Lying
Is it unfair to move into better (open) seats at a sporting event or a concert?
There's no harm in seeing if you can move into a better viewing position. But before you do, make sure there's no posted policy against it. And if an usher asks to see your tickets, be prepared to move back to your original seats without argument.
My boss gave me credit for a project on which a colleague did most of the work. Should I accept the praise?
Fight the urge to accept the compliment wholeheartedly. It's unfair for your colleague not to get the kudos he deserves. But you don't want to sell yourself too short, either. An appropriate response: "Thanks, but while all of us worked hard, it was Evan who did the bulk of the work on the project."
If something at a yard sale is far more valuable than the posted price, do I have to let the seller know?
A piece of furniture you've been searching for is marked $25. You know that similar pieces in worse condition have sold for more than 10 times as much. You're under no obligation to correct the seller on her underpricing. One of the beauties of yard sales is such finds. Savor yours.
You promise your child to never look at their email, but is it OK to sneak a peek at your child's e-mail?
Yes, if it's a quick scan while you're walking by the computer. But if you decide to do anything more invasive, like opening e-mails, then you should have an agreement with your child that from time to time you will be screening her online activity. If your child ever finds out that you have read her e-mail without her consent, then rebuilding trust will prove monumental. (And keep in mind that given how tech-savvy kids are these days, they may have an e-mail account all scrubbed and ready for your discriminating eyes.)
Codes of conduct by which actions are judged as right or wrong, fair or unfair, honest or dishonest.
Ethics
If someone tells an offensive joke, do you just laugh with the crowd and say "that is pretty funny" or is it your responsibility to speak up about it?
Letting such humor pass without comment not only permits the teller to be offensive to you and other people but also sends the message that you're OK with hearing such junk. Unless the joke crosses the line into harassment territory, there's no need to beat the person up in response. A simple "I enjoy a good joke now and then, but, you know, yours was pretty offensive" will suffice.
If a charity sends me free address labels and I don't make a contribution, is it OK to use them?
Go right ahead. The labels and the request were unsolicited. Better you should put them to use than toss them in the trash. If it's a cause you believe in and are willing to support, then terrific if you can make a donation as well. But as you affix the labels to your envelopes, you can do so with a clear conscience.
Is it considered stealing to take pens from a bank? What about extra napkins from a fast-food restaurant?
While grabbing a pen isn't necessarily considered stealing, you should just ask the teller if you have any doubts. That said, one pen is OK, but enough to stock your home office isn't (the same goes for napkins). A good rule of thumb: If something feels sneaky, then it probably isn't a good idea.
Your boss promises you a promotion at the beginning of the year. He/she ends up giving it to someone else who, as it turns out, is more qualified. Was your boss in the wrong when they broke their promise?
Yes, According to HR research “Promises should to be kept – and if they cannot be kept, they shouldn’t have been made in the first place”
Personal standards or ideals which serve as guides to individual conduct and decision making. (an individuals source of motivation for personally-driven goals). i.e health, love, family, etc.
Values
LL Bean promises a lifetime warranty on all products. You bring a 25 year old product back, telling the associate it is a 2 year old product to get a new version of the same product. Is that lying?
Yes and no. LL Bean has a policy that provides a lifetime warranty on all products. You can return your product for a new product whenever you think it is needed. Stating its age is unimportant.
How would one categorize or label police officers who participate in "shakedowns?"
Morally there is only one way to categorize police officers who participate in “shakedowns” or extortion activities. They are in a word corrupt. Legally officers engaged in shakedowns are violating laws against extorting money from individuals or groups engaged in legal and illegal activities.
My boss asked me to cover for him on his expense report by saying I was at a meal when I wasn't. Should I do it?
Your boss put you in a miserable position. Signing your name to the report makes you just as culpable should the misdeed be discovered. But if you stand up to him, you could find yourself out of a job. Bear in mind that a boss who would put you in such a predicament will probably do it again.
A 5 year-old boy was at a water park with a slide, the child was afraid to go down the slide for fear of going underwater. The father promised he would catch him when he came down, however he did not. The father wanted to teach him to hold his breathe while underwater. Was what the father did right?
No, he betrayed his child’s trust.
A system of beliefs that is taught and learned. Provides an understanding of universal and inviolable differences between right and wrong.
Morals
Sally is 6 years old and can not hold a tune. Yet her mother and father praise her ability and tells her she is very talented. Is saying this to young Sally wrong?
We heap exaggerated praise on our children all the time about their earliest attempts to sing or dance or paint or write poems. For some children this encouragement leads to future practice, which in turn promotes the development–in some — of genuine achievement.
You have a big exam coming up and need to do well on it. You have procrastinated to the point where the exam is the next day and fully intend to pull an “all nighter”. A friend offers you their Adderall and tells you it will help you focus. Do you take it? Is it cheating?
You should not take the drug, without your own prescription it is illegal. If you are enhancing your performance, you put others at a disadvantage who are not. So, yes, it is cheating.
You go to the vending machine to buy a bag of chips, but you see there is a granola bar stuck under the cookies. You buy the cookies instead of the chips to get a free snack. Is that stealing?
Yes, if you did not pay for the granola bar you are stealing.
You and your roommate decide to get a dog. You both promise share responsibility of dog ownership by taking shifts taking the dog out. You are responsible for the night shift. Turns out the dog is a pain and you don't like to be held to taking the dog out so you get home later knowing your roommate will just take care of it for you if you stay out late enough. Is this okay?
No, you both made and agreement of sharing responsibility and you gave your word that you would help.
An inner feeling of the rightness or wrongness of an action.
Conscience
Your rent is due, you are short $100 dollars. Your parents have offered to help when you are short. You ask your mom for $100 dollars, she gives it to you telling you there is no rush on paying her back. You tell her you will repay her when you get the money from your paycheck on Friday. Friday comes and Best Buy has a sale on the new 60" inch TV. You buy the TV instead of paying back you mom after telling her you worked less hours and your paycheck was short. Was this white lie okay? You will pay her back from the next check.
Yes, that is a lie. You told your mom you would pay her back on Friday.
Roger takes an exam on Monday, but Jacky has the same exam on Wednesday. Roger tells Jacky the exam was easy except one question. He tells her the question. Afterwards, Roger shows Jacky the answer in Roger's notes before her exam. She gets the questions right. Is that cheating?
According to academic integrity, it is cheating. She was given an advantage the other students were not privileged to.
You work for Google, they offer a $100.00 weekly stipend to buy lunches in the cafe. You bring your own lunches, do you take the stipend anyways? Hey it's Google they have the money!
No, taking the money and not using it for it's intended use is stealing.
Two of your friends have started dating. One of the friends is your BFF. You would do anything for her. Your motto is "you lie I'll swear to it", even though you are a truthful person by nature. You find out that she has started seeing someone else on the side and she has sworn you to secrecy. Your other friend approaches you and tells you he thinks something is going on. What do you do? Do you break your promise to your BFF and tell him?
Yes, even though you promised your BFF you would not tell it has put you in a position where you would compromise your ethics by not telling.
A legal or moral responsibility or duty.
Obligation