# Morals.... and the Vending Machine **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350 "2002-12-12T22:47:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wedgerat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@wedgerat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgerat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/1 "2002-12-12T22:47:33Z")
At my high school, we have a candy vending machine. If you choose an item from the second to the bottom row, it will give you two of this item for the price of one. Question: Should I tell anyone in the administration? The machine has been like this for at least a month. So far, I’ve been treating it as payback for all the machines that have ever or will ever take my money, but I’m having qualms. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/2 "2002-12-12T23:13:15Z")
Share the wealth. Send me chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![swingchick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@swingchick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swingchick)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/3 "2002-12-12T23:13:19Z")
The chocolate is overpriced already. YAY free candy! ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/4 "2002-12-12T23:22:30Z")
“Vending machines are owned and run by the mob. Steal from them and they’ll lay a hurtin’ on you.” I’ll take mob stereotypes for $400 Alex. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/5 "2002-12-12T23:35:30Z")
What does your conscience tell you (_I am evil Homer, I am evil Homer_). Would you feel swayed by what we say (really?) If your conscience tells you to get free chocolate then me telling you it’s morally wrong is probably not going to change your opinion. If your conscience is telling you to report it, then report it. ---
**Author:** ![wedgerat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@wedgerat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgerat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/6 "2002-12-12T23:44:01Z")
Actually, I don’t frequent the vending machine frequently, so I don’t feel very guilty. I do tell everyone I meet at the machine, and I suppose that, if I saw someone refilling the machine, I’d tell them. I’m teetering at a balance, morally, so if everyone was outraged at my inaction, I’d probably act. Since no one thinks it’s terrible, I’ll probably not do anything about it. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/7 "2002-12-12T23:57:31Z")
Sooner or later, the machine will be empty and some delivery guy will refill it, probably fixing whatever glitch allows a 2-for-1. I say, grab it while you can. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/8 "2002-12-13T00:05:45Z")
I’m of the philosophy that the world owes me…well, everything. Get it while the gettin’s good 😉 But seriously, do what you feel is ‘right.’ ---
**Author:** ![wedgerat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@wedgerat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgerat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/9 "2002-12-13T00:06:09Z")
Well, it’s been like this for at least a month. And the items on that row have changed… I don’t think vending-machine-guy noticed the glitch. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/10 "2002-12-13T00:41:07Z")
If the machine took your money, what would you do? ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/11 "2002-12-13T00:47:01Z")
_“Always try to do the right thing, unless your conscience tells you otherwise.”_ - from the booklet, **Gumpisms** ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/12 "2002-12-13T00:51:49Z")
Wait till it’s fixed, and then complain. ---
**Author:** ![wedgerat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@wedgerat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgerat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/13 "2002-12-13T01:04:03Z")
If it took my money, I’d push the return-change button a few times, shrug, and walk off. But this machine’s very good about not “holding” items, and it’s never stolen my money. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/14 "2002-12-13T01:12:43Z")
Go for it. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/15 "2002-12-13T01:18:19Z")
I say report it, but it’s not a big deal, so don’t lose any sleep over it if you don’t get around to letting anyone know. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/16 "2002-12-13T02:07:04Z")
“All I want is my 75 cents back, an apology, and for him to be fired!” ---
**Author:** ![B.Pants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@B.Pants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Pants)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/17 "2002-12-13T02:13:22Z")
Ya know, I operate vending machines as part of my job. That money comes out of someone’s pocket. Mine, and my boss’s. Not some evil corporation. Just think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/18 "2002-12-13T04:47:17Z")
In this situation, B.Pants, I’d suggest that it’s the operator who has to check up on each of his machines. It is NOT the customer’s responsibility to seek out the proper authority. Granted, it’d be nice if he did, and I’d suggest that the OP report it, if he gets around to it, but for you to guilt trip him like that is ridiculous. You have to maintain your place of business, and, if you don’t, too bad. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/19 "2002-12-13T05:37:05Z")
Ever time you take that extra ill gotten candy your soul dies little bit. Finish that row and you and your fat little candy crammed mouth are going to hell! Straight down into the Stygnian pit with you Sparky! ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350/20 "2002-12-13T06:42:04Z")
For the past two days this one vending machine at work has given me two cans of soda when I only put in enough money for one. I thought about telling someone, but I have lost enough money to vending machines over the years that they at least owe me _something_ in return. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/morals-and-the-vending-machine/142350.md?page=2)