Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

[treasurefiend]

Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

You don't have to post your answer

Just wondering what you all think. This is just a hypothetical question, lets say you found a diamond ring and it was appraised at $1,500 in a city park and their is a full name inscribed on the inside band. Would you try to track down the owner and give it back or would you keep it for yourself?

I'll be the first to admit that I keep everything I find.

*My only exception would be if someone asks me to help them find something and they have an exact description or a precise identifiable detail of the lost item.

 

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[girardpaguy]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

I would make every effort to track down the owner.....But if i could not track down the owner.....
well, i would hang on to it as i do with all my finds.

 

[ivan salis]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

marked "known" owner goods -- if possible to return , I do so -- like class rings or clearly marked items * normally the "law" in most places requires you do so ( you can not knowly convert another persons goods into your stuff -- by them having marked it --you know the persons name --thus its "returnible" --- then if you "legally" wanmt to keep it -- you should turn it in to the local cops and go thru your local "unclaimed items" process --if no one claims it in so long --you can get legal "ownership" of it rule normally applies in many places)-- now however a "non marked " plain jane wedding band lets say that no one has posted a "lost ring" ad for that I know of. --- basically its a "keeper" --

 

[Mighty AP]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

If I can locate the owner I'll give it back, it will just sit in a cigar box if I keep it.

 

[Wallydraigle]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

How would you ever really know it belonged to that person? What I mean is, what if the person whose name is on it pawned it twenty years ago and it belonged to six different people since then before being lost in the park last month right before you found it? Why should it go back to that person just because their name is on it? Even if you're willing to "do the right thing", there's no way to know if that person would, and you still wouldn't be sure you were giving it to the right person. You have it now, you are the rightful owner. If giving it back to the other person makes you feel better, then by all means find them and give it back. But I wouldn't feel morally obligated to.

 

[treasurefiend]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

How would you ever really know it belonged to that person? What I mean is, what if the person whose name is on it pawned it twenty years ago and it belonged to six different people since then before being lost in the park last month right before you found it? Why should it go back to that person just because their name is on it? Even if you're willing to "do the right thing", there's no way to know if that person would, and you still wouldn't be sure you were giving it to the right person. You have it now, you are the rightful owner. If giving it back to the other person makes you feel better, then by all means find them and give it back. But I wouldn't feel morally obligated to.

Also if the ring is expensive enough it could of had an insurance policy taken out on it. If it did and the owner was paid then the insurance company would be the rightful owner of the ring. If you give the ring back to the person that lost it then what good does that do?

Just a thought...

 

[TORRERO]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

Well, ok here is the scenerio...
your walking on the beach with detector in hand scanning the sand to find what you can...
You dig a beautiful Gold wedding band with 5 diamonds in the band and you go stick this in your
car and come back to the beach and your walking again...
And now... Some couple comes up to you and says... "Did you find a Gold wedding band out here
by chance ? it looks just like this... " and she puts her hand in your face and you see a ring like the
one you just dug, only yours was a mens size ring, and her's is a ladies... and she says her husband
just dropped it out here when they were coming outside...

you look at them and you shake your head and you do the right thing...

HHHmmm
what did you do ??

 

[GibH]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

Karma....

 

[treasurefiend]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

Well, ok here is the scenerio...
your walking on the beach with detector in hand scanning the sand to find what you can...
You dig a beautiful Gold wedding band with 5 diamonds in the band and you go stick this in your
car and come back to the beach and your walking again...
And now... Some couple comes up to you and says... "Did you find a Gold wedding band out here
by chance ? it looks just like this... " and she puts her hand in your face and you see a ring like the
one you just dug, only yours was a mens size ring, and her's is a ladies... and she says her husband
just dropped it out here when they were coming outside...

you look at them and you shake your head and you do the right thing...

HHHmmm
what did you do ??

Like I said in the 1st post - My only exception would be if someone asks me to help them find something and they have an exact description or a precise identifiable detail of the lost item.

 

[Keppy]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

I hate to say this but if i find it ... it's mine end of story like .....MTpockets.... said it is my time so it is my prize ........... unless they want to buy it back but i would never tell them i had it. I am not the type to spend my time to find something then look to see if i can find who it belongs to . Just to give it back so i can get my picture in the paper or name in a magazine to show how wonderful i am. ........................." the truth is i am not that wonderful "............

 

[hypoman]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

To easy justifying the wrong thing.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

How would you ever really know it belonged to that person? What I mean is, what if the person whose name is on it pawned it twenty years ago and it belonged to six different people since then before being lost in the park last month right before you found it? Why should it go back to that person just because their name is on it? Even if you're willing to "do the right thing", there's no way to know if that person would, and you still wouldn't be sure you were giving it to the right person. You have it now, you are the rightful owner. If giving it back to the other person makes you feel better, then by all means find them and give it back. But I wouldn't feel morally obligated to.

t

I hate to say this but if i find it ... it's mine end of story like .....MTpockets.... said it is my time so it is my prize ........... unless they want to buy it back but i would never tell them i had it. I am not the type to spend my time to find something then look to see if i can find who it belongs to . Just to give it back so i can get my picture in the paper or name in a magazine to show how wonderful i am. ........................." the truth is i am not that wonderful "............

I hate to say this but if i find it ... it's mine end of story like .....MTpockets.... said it is my time so it is my prize ........... unless they want to buy it back but i would never tell them i had it. I am not the type to spend my time to find something then look to see if i can find who it belongs to . Just to give it back so i can get my picture in the paper or name in a magazine to show how wonderful i am. ........................." the truth is i am not that wonderful "............

Whatever. And this is one of the reasons the hobby get's a bad rap..Attitudes and gestures like this

 

[Montana Fireball]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

Some folks would say that some of the replies given, give a bad representation of the hobby of metal detecting. But I would say which (those that would return the item) or those that would (keeps the precious)! But it is nice to see folks are not afraid to express their beliefs.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

How would you ever really know it belonged to that person? What I mean is, what if the person whose name is on it pawned it twenty years ago and it belonged to six different people since then before being lost in the park last month right before you found it? Why should it go back to that person just because their name is on it? Even if you're willing to "do the right thing", there's no way to know if that person would, and you still wouldn't be sure you were giving it to the right person. You have it now, you are the rightful owner. If giving it back to the other person makes you feel better, then by all means find them and give it back. But I wouldn't feel morally obligated to.

There is no way of knowing Anything in this hobby. What you have posted above is a justification to feel good about keeping the ring. When I find an inscribed ring, I return it. Simply because it has value--and because there is a name engraved inside.

Most engraved rings are worn by the people whose names are inside the band (or a significant other). Not too many folks I know that would buy a ring that had someone else's name in it, and never bother to get it removed or resized.


I return ANY item any time it is possible to do so. It is the right thing to do.



Regards,


Buckleboy

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

My Feelings are the same...

It costs a lot of money to buy your Machine.. It cost money to be able to use it too..

If that's what you're worried about, then you spent too much on your detector. It's a hobby, not a job. True, it is nice when one is able to make a bit of money back if they wish, but folks shouldn't worry about paying for their detector, or other silly ideas. Nobody asks "How am I going to make back that $1500 I just spent on my fishing boat?"

I keep my costs low and my enjoyment high.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

I have Helped people out several timesSpending upwards of 1 hour of MY Time...

Helping to locate "Supposedly" Missing items... Now. Sorry to say..

But. If you truly lost it.. Your Cost is $50.00 "Upfront" CASH !!!! I'll give you an hour of my time.. Then we'll see if your For real or not..

Will you wither away and die for spending One Whole Hour of your time to help a few people with something that they could not do on their own?

I help people all the time. One hour of my time is nothing, really. If I were playing piano at a jazz gig, that hour would be worth $100--but metal detecting I wouldn't DREAM of charging. Detecting is Not a Job. I can't believe you'd charge someone to help them find something they lost. Did you charge your parents for an hour of your time to do chores?

 

[sniffer]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

I don't think there is a right answer or wrong, it's a matter of circumstance. just do what lets you sleep
easier at night

 

[Sandman]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

If the ring has a name inside I will try to see if they are in the phone book. I will not place any ads for them in Lost & Found. If they come forward and ID the ring, it is theirs.

When I am at a beach detecting and someone asks me to find something for them I will look for free and return it. However if someone calls me to come look for something either at a beach or dry land, I charge for my time and you should too. Many times I gave the money back just to keep the wackos from having the nerd look for something that isn't there. Seeing the smile on the puss is enough reward.

 

[ivan salis]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

hummm about a ratio of 2 to 1 or 60 / 40 % --- 3 out of 5 --say ---"do the right thing"--so must detectorist are really are --" do gooder typers" ---refreshing in todays world to know that.

 

[Wallydraigle]

Re: Poll - Would you "do the right thing"?

How would you ever really know it belonged to that person? What I mean is, what if the person whose name is on it pawned it twenty years ago and it belonged to six different people since then before being lost in the park last month right before you found it? Why should it go back to that person just because their name is on it? Even if you're willing to "do the right thing", there's no way to know if that person would, and you still wouldn't be sure you were giving it to the right person. You have it now, you are the rightful owner. If giving it back to the other person makes you feel better, then by all means find them and give it back. But I wouldn't feel morally obligated to.

There is no way of knowing Anything in this hobby. What you have posted above is a justification to feel good about keeping the ring. When I find an inscribed ring, I return it. Simply because it has value--and because there is a name engraved inside.

Most engraved rings are worn by the people whose names are inside the band (or a significant other). Not too many folks I know that would buy a ring that had someone else's name in it, and never bother to get it removed or resized.


I return ANY item any time it is possible to do so. It is the right thing to do.



Regards,


Buckleboy

That's cool and all, and I applaud you for following your conscience. But I think that bandying about phrases like "do the right thing" is justification for feeling good about acting irrationally to the point of letting yourself be taken advantage of.

All the best,

Wally