# Taking advantage of a situation: a moral poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 9, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398 "2000-11-09T01:31:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [November 9, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/1 "2000-11-09T01:31:29Z")
It’s certainly wrong to take advantage of people who are not mentally or emotionally unbalanced. It’s certainly wrong to take advantage of someone who isn’t intelligent enough to know better. But what if a situation arises where the one to be taken advantage of is just plain evil? They don’t care about you or anyone else except themselves. They would take advantage of you in a heartbeat and would defy you to do something about it. Of course, they don’t KNOW they have an Achille’s heel, but YOU do. You could take this weakness and run with it and they would probably never figure it out. But YOU would know. You could never let them know, of course. In fact, they let others THINK they (the others) have the upper hand, but they (the evil) allow it as if using the knowledge as some sort of control thing. As long as they (the evil) get what they want, the actions of others are inconsequential. They allow others to suffer for the very same reason. They get upset when the ones they allow to suffer manage to get away, but quickly replace them with more victims. You are trapped as well, but you have no other choice. However, taking advantage of these people would make your suffering easier to bear until you can escape. So, my question is this: Would you take advantage of a situation like this? You could take advantage of this situation with virtually no chance of getting caught. I am sorry if this is too cryptic, but I cannot go into further details. ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/2 "2000-11-09T01:36:18Z")
Does this taking advantage involve something illegal or immoral? Or are you just taking more of their resources (i.e. time money, talent) than you are contributing? ---
**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:** [November 9, 2000, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/3 "2000-11-09T01:43:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by deb2world \* > \*\* > Does this taking advantage involve something illegal or immoral? Or are you just taking more of their resources (i.e. time money, talent) than you are contributing? > \*\* 1. Possibly the first; questionably the second. 2. Quite the opposite. ---
**Author:** ![deb2world](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@deb2world](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deb2world)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/4 "2000-11-09T01:50:03Z")
Since it is immoral and/or illegal then you are allowing someone else to dictate your actions and are sinking down to the evil person’s level. Don’t do it, your morals are worth more. ---
**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:** [November 9, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/5 "2000-11-09T04:03:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by deb2world \* > \*\* > > Since it is immoral and/or illegal then you are allowing someone else to dictate your actions and are sinking down to the evil person’s level. Don’t do it, your morals are worth more. > > \*\* Unless I don’t think that, in this case, there’s anything immoral about it. There’s an exception to every rule. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/6 "2000-11-09T05:34:22Z")
I think you should do it and broadcast it over the Internet. But then again, I’m morally bankrupt. ---
**Author:** ![Gollum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gollum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollum)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/7 "2000-11-09T08:12:16Z")
Screw them over. Pit your wits against theirs and fuck them over. Some people truly deserve it, and maybe (big maybe) they will learn something. No mercy for the stupid and arrogant. ---
**Author:** ![RonA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@RonA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RonA)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2000, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/8 "2000-11-09T15:19:42Z")
Ummmm, let me guess…Are you buying a car? The evil you describe sounds exactly like a new/used car salesman. And they are pure evil. Excepting any Dopers who may be car salesmen, of course! ---
**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:** [November 9, 2000, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/9 "2000-11-09T23:56:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gollum \* > \*\*Screw them over. Pit your wits against theirs and fuck them over. Some people truly deserve it, and maybe (big maybe) they will learn something. > > No mercy for the stupid and arrogant. \*\* They’ll never learn. The lessons have been coming hard and fast lately, but they’re bouncing right off their heads. They just won’t (not don’t) get it. THEY JUST DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYONE ELSE! ---
**Author:** ![Gollum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/85f322/32.png) [@Gollum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gollum)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/10 "2000-11-11T05:22:15Z")
So whats the problem? these bipeds are obviously subhuman so go to it. ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/11 "2000-11-11T05:32:18Z")
Could ya live with yourself afterwards? Will anyone be hurt by this? Physically, emotionally, whatever? If the answers are Yes and No, respectively, then go for it. ---
**Author:** ![wastelands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@wastelands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wastelands)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/12 "2000-11-11T05:35:41Z")
Seriously, how the hell can we give an opinion without even a single factor to go on. I say if someone is really screwing someone else, stick it to them. Unless the evil is your opinion. I certainly wouldn’t support Hillary shooting Newt because of a right-wing conspiracy. But I would support someone shooting a guy who raped his sister. Maybe an extreme example, but I trust you get my idea. ---
**Author:** ![Carina42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Carina42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carina42)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/13 "2000-11-11T10:41:47Z")
Years ago I had an ad in the Yellow Pages, and got TONS of annoying sales calls for business products & services. One company wanted to sell me pens with my business name on them for a truly outrageous cost. Even though I told them repeatedly not to call me, they persisted. Finally I was so fed up I ordered, over the phone, several thousand pens & got them to agree to COD. Then I ignored the UPS yellow stickies, & the case of pens finally got sent back. Since there was nothing in writing, I wasn’t worried. They had thousands of pens with “C.M. Painting” on them, and Inever heard from them again. Did I feel bad? Not one bit. They weren’t evil, but they sure were irritating me all to hell. ---
**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:** [November 11, 2000, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/14 "2000-11-11T17:38:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by racinchikki \* > \*\*Could ya live with yourself afterwards? > > Will anyone be hurt by this? Physically, emotionally, whatever? > > If the answers are Yes and No, respectively, then go for it. \*\* Yes I could without a second thought. No they won’t (and wouldn’t admit it if they were). As for the evil part, they are absolutely, without a doubt. If the top 10 richest people in the world pooled their money, they STILL wouldn’t be able to buy these people a clue. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2000, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/15 "2000-11-11T18:36:31Z")
Are you asking this because you want to know what we would do in this situation, or are you asking because you want to know what you should do? If the former, there’s really not enough information to accurately weigh everyhing out. Given that, I’d probably go ahead and screw them. If the latter, it kinda looks as if you’ve made up your mind already. You don’t need us to confirm that you’re doing the right thing if you’re going to do it anyway regardless. ---
**Author:** ![Anti\_Pro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Anti\_Pro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anti_Pro)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/16 "2000-11-12T00:41:33Z")
Well, you posed the question as what would another person do, and for me, the answer would be, I still wouldn’t do it, because I would consider it sinking to the lowest common denominator to deal with such people. However, you sound like you’ve already made up your mind. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2000, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/taking-advantage-of-a-situation-a-moral-poll/40398/17 "2000-11-12T00:59:01Z")
If this is an actual situation…what is it? I’m getting really curious.