# I share the good with the bad... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 28, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-share-the-good-with-the-bad/667406 "2013-08-28T15:52:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-share-the-good-with-the-bad/667406/1 "2013-08-28T15:52:19Z")
I love to see stories like this. I truly do. Four members of the William Paterson University football team in New Jersey each scored $50 gift cards after surveillance cameras captured them at a Wayne store paying for batteries and sunglasses, even though no employees were around. [http://newjersey.news12.com/news/shoppers-go-by-honor-system-at-wayne-store-that-should-have-been-locked-1.5968885](http://newjersey.news12.com/news/shoppers-go-by-honor-system-at-wayne-store-that-should-have-been-locked-1.5968885) Just as bad behavior should be punished, good behavior should be recognized and rewarded. Mrs. just told me to send them something in care of the coach, and so I shall. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-share-the-good-with-the-bad/667406/2 "2013-08-28T16:10:39Z")
Really? Are we as a society at the point where someone choosing not to be a dishonest criminal is so extraordinary that it deserves comment and reward? I can’t help but wonder if this would be news if they weren’t university football players. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-share-the-good-with-the-bad/667406/3 "2013-08-28T16:15:54Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Really? Are we as a society at the point where someone choosing not to be a dishonest criminal is so extraordinary that it deserves comment and reward? I can’t help but wonder if this would be news if they weren’t university football players. I think it’s more like the news entities are at a point where they usually only report on dishonest behavior. The reward was used more to bait the story than a reward to the subjects. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-share-the-good-with-the-bad/667406/4 "2013-08-28T16:23:47Z")
This is an example of true sportsmanship and inspiring behaviour. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-share-the-good-with-the-bad/667406/5 "2013-08-28T16:40:36Z")
If your complaint is with what gets reported, the reward ought to go to the news outlet. I doubt the young men who did this feel in need of reward for simply doing the right thing. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-share-the-good-with-the-bad/667406/6 "2013-08-28T16:50:21Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Really? Are we as a society at the point where someone choosing not to be a dishonest criminal is so extraordinary that it deserves comment and reward? I can’t help but wonder if this would be news if they weren’t university football players. You often hear about a carrot and stick approach to influencing good behavior, but the criminal justice system is really all about the stick. Don’t begrudge these guys a few carrots. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-share-the-good-with-the-bad/667406/7 "2013-08-28T16:58:47Z")
> [@glee](#): > > This is an example of true sportsmanship and inspiring behaviour. I can’t stand that video. It’s very dusty. Every. Time.