value of all my wallets, but because I kind of think well of ppl in general(outside the internet anyway!) and I would be sad to know that there would be ppl who would think of never turning in my wallet : (. Also, like most people, I would not care if my money was stolen(usually keep less than a hundred in there anyway). The IDs are a BITCH to replace.

Also, a long time ago, my grandma got her purse stolen. She had come to America not long before that and she didn't understand how things worked in the country so well so she tried to chase the robber down while screaming in Russian to take everything, just leave her greencard. Thankfully, the police later found her greencard, just minus her 80 dollars. But obviously, no one is going to take the 80s dollars when there's a greencard involved!

[Overkongen]

Men steal more than women because we have to pay child support.

[Trump]

Dishonest. At least in my opinion. It's not that complicated of a differentiation.

Taking something that isn't yours without permission = stealing.
Stealing = dishonest.

The rest of the specific situation doesn't factor in. In fact, I would venture to say that it's worse than just plain taking everything in the wallet, or taking the money and leaving the wallet in a dumpster. Their money is gone, but you claim to have simply found the wallet and returned it, so unless you admit to taking the money, you have compromised any evidence on the wallet that might have led them to getting their money back. Not only stealing, but also messing with their means of getting back their stolen property.

So dumping the wallet in the trash is better than returning it... just wow...

In this situation there are two choices.
1) Don't return it.
2) Return it. Now you have two choices: a) Keep the money. b) Return the money.

Personally, the money in the my wallet is not important. I only carry cash for emergencies. I pay for everything else with credit or debit. Also, cash is easy to replace. You go to the ATM and you get more. Everything else in my wallet is far more valuable. My drivers license, credit cards, ATM card, proof of insurance, and all of that is really a pain to replace. That's what I care about. I know I'm not in the same situation as other people and my views are different, but that's the way I see it.

[ZaichikArky]

So dumping the wallet in the trash is better than returning it... just wow...

Word. Gee, MNJ, you certainly have strange ways of looking at the world! :p.

I was elaborating, but then erased it all because Trump already posted my opinion on the matter.

[Micah the Great]

I also worked at a movie theater and found tons of shit. It was kinda an understood rule that if you find money (not a wallet), you could keep it if it's $20 or less. I always just returned wallets to the box office without opening them. Me and my friend were cleaning a theater and found $88, but someone obviously came back within like 10 minutes.

I'm don't care too much for stealing, but i kinda like the idea of "pirating" the lost "treasure" i find. Haha. I mean, people leave hundreds of hats, scarfs, toys, umbrellas, and other crap/trinkets that i know they won't come back for. But i'd usually wait a day or two anyway to claim the stuff out of lost and found that i wanted. The only thing i got really mad about was some kid left this awesome Gundam figure, and i was like "JACKPOT", but he came back in a couple minutes later looking for it... so i gave it up... that jerk! HAhaha.

[Candyvan Stan]

Dishonest. At least in my opinion. It's not that complicated of a differentiation.

Taking something that isn't yours without permission = stealing.
Stealing = dishonest.

The rest of the specific situation doesn't factor in. In fact, I would venture to say that it's worse than just plain taking everything in the wallet, or taking the money and leaving the wallet in a dumpster. Their money is gone, but you claim to have simply found the wallet and returned it, so unless you admit to taking the money, you have compromised any evidence on the wallet that might have led them to getting their money back. Not only stealing, but also messing with their means of getting back their stolen property.

But you do realize that is a crime, too.

[MNJetter]

So dumping the wallet in the trash is better than returning it... just wow...
If you steal from it, yeah, it is.

And yes, I realize that this is also a crime. I wasn't saying that dumping the wallet after you steal from it is more honest. I was saying it was better. And not better for you - better for the person who lost their wallet.

After all, if you put it in the dumpster, and your fingerprints are on it, you are unquestionably the person who was responsible for trying to get rid of it. Whereas if you take the money and return the wallet, the person has no legal way to prove that you were the jerk who stole it, and press charges if they wanted to.

Putting the wallet in the dumpster instead of returning it (after you stole from it) may not be better for you, but it is better for the person whose wallet got stolen, because if it gets found, it gives them legal recourse to put you in jail where you belong.

Even before I lived in Japan, I used plastic money as little as possible, and kept cash in my wallet. If that got stolen, even if it's just a few dollars, it's not just like pocket money that's getting stolen, it's my money, that I worked hard to earn, and I would be just as angry if it got stolen as if my credit card got stolen.

Credit cards can be canceled and replaced. Cash usually can't be prosecuted. It's safer for you, as a crime, but not more honest.

[akitaka]

If that got stolen, even if it's just a few dollars, it's not just like pocket money that's getting stolen, it's my money, that I worked hard to earn.

While I won't go as far as being angry (because there are those moments at work that don't warrant pay), you've got a point to where efforts morally do not belong in another's pockets. This is why I keep a rubber band around my wallet at all times :-)

[Trump]

First, I've never lost my wallet in the 15 years I've had a wallet. I am really not sure how people do that. You really have to be not paying attention or just plain retarded to lose your wallet. I'm not talking about your wallet being stolen, I'm talking about misplacing it, leaving it behind, etc.

Second, carrying cash is not a good idea. It is a liability. If you ever are robbed, if all you have is plastic what does the thief get out of it? You call and cancel everything and they get nothing. They can't buy drugs on plastic anyway. When I'm walking through an area where I worry about pick pockets, I actually take the cash out of my wallet and stash it deep in a pocket so if someone does get my wallet I have a little backup cash, or if I get mugged I can just hand them the cash and say I don't have a wallet.

Third, not my driving rationale for anything but an interesting point regardless. It is punishment for doing something terribly stupid. Basically, you just left your entire identity behind for anyone to have. You don't even have any way to prove who you are. Are you more likely to take better care of your wallet if it comes back full or empty? And I still state giving it back in the first place is the only right thing to do.

Overall, if someone loses their wallet in public and I find it, I feel like I have just as much right to that cash as they do.

[MNJetter]

Second, carrying cash is not a good idea. It is a liability.
People have been carrying cash for thousands of years. Pickpockets have also existed for that long. Just because you now have the option of giving up your financial privacy by subscribing to a credit card, it doesn't suddenly make it your fault if you get robbed.

Third, not my driving rationale for anything but an interesting point regardless. It is punishment for doing something terribly stupid.
Vigilante justice is even more illegal than stealing the money out of a lost wallet. :D
And it's not your entire identity. I don't keep my passport in my wallet. Or my social security card.

Plus, it's not that ridiculous to lose your wallet. At least for a girl. I carry my wallet in my purse, not my back pocket, and on two occassions, I have been shopping, and didn't notice that I had left my purse behind in a dressing room or on a bench in the mall or something. It wasn't because I was incredibly stupid. I simply didn't notice the slightly reduced weight among the 6 or so other bags I was carrying at the time. It's an easy thing to do.

Both times, by the way, I got my purse back with all the money and everything intact. Good, honest people are the ones who will bring the purse to the mall's lost and found, without taking anything from it.

Also, if there is a local lost and found, you should bring it there without looking inside it, because if something was already stolen before you found it, and your fingerprints got inside it, you are a suspect. My dad found a purse once and was scolded by the police after turning it in for looking inside for an ID.

[SlickWilly440]

I carry my wallet in my purse, not my back pocket,..

I don't see how the majority of men are able to carry their wallets in their back pockets and sit down comfortably at the same time.

That's why I put my wallet in my front pocket.

[Roxie]

I typically carry my id and my debit card/cash in my pockets and everything else in my purse. So in case my purse gets taken I still have my most important cards.

[Micah the Great]

For one thing, not everywhere takes plastic. MANY, many places don't. Secondly, why would you base whether or not to carry cash on the amazingly slim chance you'll get mugged/robbed/pickpocketed?

[Urameshi YuSooKey]

It's a good rule not to carry much cash on you unless you've alreadt planned on needed to spend cash. Other than that, I carry somewhere between $5 to $30 dollars in cash and everything alse is for the debit card. If you live in a shady area then I can understand not wanting to have a lot of cash on hand, but you still might want some cash on you as insurance to not get beat down for a bum robbery.

[Knife-Fingered Sue Sanderson]

I've come across two wallets, one with no money and one with over $80. I returned both to their owners without a second thought. It's just good karma :hat:

[japanat]

^ Yeah, I agree.

I really don't understand the "I found someone's wallet, so I deserve their cash" mentality. The finder didn't earn the money, unless the owner decides to give them a reward (which I willingly do, btw, handing them at least 1/2 the cash in my wallet as a reward, if they'll take it). Keeping the person's money just feels really low class to me, and isn't something I would even consider. It's not mine!

[Trump]

People have been carrying cash for thousands of years. Pickpockets have also existed for that long. Just because you now have the option of giving up your financial privacy by subscribing to a credit card, it doesn't suddenly make it your fault if you get robbed.

So that makes it less of a liability just because people have been doing it for a long time? It is a simple fact. If you carry less cash, you can lose less cash. And really, there is no reason to carry around large amounts of cash today. Or are you buying drugs or something? I carry enough cash to leave tips after dinner or call a cab if I get stuck somewhere. I have no need to carry more so I don't.


Plus, it's not that ridiculous to lose your wallet. At least for a girl. I carry my wallet in my purse, not my back pocket, and on two occassions, I have been shopping, and didn't notice that I had left my purse behind in a dressing room or on a bench in the mall or something. It wasn't because I was incredibly stupid. I simply didn't notice the slightly reduced weight among the 6 or so other bags I was carrying at the time. It's an easy thing to do.

Both times, by the way, I got my purse back with all the money and everything intact. Good, honest people are the ones who will bring the purse to the mall's lost and found, without taking anything from it.

Also, if there is a local lost and found, you should bring it there without looking inside it, because if something was already stolen before you found it, and your fingerprints got inside it, you are a suspect. My dad found a purse once and was scolded by the police after turning it in for looking inside for an ID.

Not checking the dressing room before you leave is pretty dumb.... You cannot argue against that. You even seem to be going so far as to say it wasn't your fault! Please, you carry a purse with you everywhere. If you haven't gotten into the habit of checking for it when you leave an area then I'm amazed you haven't lost it more often. And are you saying that if you had lost money those times you wouldn't be more careful in the future?

I think my biggest problem with your arguments is that you sound as if you are entitled to get your money back. If you lose it, it is as good as gone. No one has any obligation to return it. Many people do out of the the goodness of their heart, but there are many who do not share your cheery view of the world. So take responsibility for your actions.

[Roxie]

^ Yeah, I agree.

I really don't understand the "I found someone's wallet, so I deserve their cash" mentality. The finder didn't earn the money, unless the owner decides to give them a reward (which I willingly do, btw, handing them at least 1/2 the cash in my wallet as a reward, if they'll take it). Keeping the person's money just feels really low class to me, and isn't something I would even consider. It's not mine!
And they could really be needing that money. I know I would.

[MNJetter]

, you carry a purse with you everywhere. If you haven't gotten into the habit of checking for it when you leave an area then I'm amazed you haven't lost it more often.
It was my first purse. I'd had it less than a year. And simply losing the purse, even though I got my money back, was enough to make me more careful after I'd gotten used to carrying it.

If you lose it, it is as good as gone. No one has any obligation to return it. Many people do out of the the goodness of their heart, but there are many who do not share your cheery view of the world. So take responsibility for your actions.
I agree. If I lose my money, it is my fault that it was lost, and it is only by the goodness of other people that I might possibly get it back. I would never pretend to be blameless if I lose my own purse. My argument wasn't trying to say that it wasn't my fault, and I'm sorry if it came off that way. I was trying to point out your mistake in mixing up "stupid" with an honest mistake. You can still take responsibility for an honest mistake.

But either way, that does not absolve the purse's finder of the guilt of stealing. There's no "finders keepers" law pertaining to cash found in a lost purse or wallet.

[Micah the Great]

There's no "finders keepers" law pertaining to cash found in a lost purse or wallet.
What about pirate laws?

But yeah, i don't see how it's right to take money out of someone's wallet and keep it just because they made a mistake and lost it. I don't even know how to make an argument against that. Be nice/honest/merciful. Give them their stuff back. It's awesome.

[羽之助]

What about pirate laws?

'Tis more of a guideline, really.

[MNJetter]

What about pirate laws?
You mean like copyright laws? Or like the kind that travel around on international waters and steal stuff from cargo ships?

[Roxie]

I think he means like Parlay.

[japanat]

He might mean the laws of salvage, where if you find a totally derelict vessel, the owners would have to pay you 1/2 its market value to have it returned, or the salvager can sell it on the open market.

Or perhaps Letters of Marque, whereby the queen granted permission to certain captains to attack and raid the ships of another country - privateer (license granted for particular countries' flags only).

Either way, finding someone's purse or wallet lying around does not entitle you to the money. You can take it, sure, and probably won't get caught. But that doesn't make it right.

[Micah the Great]

Pirates are awesome. I want to be one when i grow up.

[Jetsetlemming]

I think we're going to have to consult the virtue guidelines of Ultima, here. :watson:


I think I'd probably act in the same way as Citizen. Seek to return the wallet whole if there's ID, and thus a way of finding the owner. If there's no ID, there's no way to find the original owner, so this money is lost forever to them anyway. They should've gotten a "If found" card or something.

[Trump]

I never said it was right, I only said what I would do.

[MNJetter]

You said/asked if it was honest. That, to me, is equivalent of saying that it is right.

[Trump]

Being honest isn't always the right thing to do. I can think of many many situations where honesty will only hurt people (making it the wrong thing to do).

[Roxie]

Just b/c honesty might hurt people doesn't make it the wrong thing to do.

[MNJetter]

Being honest isn't always the right thing to do. I can think of many many situations where honesty will only hurt people (making it the wrong thing to do).
I can't. You propose any situation in which you think honesty will hurt people and help no one, and I guarantee you I can think of a way it will help someone.

But either way, I wasn't talking about honesty as in never telling a lie. Honesty can also be used to essentially be a synonym to having integrity, i.e., doing the right thing. It's important to not get those definitions mixed up, otherwise we'll end up with people on this thread arguing two different perspectives, but only because they're arguing about two different concepts, and not necessarily because they disagree with each other on the same concept.

[Shishio]

Personally, if I found a wallet, I would return it to the owner if possible. If I had to mail it, I would take the cash to do so out of the wallet if it was there, (I shouldn't have to pay for someone else's mistakes, just be thankful I'm returning it, is my philosophy).

If it wasn't possible, or too much trouble for some reason, I would pocket the cash and toss the wallet.

Here's a good example of what I mean by "too much trouble":

There's this guy I've seen around town. I wouldn't say I know him, or am even acquainted with him (don't even know his name) but we have spoken on a few occassions, and I would recognize him if I saw him.

So anyway, we ran into each other at the train station yesterday, and he decided to sit with me on the train. Shortly after the train departed, he got up, saying he was going to speak to the driver (he needed help finding out how to get to a certain place) and that he would be right back.

And, you guessed it, he left his wallet behind on the seat next to him. And he never came back. So I took the wallet when the train arrived at my stop, (which, when he left, was still about an hour away, so it's not like I didn't give him plenty of time) and I looked in it when I came home, and there was nothing in it.

Now while we were talking, he told me he volunteers at the local police department, (whether this is for probation, school, welfare, altruism or whatever, I don't know) so I could try going in, give his description to the desk sergeant, and hope I'm not treated like a fucking retard.

But assuming they do know him, and can return it to him, they'll likely be suspicious of me. (The wallet is empty, remember). And hell, he might see an opportunity to squeeze some cash out of someone and accuse me of stealing an amount of cash that was supposedly in it. (It's not like we're friends, and besides, I'm sure he's mentally challenged to boot, (so the volunteering with the police thing could also be a total fabrication) so who knows what he'll do).

So my inclination is to just toss it. If there was cash in it, I would try the police department and hope for the best, but it's empty, so it's not worth the hassle.

[Masa the Masta]

I never proclaimed to be a saint, but I think it takes balls to admit this.


I've taken a wallet that was lost before. I emptied the important contents and chucked the rest. I don't feel proud of it, but I have done it before.

Would I ever do it again? Probably not. The guilt I felt for taking that dude's 40 bucks and his fastpasses really got to me.


...Yes, this was at Disneyland. I was 17.


Honestly, I think some people in this thread might not have the moral fiber they proclaim to have, but that's just me. I'm not pointing the finger at any one person specifically, but I've walked the bad path before and I didn't like it. It wasn't for me. That's probably why I'd return a wallet.


I can't say I wouldn't be tempted if there was like, hundreds of dollars in a lost wallet I would hypothetically find, but I have to force myself to think about how the other guy would feel, the guy who lost his money. I know I wouldn't do it then.

[Lea]

I actually think it would depend on the situation. If I was alone walking on a street and found a wallet with a lot of money in it and no one else was around, I would honestly go through a moral struggle. I'd be really tempted to keep it. Most people have their ID in their wallets though, so I'd probably see their picture and feel very guilty. And I could NEVER take their credit cards and I would worry that if I threw their wallet away, someone else might fraud them. And I'd be too scared to turn in a wallet with everything but the cash because someone might suspect me. Or I could keep everything and cut up their ID and credit cards. But that's a lot of work and I've had to close my credit card account due to fraud myself. So much work!! So considering all this, I probably would give it back. If I found it with friends or even alone at a store or restaurant, I would give it up really quick. I wouldn't want to risk someone seeing me take it.

[4letterwords]

I've had mine stolen before so I'd probably never take money from someone. I've found a wallet once right outside of a car and inside I found the address and put it in the mailbox. I just think I'd feel guilty...

Now if there were hundreds and hundreds, I'm not saying I wouldnt be tempted... but I probably wouldn't take anything.

[knivesc]

I have never stolen anything, I have had money stolen from my house from an old friend when I was 12, 13 ish. He came from a rough family and didn't have a great upbringing so I can't blame him. Never talked to him since though. Also a while back someone left their card in an ATM machine and there was a considerable amount of money in there, could have taken something but thought they may have just started a family or something, would feel like shit if I took something out so I handed it in.

If I found like a wallet in the middle of nowhere with just cash, pointless handing it in to the police as it would just sit on their desk for like years. Pocket it. If it had an address I would send it back.

[Roxie]

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