# Pop quiz, hotshot! (be honest in answering!) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 12, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811 "2003-05-12T22:48:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/61 "2003-05-13T14:02:12Z")
This past winter as I was clearing snow off my car I found a wallet in a snow bank. There was about $200 in it. I contacted the guy through his business card and returned the wallet that night. The guy rewarded me with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot! I will admit, however, that a couple of years ago I was in a cab on my way to a bar for some drinks with friends and I found $450 rolled up in a rubber band in the backseat. I guess my suspicious nature took over and I reasoned with myself that the cabbie would just keep it for himself (I would probably have been wrong - no offense meant to cab drivers). I kept it and paid for drinks and food all night. I felt guilty about it the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/62 "2003-05-13T14:25:01Z")
1. Drive to the nearest gas station, fill up the truck with gas, buy a carton of Marlboro lights and 2 cases of Bud w the credit card. 2. Visit local strip club and waste $200. 3. Repair broken rear window in truck (are my priorities in the right order?) 4. Call missing-wallet-person and tell him I found his wallet and no, it didn’t have any money in it. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/63 "2003-05-13T14:29:25Z")
I’d return it. Without a second thought. I’d look inside for the owner’s phone number, call him/her if I could find it, and return the wallet. If I can’t track down the owner, I’d deliver it to the nearest police station. It’s all about karma. ---
**Author:** ![Kn\_ckers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/96bed5/32.png) [@Kn\_ckers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kn_ckers)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/64 "2003-05-13T14:30:45Z")
Just to clarify: I wouldn’t touch the cash. And, on second reading, I see karma was mentioned in a previous post. Spooky. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/65 "2003-05-13T14:56:53Z")
I am sickeningly honest. I’d return it, cash intact. I very strongly believe that I should behave in such a way that the world would be a good place if everyone behaved that way. A couple of years ago some magazine did a study where they left wallets on the streets of various cities. The results varied a bit from city to city, but generally 2/3 of the finders returned the wallet and cash, 1/3 did not. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/66 "2003-05-13T15:08:43Z")
The “dropped wallet” study was done by _Reader’s Digest._ Here’s a link to the story: [http://www.rd.com/common/nav/index.jhtml?articleId=9522248&channelId=5&subChannelId=21](http://www.rd.com/common/nav/index.jhtml?articleId=9522248&channelId=5&subChannelId=21) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/67 "2003-05-13T15:17:22Z")
Do you believe the specifics they mention in that RD article? - the whole thing reads like a catalogue of stereotypes, for example: > [@](#): > > at least two apparently devout Christians who kept our wallets made the sign of the cross after picking them up and peeking inside. The cash, they must have decided, was heaven-sent. “made the sign of the cross”?? !! ?? Really? Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_Schmeese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Marconi\_Schmeese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_Schmeese)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/68 "2003-05-13T15:33:41Z")
Return it - everything inside. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/69 "2003-05-13T16:53:37Z")
Am able to get in touch with wallet’s owner, whether via 800# on back of credit cards or lawyer’s biz card or whatever (you didn’t mention driver’s license): return items. Not able: keep money, cut cards into shreds and dispose of. ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/70 "2003-05-13T17:11:20Z")
Return it, contents intact. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/71 "2003-05-13T17:56:05Z")
Return it with everything in it. If I found a paper bag with money inside and no ID, I would hand it over to the police. If anything is going to get stolen, someone else will have to do it. I can get more money one way or other. I can’t get back my integrity. Matthew 5:43-47. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/72 "2003-05-13T18:15:31Z")
Hey! Doesnt anyone believe in the 10 percent finders fee? ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/73 "2003-05-13T19:07:25Z")
I would attempt to contact the person. If, say, there is more than one person with that name in the phone book, I would call all, tell them I found a wallet with their name, and make them tell me the name of the lawyer on the card to get it back (so I could make sure it was the right person). If, however, after all efforts I was unable to contact the owner, I would keep it and be extra generous the next time I want to donate to a charity. ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/74 "2003-05-13T19:33:37Z")
honest? like some others have said, I’d keep the cash and mail the rest back/turn it in. Sorry, I’m just not that nice a person. ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/75 "2003-05-13T19:35:01Z")
I couldn’t respect myself if I kept anything. I would make a concerted effort to get it back to the owner (and hope he rewards me). ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/76 "2003-05-13T20:59:18Z")
I’ve found 4 wallets and a checkbook. I returned them all. I waved off rewards. One guy was adamant about paying me, and I gave the money to charity. I believe that good deeds come back to you; even if they don’t, they feel good. ---
**Author:** ![WillSantini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@WillSantini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillSantini)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/77 "2003-05-13T22:08:54Z")
I once found a woman’s purse, not much money in it, something like $20. I got her address from her driver’s license and went to her house to return it. She was very, very rude and wouldn’t even let me approach the front door. I walked away, took the cash and through the purse in the trash. ---
**Author:** ![WillSantini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ed8c4c/32.png) [@WillSantini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillSantini)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/78 "2003-05-13T22:09:59Z")
:smack: threw :smack: ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/79 "2003-05-13T22:27:05Z")
I’d take $400 and place the wallet back on the ground exactly as it was, that way I’d be screwing two people. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811/80 "2003-05-13T22:35:20Z")
Return it, no questions asked. I have done so before. And someone once did the same for me. I only had 50 dollars and some ones (maybe 5 or 6 singles), they returned all but the ones (had a hotdog and soda on me? good for them!!!). And this was at the Seattle Center near the Space Needle, so a pretty good sized city, and still an honest citizen was good enough not to rip me off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pop-quiz-hotshot-be-honest-in-answering/174811.md?page=5)