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Original poster

Moral dilemma - I know everyone likes these.

89 replies

KIQFTM · 01/10/2004 10:38

Am a regular poster and might end up giving myself away here but ho hum...

A few months ago I was asked to take part in a survey of a product for big multi-national company, a RICH multi-national company. For testing said product for 16 weeks I would be paid the princely sum of £100.

HOWEVER. One of the the provisos for not doing it was if I became pregnant. Well, I have.

So, do I cough up or do I continue (partner's idea) since they would never know anyway. They don't know whether I'm doing as I promised anyway, it's all on trust. In theory, I might not have found out I was pregnant until after the trial period ended. The product is not dangerous.

So, am I a wuss or an upstanding member of the community?

OP posts:
pixiefish · 01/10/2004 22:54

So it's ok to fib about research then. At least we know not to trust research in future if the results can be manipulated like this

Heathcliffscathy · 01/10/2004 22:55

never trust research...especially by big multinationals.

dolally · 01/10/2004 22:59

I would be honest, otherwise how will you know where to draw the line next time. And without wishing to sound too mystical, you'll feed your soul. Funny isn't it but IMO this small-ish amount of money makes the dilemma bigger. If it were 1 or 2 thousand the yes or the no would maybe be more clearcut.

princesspeahead · 01/10/2004 23:10

sophable, you complete hippy, you.
and you know that sofiaames is right, dammit

handlemecarefully · 01/10/2004 23:13

No she's not

SofiaAmes · 01/10/2004 23:16

sophable, I disagree with you regarding multinationals, however, even so, does their thievery make it ok for you to be a thief too?

And yes as others have said, wouldn't you want to know that the products that you use were tested accurately?

handlemecarefully, it's not a light subject. KIQFTM asked what people thought, so we've given our opinions. Just because you don't agree with mine doesn't make my opinion any less valid.

jamiesam · 01/10/2004 23:21

Yes, but Sophable is right isn't she.
So many people would act on the advice/research of a big company, wouldn't they?
And fundamental point I guess is, is it stealing if you're stealing from a big international company when you can't identify the individual person who would suffer as a result of your action. Answer - yes.
Not massively dissimilar from - does it matter if you speed if you consider it to be a safe place to speed. So everyone breaks the law (of the land - or of society)... and then everyone breaks the law a little bit more , and a little bit more - in places that are more and more dangerous...

GeorginaA · 01/10/2004 23:22

I would go with telling them, to be honest. Not from any great moral standpoint, but just because otherwise I'd feel really really guilty and I'd only end up worrying about it and hurting myself. For £100 it's not worth it!

jamiesam · 01/10/2004 23:23

B**r. Meant SopiaAmes of course...

jamiesam · 01/10/2004 23:25

Last try - SofiaAmes. Sorry SofiaAmes. Smashing name by the way.

dolally · 01/10/2004 23:34

Another option, don't tell them - then give the money to charity!!! Oh dear this is more and more painful...

lilsmum · 01/10/2004 23:57

kiqftm... just out of interest how did you get into doing this? sounds pretty good earning a bit of money testing products wouldnt mind doing it myself

SofiaAmes · 02/10/2004 11:45

Oh this thread is so depressing. You are all supposed to be teaching morals and ethics to the new generation. And here you are saying that it's ok to lie and steal if it's from someone who's rich, you don't like and who's name you don't know. Are you all teaching your children to shoplift from large department stores too? And cheat on their exams at school (run by the government, a very large, rich, faceless organization)?
And jamiesam, it wasn't quite clear, but did you just swear at me? Is that how you teach your children to deal with people they disagree with?
The world is a mess, not because of big multinationals, but because of all the little people who don't take responsibility for their own actions and morals and think stealing, lying and swearing is ok sometimes.

Freckle · 02/10/2004 11:50

I have to say that I'm with SofiaAmes on this one. I don't think it's right to cheat or steal even if the "victim" is not a person, someone you know, rich, evil (I wouldn't even steal from Nestle). When given too much change in a shop, I always go back and return the excess - doesn't matter if it's my corner shop or Sainsbury's. And I hope I am teaching my children these values. I did this recently when I walked out of a shop having paid for goods and then realised I had a newspaper tucked under my arm which I hadn't paid for. I went back to the shop to pay for it and made sure my children knew what I was doing and why. Right old Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby me.

I'd hate to think that someone thought it was OK to steal from me because they didn't know me or thought I was rich enough to stand it.

GeorginaA · 02/10/2004 11:58

SofiaAmes - I don't think Jamiesan was swearing at you, she was swearing because of her typos - at least that's how I read it.

carla · 02/10/2004 12:01

Well, I think they should offer to pay for 16 week's research regardless of the pregnancy. If the simply said 'tell us if you get pregnant' they should cough up and disregard this one member of their research panel. That would have been the honourable thing to do. IMHO it's like telling someone not to get a cold ....

Heathcliffscathy · 02/10/2004 12:56

[holds hands up in the air] yes am dyed in the wool bleeding heart liberal hippy with all the hypocrisy inherent in that...

i do believe in moral relativism...my only absolute is you should always try to be loving to yourself and others. i think that kiqftm should do whatever feels the most loving...if that's keeping the dosh to treat herself to a prenatal massage (i know a great place if you're london based) then that's fine imo. if keeping the money is going to make her feel awful, then for godsakes dont.

but i have no problem with stealing from a company built on exploitation...sorry...i know it's not morally absolute but it's how i feel, and i'm not going to bring up ds to think stealing is ok, but i am going to bring him up with a healthy disrespect for multinationals and all that they represent...

Heathcliffscathy · 02/10/2004 12:57

bet he ends up working for one

Original poster
KIQFTM · 02/10/2004 13:25

Wow, didn't expect this to cause such a row. Thanks all for your views.

Thing is, I know Sofia is right, guess that's why I'm asking. I do know the right thing to do. And dolally has hit the nail on the head, I wouldn't even be struggling with the question if it was a lot of money.

Suppose I feel aggreived that it's £100 or nothing. I don't need it but it would be nice - would pay for my nuchal fold scan since have to pay for that. And, hey, that is £100 exactly!

To answer other points, the results of my test won't mean that the product may be harmful for someone else. I've had no adverse reactions at all and doubt not being pregnant would have changed that at all so I'm not skewing the results.

Plus, have just looked them up for unethical practices and they are under the McSpotlight. Sacked some workers for taking industrial action was one thing plus lots of pollution causing.

Hmm, still in a quandry but interesting debate

OP posts:
hercules · 02/10/2004 13:28

I would have to say you should be honest. Personally I try to lead by example to my kids and so not sure how you could justify stealing tbh. It's irrelevant imo who you are stealing from. I want my kids to think it's wrong full stop. How can you say big companies steal so it's okay if we steal from them?

hercules · 02/10/2004 13:30

But if you steal from them how on earth can you criticise their unethical actions?

I do think they should let you keep the money though but disregard the results.

emmatmg · 02/10/2004 13:32

I think I'd keep the money, I'd probably feel too guilty and come clean in the end.

My advice is take it and run, don't look back before youchange your mind

what's really bugging me is that I can remeber the thread you started KIQFTM when you were asked to take part and now I can't remember you real name........congratulations, I can't wait for the offical announcement.

carla · 02/10/2004 14:05

They are the unethical ones. If you get someone to participate in a scheme like this, you have to consider that some may get pregnant, and if they don't want that, as part of a multinational they should be willing to pay anyway. They are the ones who are exploiting if they say X can't have the money because she's got pregnant

Original poster
KIQFTM · 02/10/2004 14:07

Like that argument carla - keep it coming

OP posts:
Rowlers · 02/10/2004 14:16

How many of the 16 weeks have you done?

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