A little ethic mind-experiment

[Kalakauer 20]

Hey folks, I just wanted to share this Mind-Experiment with you:

 

You traveled back in time and now, you are in year 1933 in Germany.

You have the chance to steal Adolf Hitler's wallet. There is no way anyone could catch you, but stealing the purse wouldn't change anything for Hitler's life, there is not much money in there, he would just be angry and sad for a week. You would not stop him from doing the things he will do in his life. You have 5 minutes, after that, you are back home.

Would you steal the wallet?

Edited July 23, 2012 by Kalakauer

[Bari 7,021]

I'd take it. If I could prove it belonged to him, then I could sell it for money. Ha, didn't think of that, did you?

[Mephala 2,633]

Wait...Hitler's a dude. So he has a man bag? I actually think that was a pretty bold move for a guy who was a mass-murderer and leader of a massive empire. I mean a man bag. That takes guts. I bet he started like, a trend.

Oh, and no.

[Trixies Apprentice L 489]

I was about to post that it would be pointless so no

 

But the above poster enlightened me on the possibilities so yes

 

Steal Hitles purse

Proves it his

????

Sell it

PROFIT

[Kalakauer 20]

Wait...Hitler's a dude. So he has a man bag? I actually think that was a pretty bold move for a guy who was a mass-murderer and leader of a massive empire. I mean a man bag. That takes guts. I bet he started like, a trend.

Oh, and no.

 

Sorry, bad English :/ corrected it so it is not a man bag anymore

Yeah, sad when you don't know how to say this

[Lacey Shadows 164]

Yes...so I can smell all the 100 million dollars bills he has that are the equivalent of $1 bills back then.

[Mephala 2,633]

Sorry, bad English :/ corrected it so it is not a man bag anymore

Yeah, sad when you don't know how to say this

 

Damn. I liked the idea of a man bag.

[I used to be a stranger 7,989]

If there is no consequence to time ultimately, then the only effect would be upon my morals and memories of the act itself (ultimately).

 

Since I am not in a habit of committing petty theft against babies or evil dictators-to-be, I do not think I would steal the wallet.

 

But I would give him a swift kick in the bum.

[Captain Derp M.D. 159]

I would do it in a heartbeat. I'm not a thief, but to own something like that, that belonged to such a powerful figure in history. I would have to have it for my WWII memorabilia. I mean, really, it's Adolph Freakin' Hitler's wallet!

[SrFrog 926]

If the worst outcome from stealing his wallet is the fact that it would cause him discomfort for a week, than no. I really don't see why I would go out of my way just to steal a wallet worth nothing.

Edited July 24, 2012 by SrFrog

[Captain Derp M.D. 159]

This is slightly off topic, but along the same lines, I would also like to tiff Napoleon's hat. You know it would burn him up.

[Cosmic Charlie 129]

Yes I would, because fuck that guy. He's one of the only people in history whom I would willingly

skin alive with a paring knife

and laugh the whole time. If I can go back in time and make him suffer unimaginably, I'll do it every day. It would be delicious. Barring that, I can live with taking his wallet.

[PlunderSteed 1,251]

BEST. THREAD. EVAR!

 

Unfortunately, whatever money was in his wallet would be kind of useless. As I recall, the German economy was in the crapper during the 30's (part of why Hitler was able to rise to power in the first place). Still, the idea of pissing off Hitler is immensely appealing.

 

Somebody needs to do a "Hitler rant" video with subtitles about how a time traveler stole his wallet. You guys know the one.

[LunaShy 167]

Hey folks, I just wanted to share this Mind-Experiment with you:

 

You traveled back in time and now, you are in year 1933 in Germany.

You have the chance to steal Adolf Hitler's wallet. There is no way anyone could catch you, but stealing the purse wouldn't change anything for Hitler's life, there is not much money in there, he would just be angry and sad for a week. You would not stop him from doing the things he will do in his life. You have 5 minutes, after that, you are back home.

Would you steal the wallet?

 

Well id much rather beat in his face with my bare hands, but if that was the only choice fuck yeah id steal his wallet. Hitler can eat shit

[A Blithering Div 247]

Provided I travel back to current time when I arrive at "home", yes I would. The monetary value of such a possession would be enticing enough to do so.

[apokatastasis 7]

I expected at least a decent moral dilemma to be presented that would require some level of thought or at least had a degree of grayness.

 

But my immediate and only answer is no, I would not. If I would not steal someone's wallet in current times even if I had some guarantee I wouldn't get caught, why would I do it in the past?

 

Really, I don't see how this is a particularly involving ethical question at all :/

[PlunderSteed 1,251]

I expected at least a decent moral dilemma to be presented that would require some level of thought or at least had a degree of grayness.

 

But my immediate and only answer is no, I would not. If I would not steal someone's wallet in current times even if I had some guarantee I wouldn't get caught, why would I do it in the past?

 

Really, I don't see how this is a particularly involving ethical question at all :/

 

Good analysis, Buzz Killington. This is why we can't have nice things! I kind of assumed that the OP was just joking around, and didn't actually expect people to seriously debate the ethics of stealing HItler's wallet. I could be wrong.

[Whiteshade 1,426]

No, because I hold myself to higher moral standards than our friend Adolf here. Also I'm not going to provoke a man already fueled with hate, in fact if I could I'd try to lessen it (maybe try to get him into that art school, would be a smart idea no?).

[apokatastasis 7]

Good analysis, Buzz Killington. This is why we can't have nice things! I kind of assumed that the OP was just joking around, and didn't actually expect people to seriously debate the ethics of stealing HItler's wallet. I could be wrong.

 

Unless it is fairly obvious something is a joke, I don't tend to assume it is one. Sorry if the OP was just trying to have a bit of fun. That's never been one of my strong points.