# Monopoly **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 29, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284 "2017-03-29T12:40:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/21 "2017-03-30T17:42:52Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > If there was an error that was corrected, and as a result of the correction, the bank gives you $200, that means that the bank had $200 of your money that it shouldn’t have. The error was _in the bank’s_ favor. The correction simply makes you whole. It’s not in your favor. That’s a lot of text for a 1.5"x3" card, half of which is devoted to artwork. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/22 "2017-03-30T19:02:05Z")
I mean, I don’t know what to say. It’s a plain English phrase. It has a meaning. Words have meaning. If you’re watching a football game, and the ref throws a flag on the offense even though they didn’t do anything wrong, that would be an _error_ in the _favor_ of the defense. If the play was reviewed and on review the penalty was determined to be incorrect, that would not make the correction or the original error an _error_ in the _favor_ of the offense. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/23 "2017-03-30T19:06:13Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Why did you wash your hands? It was a Lady Macbeth kinda thing. The guilt. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/24 "2017-03-30T19:30:59Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > To maintain the illusion that he had been droppin’ a deuce. … [QUOTE=The Office] “Mr. Scott, do you realize you just contradicted yourself?” “I did?” “Yes you did.” “Can I go to the bathroom?” “No.” “I really have to, I’ve been drinking lots of water.” “You went five minutes ago.” “That wasn’t to go to the bathroom, that was to get out of a question.” “You still have to answer it.” “First can I go to the bathroom?” “No.” [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/25 "2017-03-30T19:31:32Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I mean, I don’t know what to say. It’s a plain English phrase. It has a meaning. Words have meaning. > > If you’re watching a football game, and the ref throws a flag on the offense even though they didn’t do anything wrong, that would be an _error_ in the _favor_ of the defense. > > If the play was reviewed and on review the penalty was determined to be incorrect, that would not make the correction or the original error an _error_ in the _favor_ of the offense. So do you agree that in this scenario, the referees made an error? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/26 "2017-03-30T19:46:36Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > If you’re watching a football game, and the ref throws a flag on the offense even though they didn’t do anything wrong, that would be an _error_ in the _favor_ of the defense. > > If the play was reviewed and on review the penalty was determined to be incorrect, that would not make the correction or the original error an _error_ in the _favor_ of the offense. Tweeeet! ::flag:: Penalties are not reviewable plays. You have been flagged 5 posts for Delay of Thread. Replay the analogy. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/27 "2017-03-30T21:32:16Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > So do you agree that in this scenario, the referees made an error? Yes. > [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Tweeeet! ::flag:: > > Penalties are not reviewable plays. You have been flagged 5 posts for Delay of Thread. Replay the analogy. :)That’ll teach me to analogize from sports I only vaguely understand. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/28 "2019-12-23T15:30:16Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > How old is your son? At least 8, if you’re playing Monopoly? At the time he was 7 > [@](#): > > I’d try to explain that a) there’s a difference between a game and real life > b) in real life, if the bank makes an error, you are at least ethically, but (depending on jurisdiction) also legally obligated to tell them. > c) in this game however, it’s just a way of getting Money, because it would be boring if all Cards said “you won the lottery” over and over. Yeah but still > [@](#): > > And then get Settlers of Catan for a game with a much better Balance of gameplay, real trading, and much less monotony. Settler of Catan, ticket to ride, king of Tokyo, pretty much anything that the hive mind at boargamegeeks .com tells me to buy on national board game day. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/29 "2019-12-23T15:31:26Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Why did you wash your hands? Optics. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/30 "2019-12-23T17:25:17Z")
Were you locked in the shitter dropping another imaginary Deuce for the last 2 1/2 years trying to avoid this thread? And did you wash your hands again? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/31 "2019-12-23T17:34:29Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Exactly what I thought. I figured they underpaid interest or something, corrected it and made good. > > Dennis Add me to that list. Until this thread it never occurred to me to interpret it as the player taking advantage of the bank. I think the ‘bank error’ idea goes along with the “inheritance from a rich uncle” as common plot points in old movies, just a way to have a stroke of luck benefit a person’s life. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/32 "2019-12-23T17:39:50Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > Exactly what I thought. I figured they underpaid interest or something, corrected it and made good. > > Dennis That’s not an error “in your favor”, as in that you come out ahead, but simply making you whole. Unless there were a $200 bonus by way of apology. Given the graphic on the card of a surprised (and presumably delighted) Mr. Moneybags, I think it’s pretty clear that it’s supposed to be an error on the part of the bank, but that because it was in the form of (excess) cash handed over by a teller, it’s untraceable and therefore “free money”. Keeping money you were not entitled to is, in fact, “stealing”, but ripping off The Man and calling it a windfall has a long history in this and most other countries. And yes, Monopoly is a game with intentionally broken mechanics, and other games are far more “playworthy”. Keeping money from a a bank error is not the only “questionable concept” Chance or Community Chest card in the game, of course. There’s also: - The “Get Out Of Jail Free” card (which as legend has it, numerous people have tried to use in real life, as in they put a Monopoly card on the judge’s table in a courtroom). A clear perversion of justice! - “Advance token to the nearest Railroad and pay owner twice the rent (if owned)”. Why are you being forced to pay double? Because of Chance? Screwed by The Man for no reason at all! - “You have been elected Chairman of the Board - Pay each player $50.” So… Bribery? Quid Pro Quo? What’s going on here? And why was becoming Chairman worth so much money? WHERE’S MY KICKBACK? ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/33 "2019-12-23T18:05:37Z")
Hasbro has apparently had the [worst](https://nypost.com/2019/11/29/hasbro-releases-nightmarish-longer-version-of-monopoly/) idea ever. Extra long Monopoly. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/34 "2019-12-23T18:31:06Z")
“Bank error in your favor” can easily mean they forgot to pay the correct interest or the correct amount on a deposit. It was certainly more likely when Monopoly was developed, but it can happen even now. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/35 "2019-12-23T20:11:00Z")
A person who ends up in jail many times while accumulating their wealth probably wouldn’t worry a lot about ethics. ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2019, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/36 "2019-12-25T06:38:15Z")
The bank error was in your favor, you got extra money you weren’t entitled to. It’s not unethical because you (the thimble you, not the dice rolling, bank-error-aware you) are never cognizant of the error. You get to reap the benefits of the undeserved windfall, forever blissfully ignorant of the source ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2019, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/37 "2019-12-25T16:27:20Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > To maintain the illusion that he had been droppin’ a deuce. But Daddy, isn’t that lying? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/38 "2019-12-25T16:41:45Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Tweeeet! ::flag:: > > Penalties are not reviewable plays. You have been flagged 5 posts for Delay of Thread. Replay the analogy. INCORRECT! Pass interference is reviewable. Even a non-call is reviewable to change the call from no PI to become PI. You’ll never officiate a Super Bowl. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/39 "2019-12-27T02:21:08Z")
Ethics Shmethics. If the bank makes an error and puts extra money into your account, you may think you have gotten away with something by keeping the money. But the bank will almost absolutely positively come knocking on your door one day to collect the money you owe them. Funny (not really very funny) thing is, they seem to come at the most awkward time - 5 years later or 10 years later - they come at a time when it will be a serious problem for you to pay back that money. So, it’s best to just tell the bank they made an error. That will save you a whole lot of trouble and aggravation. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284/40 "2019-12-27T19:33:44Z")
**REAL LIFE EXAMPLE** I immediately thought of this thread! Got a letter recently from the bank that handles my car loan. It states, essentially: “Whoopsie, your interest rate was supposed to be a smidge lower! Here’s a check for the difference since you’ve started paying this loan … enjoy your future lower payments!” Not explicitly stated in the letter: “Please don’t be mad okay? Don’t, like, get us in trouble? Friends …?” I assume SOMEbody got audited or something. The difference is x.52% vs x.19% and my refund was just over fifty bucks for, like, a year and a half on this loan or maybe even longer. So to interpret the Monopoly card at the most literal meaning: the bank made an error, and I shall now collect fifty bucks! In typing all that out, I guess the error itself wasn’t in my favor. But the letter I got the other day sure as shit was! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monopoly/783284.md?page=3)