Would you take advantage of an uninformed seller?

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Fred A. Fotoman dies. His widow, Exa, is selling his Leica M3 at a yard sale for $20

  • Just take it, since no one is looking anyway.

    Votes: 3 3.4%
  • Haggle the price down to $5, telling Exa it's an old film camera no one would use anymore.

    Votes: 4 4.6%
  • Buy it for $20 and congratulate yourself on a good deal.

    Votes: 19 21.8%
  • Tell Exa it's worth more than $20 and offer a larger amount (e.g. $100-$500).

    Votes: 25 28.7%
  • Tell Exa it's worth much more and mutually research & decide on a price.

    Votes: 29 33.3%
  • Something else (explain).

    Votes: 7 8.0%

  • Total voters
    87
  • Poll closed .

BrianShaw

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Yeah, she hated him. He had a heart attack and dropped down dead when she told him she wanted a divorce.

Wow, what a shame. Shows that one should carefully balance family life with one's vocation and hobbies. Poor guy... he didn't take care of his wife so she opted to take care of herself, and he was the loser.
 

RobC

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Wow, what a shame. Shows that one should carefully balance family life with one's vocation and hobbies. Poor guy... he didn't take care of his wife so she opted to take care of herself, and he was the loser.

It only goes to show that you need the full story and all the facts before making moralistic judgements. And 99.9% of the time most of us never have that information.
 
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...I invite you to go to your subscriber information and see how much money you paid to post here.

PM sent...

So lets not get too uppity on the rest of the savages on this site, because we are all savages.

No, actually we are not. Quantitatively, according to the poll results thus far, 65.7% of us are not.

:wink:

Ken
 

Old-N-Feeble

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What a fascinating example of human nature this thread has become. It's truly amazing to see the almost unrecognizable pretzel-like contortions that people can twist the definition of honesty into in order to make sure they get what they want, regardless of the consequences to others.

Remember way back when in the sandbox when mom was telling you that you needed to return the plastic pail and shovel you had just taken away from one of your little friends, who was now crying?

That was a very important moment. She was trying to teach you something...

:sad:

Ken

These days many children are rewarded for 'winning' and doing whatever is necessary to get what they want... or nearly as bad the parents just look the other way for one reason or another. I have a brother who actually bragged that his own daughter regularly stole from him. He said it taught her what life and success is all about. I never have any business dealings with him.
 

Old-N-Feeble

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You are still being obtuse in your response. If you are trying to teach via Socratic method, it's not working on me right now. Who?; please say who.

I have a mom, and I've been told that lesson (decades ago), and I have morals... but I still don't get who is crying if the widow offers something at a price and someone buys it at that price.

I know I've sold plenty of stuff at prices below their "real value" and thanked the buyer for taking the stuff off my hands. I was happy to see someone else get that stuff and use it. Only once did I regret such a decision... when I gave something of value to a kid who portrayed himself as a starving student and then he sold it. But I gave it so that regret didn't last longer than a quick moment of surprise.

Who's truly being obtuse? I don't think it's Ken. Some people simply cannot be taught, and will never grasp the concept of, common decency.

[video=vimeo;85825471]https://vimeo.com/85825471[/video]
 
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BrianShaw

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Who's truly being obtuse? I don't think it's Ken. Some people simply cannot be taught, and will never grasp the concept of, common decency.

Then please answer the question that Ken has not yet answered: who is crying in the original scenario? Would the widow cry if she got the $20 she was asking? Would the buyer cry because he bought a Leica for $20? Or would it be a bystander crying because he thinks the widow should have got more for the camera... or because he wishes he was their quick enough to have bought it for the asking price?

Or are you saying that anyone who doesn't conform to your profession of morality has no common decency. That is a bit of s stretch and I hope you aren't going there.

Regarding children, I assure you that not all children are like your brother. There are some, but there also are some very nice kids being raised these days who are nothing like that.
 
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Old-N-Feeble

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Then please answer the question that Ken has not yet answered: who is crying in the original scenario?

No one... because the old widow was uninformed. I'm sure as soon as she discovers her mistake, and how the buyer took advantage of her, she'll definitely feel "stupid" and "used" and would likely experience "remorse" and "guilt" regarding having her husband's belongings cheated from her. That's not a nice feeling. Of course, some people don't care about such things because they have no conscience.
 

BrianShaw

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No one... because the old widow was uninformed. I'm sure as soon as she discovers her mistake, and how the buyer took advantage of her, she'll definitely feel "stupid" and "used" and would likely experience "remorse" and "guilt" regarding having her husband's belongings cheated from her. That's not a nice feeling. Of course, some people don't care about such things because they have no conscience.

I'm assuming, and this is just an assumption, that if/when the widow sold the Leica at $20 that she would go on with her life without looking back. Unless some jackass decided to tell her after the fact that she made a mistake, of course. And where's the conscience in doing that -- making a widow feel stupid, used, and making her cry. But if she learns later that she blew it I would hope that she would take personal responsibility for making the decision to sell the Leica for $20. Plus, she made a grown-up decision to sell the camera. If she has post-sale guilt and remorse... who is responsible for that? Certainly not a buyer. Seller needs to put on her big-girl panties and be personally responsible for her decisions/actions even if she is a widow.

One of the things missing in many of todays kids AND adults is the realization that they are personally responsible for their decisions and actions... and shouldn't count on a nanny-state... including well-meaning self-righteous interlopers.

and before you go there, amigo... I have plenty of morals and conscience.
 
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Old-N-Feeble

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I'm assuming, and this is just an assumption, that if/when the widow sold the Leica at $20 that she would go on with her life without looking back. Unless some jackass decided to tell her after the fact that she made a mistake, of course.

I'm getting a bit lost here. Precisely which person is the jackass... the seller, the buyer or the informant? If one were to choose who is "closest to being in the wrong" or "more wrong than the others", which one would that be... if we're forced to split hairs?
 

Vaughn

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I am wondering why her husband had told her that the camera was only worth 20 bucks -- perhaps he bought it off an old widow himself? More likely, I think it is safe to assume that the actual value would be known to Exa via her house insurance riders for the camera equipment. If she wants to set low prices the equipment to get rid of it quickly, that is her business.

I think it is telling that the moralists here assume that because Exa is a woman. that she is an idiot and does not know what she is doing. :cool:
 

RobC

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So if I've understood what is being said in this topic, its Ok if someone who didn't know what it was worth bought it for $20 and if she found out later that's just tough but it's not OK if someone who knew what it was worth bought it for $20.

Smells like BS to me.
 

BrianShaw

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I'm getting a bit lost here. Precisely which person is the jackass... the seller, the buyer or the informant? If one were to choose who is "closest to being in the wrong" or "more wrong than the others", which one would that be... if we're forced to split hairs?

Like a good parable... I leave that to your interpretation. But it isn't the seller since she would have to tell herself something she didn't know. :laugh:
 

Old-N-Feeble

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I am wondering why her husband had told her that the camera was only worth 20 bucks -- perhaps he bought it off an old widow himself? More likely, I think it is safe to assume that the actual value would be known to Exa via her house insurance riders for the camera equipment. If she wants to set low prices the equipment to get rid of it quickly, that is her business.

I think it is telling that the moralists here assume that because Exa is a woman. that she is an idiot and does not know what she is doing. :cool:

Not one single person even hinted that. It's the antimoralists who keep bringing this and other completely off-topic bits and scenarios into this thread. Just making excuses to cheat wherever, whenever and whomever they want without remorse or regret. Those without conscience will never have the respect from those with conscience... not that they care about such things unless it affects their reputation as such it limits their ability to get a great deal.
 

BrianShaw

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I am wondering why her husband had told her that the camera was only worth 20 bucks ...

Oh, I can explain that. I use that line whenever my wife looks at my cameras (and other worldly stuff). I tell her I "got them for a song" or "I made a good trade" (which is the truth in some cases and not so much in others). When I croak I hope you guys all line up at my front door because my widow will be selling lots of great stuff for bargain prices. In fact, if you're nice enough she'll probably just give it to you to get some of my clutter out of the house! :laugh:
 

Old-N-Feeble

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Like a good parable... I leave that to your interpretation. But it isn't the seller since she would have to tell herself something she didn't know. :laugh:

I like the smiley... I guess it is pretty darned funny to take advantage of an old widow.
 

Hatchetman

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I'm always on the lookout for mentally disabled folks. They're easy to take advantage of and they usually don't know any better. It's all good.
 

BrianShaw

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Not one single person even hinted that.

On behalf of Vaughn I propose the following change of his thought:

FROM: I think it is telling that the moralists here assume that because Exa is a woman. that she is an idiot and does not know what she is doing

TO: I think it is telling that the moralists here assume that she is an idiot and does not know what she is doing
 

BrianShaw

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I'm always on the lookout for mentally disabled folks. They're easy to take advantage of and they usually don't know any better. It's all good.

Yes, that's why I'm so patient with ONF (his own admission). But one cannot assume that the widow is either mentally disabled or so distraught from grief that she is acting outside of her normal mental capacity.
 

BrianShaw

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I get it now. If you know what it's worth, you have to tell the seller and then pay what you think it is worth, and if you don't know what it's worth, the seller has to tell you what it is worth and then you pay what it is worth.

No. Michael... you failed to read a few posts, perhaps. If you know what it's worth, you have to tell the seller and then offer to pay less than you think it is worth.
 

BrianShaw

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Perhaps. I'll help you out. I never wanted a Leica anyway. Adios.

Anyone else interested in following my lead?
 

RobC

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I like the smiley... I guess it is pretty darned funny to take advantage of an old widow.

Now it's an old widow. You're making it up just like I did. You have no idea what the facts are. How do you know if Exa doesn't give a shit what she gets for camera and everything else. She might just want to be rid of his toys and other items. So you are making a lot of assumptions based on your own prejudices.
 

Hatchetman

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The formula is simple. Don't take advantage of someone's ignorance. Doesn't matter if they are old, poor, rich, disabled or whatever.
 
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