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squee
the amen break
Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 4735 |
PS3 madness raises a moral concern
A buddy of mine just called me--the Naval Exchange raffled off a PlayStation 3 and he won. He might be the worst person to have won because he only put his name in the hat to see if he would; he doesn't really give a damn about video games.
So, now the question is what to do with the thing. The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) committee where I work wants it so they can raffle it off at the Christmas party--it would be a kickass gift for one of the junior enlisted personnel, or for someone's kids. The problem with this is that most of the prospective recipients are a bunch of hustlers, scammers, schemers, and would-be entrepreneurs. Most of them would probably just try to flip the thing on eBay, where they are going for many thousands of dollars.
So, he wants to give it to someone who will enjoy it and not just turn around and sell it. I tihnk this is a valid concern because you would no sooner want to sell it yourself and just give some kid $10k than you would want them to sell your gift for a profit. The question is, how do you ensure that this doesn't happen?
We thought of giving it to Toys for Tots or even to an orphanarium but anyone with fiscal concerns is going to want to sell it; so again, why not just sell it and give the money to some worthy charity? Would that be worth more than just giving it, as a special gift, to someone?
Complicating the matter is that he's divorced and has child support payments to make. Extra money would really help in that department--he could give it to his kids but is 99$ sure his ex would also just sell it.
Any thoughts?
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11-19-2006 05:36 PM |
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SimpleSimon
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Registered: Dec 2002
Location:
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Sell it on eBay. It is his, he should use the money received to defray his costs - perhaps setting up a college fund for his kid(s).
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11-19-2006 05:42 PM |
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Cruise Director
nobody special
Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Zion
Posts: 4549 |
How is this a moral dilema? Why would an opportunity to make some dough for his family raise guilt for not giving it to a "good cause?" I can think of none better.
Sure, the PS3 has shown us what greed can be. Every year some toy comes out that is the "must have." And if you think the manufacturers don't do limited production JUST to drive the prices like this, you're crazy. It makes it so everyone paying $500 in a month things they're getting a helluva deal.
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11-19-2006 05:50 PM |
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Hawley Griffin
OUTRAGED BY NEGRO
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: canada
Posts: 17277 |
the price of the PS3 isn't going to drop anytime soon. sony is losing a fortune on each unit
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11-19-2006 05:52 PM |
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Mordecai
destractivegodofdarkness
Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 19781 |
If I had some money to throw away, I'd offer to buy it and then I'd run it over with a vehicle, set it on fire and piss on it. I'd video the whole thing and post it on youtube.
-m
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11-19-2006 05:54 PM |
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Hawley Griffin
OUTRAGED BY NEGRO
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: canada
Posts: 17277 |
quote:
Originally posted by Hawley Griffin
the price of the PS3 isn't going to drop anytime soon. sony is losing a fortune on each unit
quote:
The high launch price of the PS3 has been subjected to much criticism from analysts[31] and developers[32], especially in Denmark, where the converted price is US$720, the highest price for the unit. Sony executive Phil Harrison has defended the price by citing its Blu-ray support and overall value.[33] The production cost is estimated to be US$805.85 for the 20GB model and US$840.35 for the 60GB model.[34] A drop in Sony's stock price following its fourth-quarter earnings report has been speculated to be in part due to uncertainties about the company's game business; analysts have voiced concerns about the viability of the PlayStation 3
PS3 basic: 499USD
PS3 premium: 599USD
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11-19-2006 05:55 PM |
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Hawley Griffin
OUTRAGED BY NEGRO
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: canada
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quote:
Originally posted by Mordecai
If I had some money to throw away, I'd offer to buy it and then I'd run it over with a vehicle, set it on fire and piss on it. I'd video the whole thing and post it on youtube.
-m
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CTy7Nx0oPI&eurl=
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11-19-2006 05:57 PM |
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Mordecai
destractivegodofdarkness
Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 19781 |
Needed fire.
-m
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11-19-2006 06:01 PM |
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Hawley Griffin
OUTRAGED BY NEGRO
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: canada
Posts: 17277 |
and urine
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11-19-2006 06:02 PM |
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squee
the amen break
Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 4735 |
quote:
Originally posted by SimpleSimon
Sell it on eBay. It is his, he should use the money received to defray his costs - perhaps setting up a college fund for his kid(s).
So that's a vote for "Use it to get more money to support his existing responsibilities" as the "best cause" then?
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11-19-2006 06:06 PM |
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SocialParasite
100% pure failtanium.
Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Beatrice, Nebraska
Posts: 18892 |
He could donate it to that charity Penny Arcade runs. Or he could sell it on eBay and use the money however he sees fit.
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11-19-2006 06:12 PM |
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Mordecai
destractivegodofdarkness
Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 19781 |
quote:
Originally posted by Hawley Griffin
and urine
Some of the hate mail those guys got is pretty funny:
"Starving kids everywhere and you waste $700 on smashing a perfectly good console"
As though buying one and sitting on your fat ass, playing the console somehow helps world starvation.
-m
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11-19-2006 06:17 PM |
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SimpleSimon
?
Registered: Dec 2002
Location:
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quote:
Originally posted by squee
So that's a vote for "Use it to get more money to support his existing responsibilities" as the "best cause" then?
Yep. Charity begins at home. Taking care of his kid(s) is his primary responsibility outside his immediate needs. A very moral and responsible choice.
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When I was young I used to read about the decline of Western civilization, and I decided it was something I would like to make a contribution to. — George Carlin
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11-19-2006 06:35 PM |
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Pinecrika
Prophet of Doom
Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Disgusting den of creepitude
Posts: 10840 |
If I had the money, I'd offer to buy it but I need to buy some bike parts and ammo first.
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11-19-2006 07:08 PM |
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Mordecai
destractivegodofdarkness
Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 19781 |
Would you shoot it?
-m
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11-19-2006 07:19 PM |
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Pinecrika
Prophet of Doom
Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Disgusting den of creepitude
Posts: 10840 |
No, A playstation is a great tool for shitty winter days.
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11-19-2006 07:28 PM |
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Hawley Griffin
OUTRAGED BY NEGRO
Registered: Feb 2004
Location: canada
Posts: 17277 |
a 600 dollar console better suck my cock while its baking a cake
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11-19-2006 07:41 PM |
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squee
the amen break
Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 4735 |
quote:
Originally posted by SimpleSimon
Yep. Charity begins at home. Taking care of his kid(s) is his primary responsibility outside his immediate needs. A very moral and responsible choice.
I agree, but--here's the sticking point for me--the moral philosophies I've studied don't have much regard for that kind of prioritization.
It's the difficulty with absolutism--how do you navigate among competing goods? This is why Kant is incomplete.
But even among the subjectivist philosophies, most of them just say "Bring the most happiness to the most people." Giving the box to the Children's Ward of the local hospital would make a lot of kids happy and excited. He has already budgeted for his kids' immediate needs--so the college fund idea is the best one.
Fuck! The problem with giving people things is that you can't make them do the most ethical thing with them. If we could ensure that the kids would take their college degree and make the world a better place, that would be awesome. But odds are they would just use their knowledge to make sarcastic posts on fark or asylum. Argh.
I'm having a tough time framing this question in terms of the moral philosophies with which I am familiar.
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11-19-2006 11:39 PM |
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Dingle
Gay for Mugtoe
Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 10369 |
Give it to my son. You have my word I won't sell it, and my son will enjoy it immensely. I'll even take a picture of it every couple weeks with the cover of the New York Times to prove it's still in my posession.
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11-20-2006 12:17 AM |
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Rokkr
Cwirky
Registered: Apr 2004
Location: Cwesting
Posts: 9092 |
quote:
Originally posted by squee
I'm having a tough time framing this question in terms of the moral philosophies with which I am familiar.
What would Jesus do?
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11-20-2006 12:26 AM |
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Avondale
two maidens, one chalice
Registered: Sep 2000
Location: atlanta
Posts: 6505 |
quote:
Originally posted by Mordecai
As though buying one and sitting on your fat ass, playing the console somehow helps world starvation.
-m
i think the point was that the money could have easily been spent on something more worthwhile.
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11-20-2006 01:02 AM |
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RiZZ
awsomeness incarnit
Registered: Jul 2000
Location: aggressivly happy
Posts: 9132 |
jesus would give it to me
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11-20-2006 01:09 AM |
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Mordecai
destractivegodofdarkness
Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Denver
Posts: 19781 |
quote:
Originally posted by Avondale
i think the point was that the money could have easily been spent on something more worthwhile.
Please reboot your brain, and try again.
-m
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11-20-2006 01:30 AM |
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