Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Unintended Consequences


At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements. ðŸ˜‰

What if you found a great business opportunity that would net you a hefty profit? However, this business indirectly will be responsible for inflicting harm on a group of people. You'll never meet these people, and no one will ever be able to trace this business to this harm. What if you discover this harm after investing/beginning work?

18 comments:

  1. Although a nice neat profit or at least not having to worry about money would be awesome. I for one could not allow others to be harmed for that profit. I have done the better part of my life without a great deal of money and I have learned to live like that. Money would not turn my head to allow harm to others. If I was into it then learned others would be harmed, I would have to report it to the powers that be and walk.

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    1. Glad to hear it. Not all have your scruples, though.

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  2. I fear the value of my own moral conscience and would make good with the folks concerned

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  3. Nope. Wouldn't be able to do it. I couldn't be part of something that hurt people.

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  4. I would have to stop doing anything with the company and whatever money I invested if I couldn't recoup it, it would be gone. Morally I wouldn't be able to live with myself even if others never knew I was the one behind their harm.

    betty

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  5. I wouldn't do it. I would know and so would God.

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  6. God no. I'm not a Republican. I actually care how my actions could hurt others.

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  7. I think that I would consider these questions before I started the business, which means I wouldn't start it at all.

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  8. I'd rather not harm people so I'd back out!

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  9. I would not do it and could not and, if I found out shortly after investing in it, I would shut it down or go to the media to make sure it would get shut down.

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    1. Wouldn't it be lovely if that was everyone's reaction?

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  10. I wouldn't do it. I would know, if no one else did, and I couldn't live with myself. That is not me.

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  11. If I could back out without threat to my life, as this must be run by shady characters, I would simply do so, so fast I'd trip over my own feet. If in fear, I would try to find help. By the way, we need to keep a virtual eye on anyone who would dare answer different. ~grin~ Be well!

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    1. Yes, we would. The question is, would anyone answer any differently in public?

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  12. If I knew going in I'd probably skip. Hard once you're already in something legally to just bail. Hopefully a way to fix things from within. I guess it would also depend on the amount of "harm" since that could be anything from just upsetting people to death.

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I appreciate your comments.

I respond to comments* via email, unless your profile email is not enabled. Then, I'll reply in the comment thread. Eventually. Probably.

*Exception: I do not respond to "what if?" comments, but I do read them all. Those questions are open to your interpretation, and I don't wish to limit your imagination by what I thought the question was supposed to be.