An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Kids and Ethics Part III
In Part I, the conclusion was made that except for the fear of being caught, most kids would be willing to sacrifice someone else for their own gain. In Part II, it seemed readily apparent that they knew right from wrong; ethical from unethical.
The last question presented to the kids:
Is the fear of getting caught the only thing that keeps most people from doing unethical things? Do people behave ethically most of the time?
No it is not because people will still do the unethical stuff just so they can please themselves in the end. I don’t think that over 15% of people actually act ethically.
No, I think guilt is the biggest factor of keeping people from doing unethical things. Although the fact that the person could get caught is the first thing they think of I think personally I am more worried about how it will affect other people.
No, because the fear of getting caught is not keeping people from doing what they do because if they scared they wouldn’t be doing it. No people do not behave ethically because most people do not care what happens to them because most of those people do bad things have money and can get out of bad situations.
I believe that getting caught doesn’t really matter to anyone when there is a prize that they want. Not many people behave ethically all the time because almost everyone is selfish and cares for only themselves.
I would say it’s part of it the other part would be the fact that they have to live with themselves. People do not behave ethically most of the time which is a really bad thing.
The fear of getting caught is some of the reason, but the other part is basic human morals.
Yes because if somebody is doing something wrong then they are not going to care they just want what is best for them. Yes, for the most part people behave ethical most of the time.
I do believe that is a possibility of why most people do not take the risk of doing unethical things
I think that most people have a conscience and would feel guilty about what they do even if they think that they wouldn’t get caught.
Many students are becoming more and more ok with cheating so that would be a fact that would show otherwise. However, there are more small business and personal investments that would give people initiative to do the right thing, both legally and morally.
Yes, that keeps many people from doing unethical things. People try to come off as ethical around people but they definitely act more unethical. That’s only most people. Some people are really nice and ethical.
I think it has a small effect that people are afraid of getting caught. I think most of it is more of a conscience thing of doing unethical things.
So, to wrap it up, this class believes that most people are unethical, if they aren’t behaving unethically it’s out of the fear of getting caught, and given the chance, they would probably behave the same way. What a depressing commentary.
That being said, can you really blame them? We have public officials who are as corrupt as can be, we have a presidential cabinet which consists of a number of lawbreakers, and professional athletes who get away with any number of crimes, because they can. What the hell has gotten into this country? When did we cease being shocked by this behavior? When will we start making the punishment fit the crime?
I remember when I was young, the worst thing I could hear was “Wait till your father gets home.” These days, you can’t even discipline a child without fear of the law intervening. We’ve got kids whose parents believed in “reasoning” with a child. I’m sorry, you CANNOT reason with a five year old. That’s what parents are for – to make judgments for kids who lack the ability to make sound judgments themselves. We have parents who want to be “cool” and “friends” with their kids. Nope – I won’t go there. My sole job as a parent is to try to raise a child with morals, values and the ability to become a productive member of society. When parenting gets wussified, this is the result. Kids who don’t seem to give a crap.
I was profoundly saddened when I was reading these papers. I’m sad for those kids. I’m sad for us as a society. Unfortunately, I don’t see it getting any better in the near future.
I think I’ll go buy a private island somewhere.
It is sad Kate. I’m listening to Nancy Pelosi lie about waterboarding as I type. Things will never be the same in our Government (and that is not all this administration’s fault) – and our schools will never go back to what you and I knew – which was learning or else.
I agree that it will not get better.
Actually, that was Chris’ post.
The state of out education is sad. The state of the country is in direct correlation to the state of education. And it’s down right depressing. This is what happens when you let idiots into position of power.
Well, that’s okay. I can hear you saying all of it
(don’t want to put words in your mouth, of course.)
This revision of history has been going for over 35 years – mostly unnoticed. This is how socialism and worse begins. One bit of untruth at a time – slowly descending on America. Before we even begin to know it, we’re already a socialist nation. We’ve just begun to know it. Our education system has been the rocket that has propelled this obscenity upon us all.
If we continue dumbing down education and wrapping our children in bubble wrap, this country will quickly go from a superpower to the laughingstock of the world. It’s already starting. *sigh*