The ethics of reporting bad behaviour
Your neighbour's house doesn't have a driveway or a garage and, like you, she parks on the street. You have seen her routinely washing her new car using a hose without a nozzle in the street. This is in breach of the local rules for the conservation of water during what has been a severe drought.
When approached by you about this matter, your neighbour is dismissive of your concerns and asks you to mind your own business.
Later that evening, see an advertisement on television from the local water authority asking people to 'dob in' those who are breaching water restrictions.
Ethical questions:
- What are the issues?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What should you do?
- What would you do?
Leave your comments below.
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Comments
Issues:
The more water that is used for non-essential purposes during a drought, the greater the restrictions in future for everyone.
The appearance of a car (a clean car) is unrelated to anyone's benefit, apart from the ego of the owner/washer or driver. Ego building has no ethical value.
There is value in having a good relationship with one's neighbours. But a good (mutually beneficial) relationship does not exist in reality if one person believes the other implements actions which are counter to their own benefit or value system.
Annoying a neighbour can cause future difficulties. However, this presupposes the neighbour takes future actions which are unpleasant - this may not happen.
Reporting the issue may provide a valuable lesson to the neighbour and others, which may make them make their future behaviour more beneficial to the community.
Waste water plus detergent or washing chemicals go down the road drain and add to the pollution of the local waterways.
Stakeholders:
Oneself.
The neighbour.
The populace who have water restrictions imposed on them by the local council.
People in general.
The environment. Including the creatures that depend upon the dam water for thier existence.
Should do: Report the neighbour because the benefit to the neighbour is non-existant, while the negative consequences of wasting water is more serious to more people.
Would do: I would report the neighbour.
Posted: 3 March 2010 - 7:53pm — Airzone
The issues: Individual rights versus the common good. Do we uphold the rights of individuals to make their own choices - whether we agree with them or not. Is it an act of a good citizen to do something about this breach of local water restrictions or simply a busy body with has no authority. I like having the freedom to decide for myself so do I have the right to curtail that freedom for someone else, or is it simply a consequence of the decision made by the neighbour if I "dob". Do I have a responsibility to take action or is it up to the authorities to implement their own rules? Are the rules really effective or simply a bit of spin to make it look like something is being done to deal with the drought? Whose set of values has the most value?
Stakeholders: Me and my family, neighbour,community, environment, future generations
Should do: As a responsible citizen of the local community I should probably report the neighbour for breaching local water conservation rules as well as taking a stand for the environment and furture generations (assuming the information available to us is correct)
What would I do - struggle with what I should do!!!
Posted: 11 March 2010 - 8:03pm — Libby 1