Hello! Paul Jacobson is using DISQUS, a powerful comment system, to manage its comments. Learn more.
Community Page
- pauljacobson.org Jump to website »
-
Subscribe -
Community
-
Top Commenters
-
Popular Threads
-
Recent Comments
- <p>Nokia’s Music Store is a mixed bag <a href="http://ff.im/-2yc5W" rel="nofollow">http://ff.im/-2yc5W</a></p> <p><i>This comment was...
- Nicely done Paul, such a different approach to the store to mine. Loved the technical investigative excursion into the Nokia store's technical aspects. Like you I wonder why they launched with...
- <p>New blog post: Nokia&#8217;s Music Store is a mixed bag <a href="http://tinyurl.com/cpgaog" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/cpgaog</a></p>...
- Hi Debra Thanks for commenting. I have been hearing rave reviews recently and I hope to have a second chance to try the phone out. I must be missing something. My plan is to use it exclusively...
- I have had the Nokia 5800 Express music for 5 days and I think it is amazing. It replaces your ipod/ camera/ notebook &amp; pen, etc...etc.. and you can make calls on it too!! ABSOLUTELY...
Paul Jacobson
Life, law and other stuff
Roy conducted an interesting experiment the other day. When caught talking on his mobile phone by one of Joburg’s finest, he managed to ‘negotiate’ the fine down from R500 to R50 and, in the process, sparked quite a debate about the ethics of such
... Continue reading »
4 years ago
Hehehehehe. The ethics of this are clear: bribery is unethical. I'm not proud of the fact that I bribed a traffic cop.
I'm wondering, though, at what point blurring one's own personal ethics becomes acceptable. Some scenarios, ranging from extreme to slightly more subtle...
(1) You're Jewish. It's 1939. The last ship out of Nazi Germany is sounding a long slow horn indicating it's about to leave. You know you've GOT to get out, and the only way to do it is to bribe the guy letting people onto the gangplank. It's a substantial bribe. And it's in your back pocket. Do you bribe the guy? Do you not bribe the guy, and thus prevent you and your family from escaping?
(2) You've just arrived at the Zimbabwe border in your 4x4 en route to Kenya. You KNOW that a bribe is a normal part of doing business at these border posts. Do you pay the bribe and continue your journey? Do you not pay the bribe and get turned away? Do you not pay the bribe and spend a week in a holding cell?
I dunno. It's easy to be moralistic. Less easy to be morally correct.
(And I'm NOT digging at you or Jane (the person commenting on my post) on this one. Cos I happen to agree with both of you.)
Blue skies
love
Roy
4 years ago
Hehehehehe. The ethics of this are clear: bribery is unethical. I'm not proud of the fact that I bribed a traffic cop.
I'm wondering, though, at what point blurring one's own personal ethics becomes acceptable. Some scenarios, ranging from extreme to slightly more subtle...
(1) You're Jewish. It's 1939. The last ship out of Nazi Germany is sounding a long slow horn indicating it's about to leave. You know you've GOT to get out, and the only way to do it is to bribe the guy letting people onto the gangplank. It's a substantial bribe. And it's in your back pocket. Do you bribe the guy? Do you not bribe the guy, and thus prevent you and your family from escaping?
(2) You've just arrived at the Zimbabwe border in your 4x4 en route to Kenya. You KNOW that a bribe is a normal part of doing business at these border posts. Do you pay the bribe and continue your journey? Do you not pay the bribe and get turned away? Do you not pay the bribe and spend a week in a holding cell?
I dunno. It's easy to be moralistic. Less easy to be morally correct.
(And I'm NOT digging at you or Jane (the person commenting on my post) on this one. Cos I happen to agree with both of you.)
Blue skies
love
Roy