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.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[Keppy]

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

Wally ...You have it right trying to make there selves feel good..... Spend a hour of my time to try to find someone so i can feel good i don't have to find them and i still feel good.I just can not break my arm patting my self on the back or say what every one wants to hear so i look good and nice to every one.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[SPONNIE73]

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

I would try to find the person whose name is on it. Ask them if they know what happened to the item. If they lost it then give it back to them, because it’s the right thing to do. If they sold it or pawned it then it’s mine. If you were the one who lost something of value, you would hope that it would be returned if found.

Mike

 

[Keppy]

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

If i saw some one lose there pin pointer or found one and knew who it belonged to i would give it to them. The same with a ring or any thing if i knew who it belonged to i would return it. But i never found a ring with a name in i never found any jewlery with a name in it. SO I AM not going to waste my time trying to find a owner. So all of you good wonderful hunters here are going to tell me every ring you found with out a name in it you tried to hunt the owner,.. GIVE ME A BREAK you are full of BULL S___T..................

 

[ivan salis]

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

keppy -- theres a big differance in "no name" run of the mill jewelry items (which no one would really try to match up the owner with--- that would be like walking into a bar with a $100 bill saying --I found this outside the door anyone in here lose it? ( the only way most folks might return a "non marked" item is if they see someone looking frantically for it -right there in the area they found it at )--marked items are way differant -- most folks would say of a non marked item ---score * I got me a ring -- and if they sold it at a "pawn" shop for scrap for $ no one could "prove" it was or wasn't "theirs" (no marking or special stuff about it) --- however try selling a "marked" item --that might have been reported as lost (to a insurance company for payment (thus legally its the insurance company's) or been reported as stolen by the owner and you could have "problems" - think about it and you can see why "marked" items are best turned in to the cops and if no one claims them -- then you can get "legal" ownership without any " problems " .

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

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

There is not a cut and dried answer to this situation. If someone showed me a matching ring to one I just found, I'd give it back. On the other hand, I would be ticked off if someone returned the ring I threw as far as I could, that I paid for, to my ex-husband. So, a name in a ring definitely is not necessarily a "I own this" item. I know, if I'm detecting on the beach with people around, that someone may have lost something, its just what happens at the beach (which, of course, is why its great to detect the beach - and you can do it over and over and over again and still get booty - stuff keeps getting lost).

Of course, I don't go back to my car to put "trophies" into it, either. It all stays with me, good, not-so-good and the trash, until I leave for the day.

We still go out, when we can, to find a person's diamond ring. They think they lost it at the fairgrounds, and there's a lot of places at the fairground. They asked us, and I would like to find it for them. (no luck so far), but I'm certainly not going to charge them if I do find it. I enjoy swinging the detector - its like fishing, to me. I don't stop fishing if I don't catch fish - I don't stop going out hunting just because I don't shoot a deer or an elk or an antelope - why would I stop detecting -or stop looking if someone asked for something, just because I'm not finding something, or if I think that it belongs to someone who wants it back? Every situation is different. Someone mentioned class rings. There are thousands of class rings in hock shops. So, its fair to at least think twice about returning it to the original owner. If its from the local High School, ehhh, maybe. If I'm seven states away - it may not belong to the original owner.

I just think the "right thing" needs to be judged by each individual situation.

Beth

 

[mxtman2]

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

As mts said, "Do unto others" . It really isn't a matter of "patting yourselfe on the back" as much as it is simply treating others as you yourself would like to be treated. If I find something of value and the owner can be found, Then it belongs to them! Simple as that. No reward nesessary, I would take a picture of the find ( I have done this in the past). I have something to remember the hunt and the person has their property back. Lets face it. That high school ring you found isn't really worth that much in monetary value. It is worth far more to the person who lost it! And thats true of almost anything you may find. There is plenty of stuff out there that can't be traced back to the owner to keep me happy!( as far as monetary value is concerned)
As far as getting conned out of a ring, I would think that would be such a rarity thing that it is not worth worring about. If it happens, I would still be doing "the right thing" and life would still go on. Karma would be my reward!

MT Pockets, I like you. BUT, I liked your more, before I read what you have to say on this subject.

Buckleboy.. You the man!

 

[Keppy]

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

I have to give up on this one here just to many sicking sweet people here to much sugar always makes me sick .. And those dam halos are blinding me.

 

[BuckleBoy]

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

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

"letting myself be taken advantage of?" Have you seen my display cases of 18 years worth of finds?

I think it's the other way around, my friend.

We have no place to swing a detector except through the kindness of property owners--and we should give back with gratitude every time we are presented with an opportunity to do so.


Best Wishes,


Buckles

 

[dank]

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?

would you wither away and die to let ppl hear you play some Jazz for free?
it all on a case by case baisis, you charge for playing at a gig , others might play for fun,
same with detecting!

 

[GibH]

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

The OP asked what some of you would do, not to pass judgment on other opinions. State your case and let it go. I don't see the need to bash on anyone.

 

[Keppy]

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

Well i made my opinion and got bashed for it. So i bashed back i always bash back. I knew it was wrong but i just have to get back. I don't wear a halo and never did. never will ..

 

[BuckleBoy]

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

would you wither away and die to let ppl hear you play some Jazz for free?
it all on a case by case baisis, you charge for playing at a gig , others might play for fun,
same with detecting!

Folks wouldn't play jazz for fun if it was their livelihood. Is metal detecting your livelihood? Does it put food on your table?

You have just underscored my point that detecting is not a job; it is a hobby. Music might be your hobby, but it is my profession.

The American Way is not to charge people for everything--and I'm holding fast to that hope. I remember when the plumbers and electricians would make house calls to my folks' house when I was a kid, and fix things free of charge. They didn't do it because they wanted their name in the papers, or "a halo on their heads." They did it because they were good people.


-Buck

 

[BuckleBoy]

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

Listen...

If I'm on the Beach..In the water hunting.. and someone asked if I found a Certain Ring
and described it to the "T" to me.. I'd Give it back.. Prove it's Yours; How do I know that it wasn't lost by the Person that just Left the beach 20Mins ago..

90% of the time when I'm approached on the Beach and asked to help find something

I usually do... "AS LONG AS THEIR" in the water trying to help pinpoint the location with me..

I've been asked to help .. and when Helping.. These People just Leave the water and go and sit back down and Crack a beer and "Watch" Like I'm their personal recovery service..

Makes you wonder whether they actually Lost something in the First place !!!

Or do they just wanna entertain their friends and family.. By saying" Haha Look I just told this Guy that I lost something... and he's looking for it.. When They never lost anything...

I usually look for a little while If I find it.. I hand it right over...

The same thing.. if Someone dropped cash,wallet,etc.. and I spotted it.. I'd give it right back Immediately...


Ive been on Beaches where someone Lost a ring and Told many people about it.. while they were in the surf looking for it... The Rightful owner had Left.. and I was approached

by someone else 1 hr later "Who Wasn't" the owner.. But sure did know exactly what the ring looked like... But they said that They "Owned" it.. Come on..

If your not Present when I find it... Sorry about your luck..

Seriously !!!

I salvaged it from the Bottom of the ocean floor.. Who know's what I find..

Sorry. To disappoint any of you Judges out there !!

You ain't disappointing me. That makes perfect sense.

 

[TORRERO]

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

This actually happened to me in Spain, ....
It was a Spring day and we had gone to the beach to do some detecting lots of people but not
a lot of signals.. (first part of the year is slower as it take time for stuff to build up)
In the afternoon, when the beach was clear of most of the people, a woman approached us and told
us that she / her son / her daughter ? had lost a gold ring that morning while swimming and could we help her find it ?
We said sure !! right...
So we went to where she said she had lost it, she showed us the area, we determined it had been high tide when lost and now the tide was almost out, so it should be within reach (we don't go into the surf)
She pointed out about a half acre space, and described a nice signet type 18k gold ring...
Since we were using smaller machines with smaller coils, I / We told her I had a bigger machine in the
car, which we said was right over there, in view of her and the beach, give us 15 minutes to
go and get the other machine and we will be back, to find your ring...
She said OK, we went back to our car, got the other machine with bigger coil, and returned..... when we got back (1/2 a mile maybe ) she was gone and nowhere to be seen...

So what happened next?

1. we hunted for the ring but found nothing?

2. we left because we believed she was pulling our leg
because why would you leave a ring after telling us where to find it?

3. we hunted for the ring anyway, found it and kept it because the lady was gone?

4 we hunted for the ring anyway, found it and searched and found this lady and returned it?

what do you think ?

This is a true story, and one of the answers is correct...
an incident I will never forget.

 

[Lowbatts]

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

No Kermit, not this can of worms again! Returned a class ring, the first one Lil' Lowbatts found, 20 years after it was lost by the owner. She found it at the NAB (North Avenue Beach) and it took a long time to find the owner, folks in his class with those initials, two of them very mobile in their lives, and the one who lost it, DIDN'T want it back!

I told him this was a lesson in stewardship for my daughter and he WOULD take it back and WOULD write a letter of thanks to her, and he complied. I've returned numerous things from jewelry to car keys and you never know what that situation will involve until you follow through. That is except for that feeling that you might have something near and dear to someone and might make their day in the effort to return it.

I did make the mistake of putting a "FOUND" listing in the local paper with an very nice set of platinum ear rings and a gold wedding band, had to change my number a week later. It's a Chicagoland thing no doubt. Never got them returned to the owner and the inscribed wedding date of several decades earlier told me it would be a hard, nay impossible chase through marriage records, even if it was a local record.

If someone offered me 25 or 50 bucks for returning an item, I turn it down. If someone breaks the 100 dollar mark in reward money, I'm all for it! Still waiting on that one.

The Money Clip- A Tale of Good Intentions Breaking Bad

Guy sees me in the park swinging the coil, asks if I could find his money clip with several hundred dollars in it, lost in another woodchip playground at the public housing across town.
"Sure thing, if it's still there!" I excitedly exclaim.
Off we go. Got there started picking up the coinage, spent shells, cheap bling. Lady comes out and asks if I could find her cousins money clip as guy shrinks away. Told her I was already looking for one for the other guy, who she promptly goes violent on. Another gal, said her brother's money clip was lost there, fight gets bigger, more people coming out, some yelling that I'm trying to make off with someones money clip.

I left, but went back for the next two weeks early in the weekend mornings, when only working people would be awake. Looked through the chips and got the usual change and bling from this probably never-before-for-a-good-reason-hunted-wastehole but no money clip. Had I found it, Burger King or Wendy's would have been the prime beneficiary.

Circumstance and moral fiber should dictate the level and application of mercenary intentions. I'd return the ring if at all possible.

 

[mountainplayer]

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

Cool topic, Treasurefiend!

Yeah, I'd return an item that was inscribed with the owners name. I would not, however, place an ad trying to return an "anonymous" jewelry find.

Side note: I've found at least three pairs of prescription glasses since I started MD'ing. I have placed ads our local paper (they are free in our paper for lost and found items) and on craigslist. Have never had a single reply.

MP

 

[Montauk3]

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

Listen...

If I'm on the Beach..In the water hunting.. and someone asked if I found a Certain Ring
and described it to the "T" to me.. I'd Give it back.. Prove it's Yours; How do I know that it wasn't lost by the Person that just Left the beach 20Mins ago..

90% of the time when I'm approached on the Beach and asked to help find something

I usually do... "AS LONG AS THEIR" in the water trying to help pinpoint the location with me..

I've been asked to help .. and when Helping.. These People just Leave the water and go and sit back down and Crack a beer and "Watch" Like I'm their personal recovery service..

Makes you wonder whether they actually Lost something in the First place !!!

Or do they just wanna entertain their friends and family.. By saying" Haha Look I just told this Guy that I lost something... and he's looking for it.. When They never lost anything...

I usually look for a little while If I find it.. I hand it right over...

The same thing.. if Someone dropped cash,wallet,etc.. and I spotted it.. I'd give it right back Immediately...


Ive been on Beaches where someone Lost a ring and Told many people about it.. while they were in the surf looking for it... The Rightful owner had Left.. and I was approached

by someone else 1 hr later "Who Wasn't" the owner.. But sure did know exactly what the ring looked like... But they said that They "Owned" it.. Come on..

If your not Present when I find it... Sorry about your luck..

Seriously !!!

I salvaged it from the Bottom of the ocean floor.. Who know's what I find..

Sorry. To disappoint any of you Judges out there !!

I'm with you!

 

[Keppy]

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

Listen...

If I'm on the Beach..In the water hunting.. and someone asked if I found a Certain Ring
and described it to the "T" to me.. I'd Give it back.. Prove it's Yours; How do I know that it wasn't lost by the Person that just Left the beach 20Mins ago..

90% of the time when I'm approached on the Beach and asked to help find something

I usually do... "AS LONG AS THEIR" in the water trying to help pinpoint the location with me..

I've been asked to help .. and when Helping.. These People just Leave the water and go and sit back down and Crack a beer and "Watch" Like I'm their personal recovery service..

Makes you wonder whether they actually Lost something in the First place !!!

Or do they just wanna entertain their friends and family.. By saying" Haha Look I just told this Guy that I lost something... and he's looking for it.. When They never lost anything...

I usually look for a little while If I find it.. I hand it right over...

The same thing.. if Someone dropped cash,wallet,etc.. and I spotted it.. I'd give it right back Immediately...


Ive been on Beaches where someone Lost a ring and Told many people about it.. while they were in the surf looking for it... The Rightful owner had Left.. and I was approached

by someone else 1 hr later "Who Wasn't" the owner.. But sure did know exactly what the ring looked like... But they said that They "Owned" it.. Come on..

If your not Present when I find it... Sorry about your luck..

Seriously !!!

I salvaged it from the Bottom of the ocean floor.. Who know's what I find..

Sorry. To disappoint any of you Judges out there !!

I'm with you!

And i am with you also i can't tell you what i think about those better than tho judges.

 

[kimsdad]

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

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?

Lots of scenarios have been presented here, but this being the original question, I would do what I could to find the owner. I'm in with Buckleboy, Plebah & Lowbatts on this one. I detect to find lost items that can't be returned to their owner. If I find something that I can return with a reasonable effort, it's going back.

There's no way to know if that item has great sentimental value for the one who lost it, and I'd rather err on the side of caution. I would return it every time, not to get a picture in a paper or magazine - if I see a reporter coming I run the other way - but because in my opinion it's the right thing to do and exactly what I would hope someone else would do for me.

 

[TORRERO]

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

This actually happened to me in Spain, ....
It was a Spring day and we had gone to the beach to do some detecting lots of people but not
a lot of signals.. (first part of the year is slower as it take time for stuff to build up)
In the afternoon, when the beach was clear of most of the people, a woman approached us and told
us that she / her son / her daughter ? had lost a gold ring that morning while swimming and could we help her find it ?
We said sure !! right...
So we went to where she said she had lost it, she showed us the area, we determined it had been high tide when lost and now the tide was almost out, so it should be within reach (we don't go into the surf)
She pointed out about a half acre space, and described a nice signet type 18k gold ring...
Since we were using smaller machines with smaller coils, I / We told her I had a bigger machine in the
car, which we said was right over there, in view of her and the beach, give us 15 minutes to
go and get the other machine and we will be back, to find your ring...
She said OK, we went back to our car, got the other machine with bigger coil, and returned..... when we got back (1/2 a mile maybe ) she was gone and nowhere to be seen...

So what happened next?

1. we hunted for the ring but found nothing?

2. we left because we believed she was pulling our leg
because why would you leave a ring after telling us where to find it?

3. we hunted for the ring anyway, found it and kept it because the lady was gone?

4 we hunted for the ring anyway, found it and searched and found this lady and returned it?

what do you think ?

This is a true story, and one of the answers is correct...
an incident I will never forget.

NUMBER 3 IS THE CORRECT ANSWER, WE HUNTED FOR IT EVEN THOUGH THE LADY LEFT, AND DID NOT COME BACK, WE FOUND THE RING IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES... BUT NEVER DID FIND THE LADY...