naoursla's Journal: A Question of Ethics

I have a few questions for the few people who read my journal.

1. Which statement best reflects your beliefs:
a) "Finders keepers, losers weepers."
b) "Finders returners."

2. If you lost something and saw someone else in possession of the item you lost (with 100% certainty that it actually is the item you lost), do you think it attempting to take it back would be socially correct behavior? If so, what types of behavior during the repossession would be justified?

3. Would it make a difference if the item had information on it that would have allowed the finder to locate you and return it?

4. Do you consider these belief to be part of your culture, and do you consider your culture to be American?

My answers

[naoursla]

1. Finders returners.
2. I would feel that the item was still mine. However, I don't know that would try to physically take the item. If I could prove the item was mine, I might try legal channels (I'm pretty sure that the laws sides with 1b -- although it might depend on local laws).
3. That would make me consider the finder a thief and I would probably confront them.
4. I've written about my personal situation on my blog [oursland.net]. One of my coworkers said the finder was probably part of a particular ethnic group (of