What would you do with $1000?
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 | 4 votes (13.33%) | ||
| | 26 votes (86.66%) |
30 members have voted
July 18th, 2011 at 3:48:37 AM
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I do not like to boast about doing the right thing/ a good deed, but I am beating myself up about something. Today while working at the card room I work at, I found a $1,000 chip from a card room in San Jose, CA under a table near a seat from a player I was selling chips to. For about 30 seconds I thought about all the things $1,000 could do for me; pay off debt, go on that nice vacation, go towards getting an apartment so my spouse and I could finally live together (whenever he gets a job, but thats another story). In the end I decided that if I gave the money back to the player I would be condemned to being broke longer, but if I kept it my conscious would drive me mad, (like the tell tale heart). I thought about the saying, finders keepers, but I decided to give it back. To do this I first asked the player that was closest if he ever played at that particular card room, he said yes. Then I asked if he had any chips in his pocket from that place, and he said yes a $1,000 one. It was his so I gave it back. My reward for giving it back? A lousy $10. 1% of the amount. In all reality, I should not be rewarded for returning someone's lost money, but at the same time I keep thinking about all the things a grand could do for me (and I am a 25 year old guy who would qualify as being below the poverty line and I do have a B.A but cannot find a living wage paying job, but I am lucky enough to be able to stay with my parents & in laws so the peanuts I make working just covers my basic living expenses minus any rent )
Now for this poll, put your self in my position; you make $10 an hour, and get $20 a day in tips (on a good day). Did I turn away a gift from the gods, or was I being tested by them to see how pure my soul is? (and I am not a religious person, I only mean "gods" in poetic sense).
Now for this poll, put your self in my position; you make $10 an hour, and get $20 a day in tips (on a good day). Did I turn away a gift from the gods, or was I being tested by them to see how pure my soul is? (and I am not a religious person, I only mean "gods" in poetic sense).
July 18th, 2011 at 4:47:41 AM
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If, as you explained in your post, you were sure of the owner's identity, then returning it was the correct move. Besides, you got off cheap to retain a clear conscience! Well done - Karma should pay dividends in the future.
July 18th, 2011 at 5:44:03 AM
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I agree with your actions; a clear conscious is worth more than a grand.
July 18th, 2011 at 6:35:49 AM
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A 25 year old Friend of Dorothy is going to be losing his own. $1000 chips under a poker table in five years. It gets better! And sooner that you think.
Someday, joor goin' to see the name of Googie Gomez in lights and joor goin' to say to joorself, "Was that her?" and then joor goin' to answer to joorself, "That was her!" But you know somethin' mister? I was always her yuss nobody knows it! - Googie Gomez
July 18th, 2011 at 7:29:42 AM
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I'd be awfully tempted to keep it, too.
BTW next time you may want to casually bring up the fact that a finder's fee is 15%.
BTW next time you may want to casually bring up the fact that a finder's fee is 15%.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 18th, 2011 at 2:23:06 PM
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It's not just the "clear conscience"; by keeping it, you run the risk, however small, that the person who lost it will come looking for it and, in the end, you will be accused of having stolen it (even if "stealing" just means that you found it and didn't do everything in your power to look for the person who lost it). You never know when a picture of you pocketing the chip might turn up on a "random" camera.
July 18th, 2011 at 3:25:36 PM
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July 18th, 2011 at 3:26:23 PM
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Considering that you would be committing a crime by keeping it, yeah, giving it back was the right thing to do. People go to jail for pocketing $5 chips they find on the floor in casinos, as well as taking paper slot receipts that aren't theirs. Keeping a 1K chip might be a felony where you live, and you have no idea if a camera saw you pick it up. Keeping it was never an option.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
July 18th, 2011 at 3:30:20 PM
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Quote: NareedI'd be awfully tempted to keep it, too.
BTW next time you may want to casually bring up the fact that a finder's fee is 15%.
That would probably be the last tip you ever got from that patron.
it's not even a consideration for me... if I know whose the property is, it's getting returned, and I don't expect anything for doing the right thing. If I don't know, I take it to the pit boss or security and hand it in.
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
July 18th, 2011 at 3:31:42 PM
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July 18th, 2011 at 3:35:27 PM
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Regardless of legality or parking lot fisticuffs, you did good. $1,000 for anybody, while a good bit of change, burns easy. 25 yrs old? College debt? Unemployed spouse? Probably gone within a week, right? And how long would you have felt bad about it? Probably well more than a week, I assume.
Had I caught you finding and returning it, I'd have shouted your name to the heavens, as I do with all of the very few selfless people I see on the job. And if you seen and recall my stereotypical demographic I posted - 20something men are the most likely to return lost items of value. Thanks for validating my studies =D
Had I caught you finding and returning it, I'd have shouted your name to the heavens, as I do with all of the very few selfless people I see on the job. And if you seen and recall my stereotypical demographic I posted - 20something men are the most likely to return lost items of value. Thanks for validating my studies =D
The opinions of this moderator are for entertainment purposes only.
July 18th, 2011 at 3:39:23 PM
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July 18th, 2011 at 4:22:46 PM
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Quote: gofaster87Really? that's quite interesting.
Indeed. Keep in mind it's nothing official. I'm just a dude doing a job that has an interest in human behavior, so I keep boredom away by doing stupid stuff like this demographic study. I haven't consulted some grand study or perused massive amounts of textbooks, it's basically just a compilation my own observations into a stereotype list. No big deal, but it's kind of nice to see that I may be on to something.
The opinions of this moderator are for entertainment purposes only.
July 18th, 2011 at 4:41:32 PM
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Quote: thecesspitThat would probably be the last tip you ever got from that patron.
Mabe, maybe not. At places where employees work for tips some hustling is to be expected.
Then again the guy tipped a measly $10, so who knows.
Quote:it's not even a consideration for me... if I know whose the property is, it's getting returned, and I don't expect anything for doing the right thing. If I don't know, I take it to the pit boss or security and hand it in.
I said I'd be tempted, not that I'd keep it.
I might also have left it where it was and pretended not to notice. Why? These days when picking up an abandoned joint to hand over to the authorities, can get you charged with possesion of drugs, who knows when picking up a stray chip, even if in order to return it, migth get you charged with larceny.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 18th, 2011 at 5:08:14 PM
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Quote: Nareedabandoned joint to hand over to the authorities
If that's the case smoke it, and happy 420
July 18th, 2011 at 5:34:18 PM
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Quote: NareedMabe, maybe not. At places where employees work for tips some hustling is to be expected.
Then again the guy tipped a measly $10, so who knows.
Jeez... I think 10 bucks is generous.
Quote:
I said I'd be tempted, not that I'd keep it.
I might also have left it where it was and pretended not to notice. Why? These days when picking up an abandoned joint to hand over to the authorities, can get you charged with possesion of drugs, who knows when picking up a stray chip, even if in order to return it, migth get you charged with larceny.
As the poster works in the casino, I suspect he'd be okay anyways.
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
July 18th, 2011 at 5:45:25 PM
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Quote: thecesspitJeez... I think 10 bucks is generous.
If I lost my purse, with $1,000 in it, and you returned it to me, I'd insist on buying you a drink or coffee or something worth less than $10 bucks, most likely. If a casino employee returned it, I'd tip him at least $20, at the very least, more likely $50 or so. And who knows, if he's cute and looks smart I might buy him a drink, too ;)
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 18th, 2011 at 5:52:48 PM
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I would keep it. Its a tough world out there.
Ken
Ken
July 18th, 2011 at 6:01:21 PM
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Quote: mrjjjI would keep it. Its a tough world out there.
Ken
I don't suppose your a thin man, 45-55 yrs old? Honesty appreciated, although this is the internet. ;)
The opinions of this moderator are for entertainment purposes only.
July 18th, 2011 at 6:08:24 PM
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Quote: FaceI don't suppose your a thin man, 45-55 yrs old? Honesty appreciated, although this is the internet. ;)
I know this is the internet, thanks. This means what?
Ken
July 18th, 2011 at 6:10:34 PM
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It's an amazing world out there. But the most amazing thing is the believe that this creation has no creator. Against the most odds in the universe, this believe is widely held. It has been postulated, I believe by an aquaintance of Hawking, that the odds are greator than all the number of atoms, yes atoms, known in this vast universe. Just commenting on the OP's non religious view, no more, no less. Tough world indeed!
When a rock is thrown into a pack of dogs, the one that yells the loudest is the one who got hit.
July 18th, 2011 at 6:33:18 PM
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Quote: mrjjjI know this is the internet, thanks. This means what?
Ken
My study I spoke about earlier. Since you said you'd take the $1,000, that means, according to my study, that you have a higher chance of being a thin male, aged 45-55, and a better than average probabilty that you're a smoker. There's no set-up here, I'm not poking fun or trying to jive you, I'm just curious to see how close my study is to reality. Since the OP fits exactly where my chart says he should, I was curious where you fell as that would further validate my findings. I'd appreciate an honest answer, but no biggie if you don't want to.
The opinions of this moderator are for entertainment purposes only.
July 18th, 2011 at 7:51:07 PM
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Quote: FaceMy study I spoke about earlier. Since you said you'd take the $1,000, that means, according to my study, that you have a higher chance of being a thin male, aged 45-55, and a better than average probabilty that you're a smoker. There's no set-up here, I'm not poking fun or trying to jive you, I'm just curious to see how close my study is to reality. Since the OP fits exactly where my chart says he should, I was curious where you fell as that would further validate my findings. I'd appreciate an honest answer, but no biggie if you don't want to.
(lol).....Ok, 15 lbs over, non smoker and I'm 42. You must be an AP guy.
Ken
July 18th, 2011 at 8:02:30 PM
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Good for you for getting it back to the owner.
I dropped $ 2 at a casino bar a few weeks ago, and a lady
walking by saw it and picked it up and gave it to me. I don't
know that she saw it was only a couple of dollars. It could
have been a couple of hundred dollar bills and I think she would have
done the same thing ( it was clearly my money, she saw it fall
out of my pocket ).
I've also been the recipient of this kind of honesty a couple of
other times, and I intend to do the right thing when I am on the
other side.
I dropped $ 2 at a casino bar a few weeks ago, and a lady
walking by saw it and picked it up and gave it to me. I don't
know that she saw it was only a couple of dollars. It could
have been a couple of hundred dollar bills and I think she would have
done the same thing ( it was clearly my money, she saw it fall
out of my pocket ).
I've also been the recipient of this kind of honesty a couple of
other times, and I intend to do the right thing when I am on the
other side.
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
July 18th, 2011 at 8:03:06 PM
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ps:
I think a tip of $ 20 to $ 50 would have been in order.
I think a tip of $ 20 to $ 50 would have been in order.
There's emptiness behind their eyes
There's dust in all their hearts
They just want to steal us all and take us all apart
July 18th, 2011 at 10:42:14 PM
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My conscious is clear about money in casinos. If the dealer overpays or does not take a winning bet, I keep my mouth shut. As for places like supermarkets or regular business, I always give back if they overpay me.
Now we come to the $1000 question. What to do about finding money/chips is a casino. You did the right thing giving it back to the owner.
Question, does it make a difference how much reward you got? You were upset at a $10 reward pointing out it was only 1%. if you knew this would you have given it back?
Would you let fate decide as all things are in a casino? Make a $1000 wager on roulette and if you win give the original 1k back and if you lose, it wasn't meant to happen.
Third, keep the chip.
The truth is all are right and all are wrong. In this case there are no right or wrong answer.
Now we come to the $1000 question. What to do about finding money/chips is a casino. You did the right thing giving it back to the owner.
Question, does it make a difference how much reward you got? You were upset at a $10 reward pointing out it was only 1%. if you knew this would you have given it back?
Would you let fate decide as all things are in a casino? Make a $1000 wager on roulette and if you win give the original 1k back and if you lose, it wasn't meant to happen.
Third, keep the chip.
The truth is all are right and all are wrong. In this case there are no right or wrong answer.
Edward Snowden is not the criminal, the government is for violating the constitution!
July 19th, 2011 at 7:20:00 AM
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Quote: JohnnyQps:
I think a tip of $ 20 to $ 50 would have been in order.
Yes, indeed. Doesn't $10 sound really low?
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 19th, 2011 at 7:25:04 AM
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July 19th, 2011 at 7:40:07 AM
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Yes you did the right thing.
Of course, because it was so easily proven who the owner was, it would have been hard to consider the alternative.
Had it been a mere red or green chip, from that casino, it would have been a different story, with a much more difficult decision.
And the fact that it was from a different casino made it FAR easier to identify the owner.
$10 tip? Yeah, that seems cheap, except... You were working at the time.
What's the "Finger's keepers" rule in your casino? If this had been a chip found in an open area where the owner is unknown, would you then be allowed to keep it? I'm assuming not, and that maybe that person took that into account.
Or maybe he's not the tipping type, and felt that this is an exception.
You were an employee, doing your job and doing the right thing, and avoiding anything that could get you fired. A $10 tip might be entirely appropriate.
On the other hand, if it was merely another gambler that returned the chip, a $10 reward is way too cheap.
Did you notice that subtle distinction?
You got a tip. Another patron would have gotten a reward.
But I still agree that $10 was cheap.
Of course, because it was so easily proven who the owner was, it would have been hard to consider the alternative.
Had it been a mere red or green chip, from that casino, it would have been a different story, with a much more difficult decision.
That wasn't an option, since the chip was from a different casino.Quote: AceCrAAckersWould you let fate decide as all things are in a casino? Make a $1000 wager on roulette and if you win give the original 1k back and if you lose, it wasn't meant to happen.
And the fact that it was from a different casino made it FAR easier to identify the owner.
$10 tip? Yeah, that seems cheap, except... You were working at the time.
What's the "Finger's keepers" rule in your casino? If this had been a chip found in an open area where the owner is unknown, would you then be allowed to keep it? I'm assuming not, and that maybe that person took that into account.
Or maybe he's not the tipping type, and felt that this is an exception.
You were an employee, doing your job and doing the right thing, and avoiding anything that could get you fired. A $10 tip might be entirely appropriate.
On the other hand, if it was merely another gambler that returned the chip, a $10 reward is way too cheap.
Did you notice that subtle distinction?
You got a tip. Another patron would have gotten a reward.
But I still agree that $10 was cheap.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
July 19th, 2011 at 7:52:17 AM
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Quote: gofaster87Actually what you have just written sounds like most of the AP VP players I run into.
Call it what you will. I answered honestly, as usual.
Ken
July 19th, 2011 at 2:26:50 PM
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Question for the OP, what would you do if the guy said "no, i didn't play here at all"? What if the first three guys said no? At what magic number would you say "Oh well, I tried" and keep the money, or would you give it to the casino if you couldn't find the owner?
July 19th, 2011 at 3:12:07 PM
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The thing was is that is was on the ground pretty close to where he was sitting at the poker table. I don't know why people don't cash out their chips before they leave, it seems pretty stupid to hold on to a thousand dollar chip. If no one that was sitting at the poker table had claimed to have a chip it would have put into a tougher dilemma. Do I turn it in to security/ shift manager where I know it is either going to sit for all eternity,or do I keep it? That chip would have looked really nice on my 63 chip display foam board! The tip/reward was fair, I shouldn't be greedy. I have been a bit bummed for the last few days thinking about all the ways 1K could help me out, but I have moved on. I found it, figured out who it belonged to and returned it. If I was in a similar situation I think I would have given the honest person $100, but that is just me. Perhaps in todays miserable world if I can make another person happy that is all the reward I need (ugh this sounds so cheesy).
July 19th, 2011 at 5:37:51 PM
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You did the right thing. It is nothing to kick yourself over. I applaud you.
As for not cashing out, it could be that it would put the player over the $10k reporting level, or perhaps he didn't want to carry another 20 or 30 hundred dollar bills, when two or three $1k chips are easier to tote?
As for not cashing out, it could be that it would put the player over the $10k reporting level, or perhaps he didn't want to carry another 20 or 30 hundred dollar bills, when two or three $1k chips are easier to tote?
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
July 22nd, 2011 at 2:04:12 PM
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Quote: mrjjjCall it what you will. I answered honestly, as usual.
Ken
Thanks for the honesty.
(I'm not AP)
The opinions of this moderator are for entertainment purposes only.
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:10:25 PM
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I think what you did was the right thing. You were faced with 2 options and you chose honesty over financial gain.
I do have to say that I was taken aback a little by the fact that you complained about a $10 reward. He didn't have to give you anything, as it was his money. It's better to do a good deed for the sake of wanting to do it than wanting to gain something from it.Quote: thecesspitI don't expect anything for doing the right thing.
OFFICIALLY and justifiably reclaimed my title as SuperHotBlonde!
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:26:59 PM
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Quote: HotBlondeI do have to say that I was taken aback a little by the fact that you complained about a $10 reward. He didn't have to give you anything, as it was his money.
If it had been you getting the $1K chip back, would you have tipped the OP and, if so, how much?
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:33:00 PM
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Quote: HotBlondeI think what you did was the right thing. You were faced with 2 options and you chose honesty over financial gain.
Quote: thecesspitI don't expect anything for doing the right thing.
I do have to say that I was taken aback a little by the fact that you complained about a $10 reward. He didn't have to give you anything, as it was his money. It's better to do a good deed for the sake of wanting to do it than wanting to gain something from it.
I assume the -you- above isn't the me you are directly replying to, as I agree... do the good deed for the sake of it, and well, doing the right thing is how I was raised.
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:36:26 PM
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No, it wasn't you, the comment was meant for NicksGamingStuff. I used your quote to agree with you.Quote: thecesspitI assume the -you- above isn't the me you are directly replying to, as I agree... do the good deed for the sake of it, and well, doing the right thing is how I was raised.
OFFICIALLY and justifiably reclaimed my title as SuperHotBlonde!
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:39:06 PM
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Quote: HotBlondeNo, it wasn't you, the comment was meant for NicksGamingStuff. I used your quote to agree with you.
No worries. I was confused and thought I might have missed out on a tip...
"Then you can admire the real gambler, who has neither eaten, slept, thought nor lived, he has so smarted under the scourge of his martingale, so suffered on the rack of his desire for a coup at trente-et-quarante" - Honore de Balzac, 1829
July 22nd, 2011 at 3:40:13 PM
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Quote: HotBlonde
I do have to say that I was taken aback a little by the fact that you complained about a $10 reward. He didn't have to give you anything, as it was his money. It's better to do a good deed for the sake of wanting to do it than wanting to gain something from it.
I agree. In fact, I think the tip should have been refused. Then if an offer of somthing like a drink was made, it could be accepted.
July 22nd, 2011 at 6:11:05 PM
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July 22nd, 2011 at 6:18:36 PM
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Quote: matildaI agree. In fact, I think the tip should have been refused. Then if an offer of somthing like a drink was made, it could be accepted.
A service worker who's expected to be tipped, like Nick, should never refuse a tip. After all, that's the large part of where his income comes from.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 22nd, 2011 at 6:24:40 PM
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Quote: NareedA service worker who's expected to be tipped, like Nick, should never refuse a tip. After all, that's the large part of where his income comes from.
I agree if he offered the service. Here he only did the "right" thing and returned a persons property.
July 22nd, 2011 at 8:02:30 PM
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Quote: matildaI agree if he offered the service. Here he only did the "right" thing and returned a persons property.
And that's a service. Not the service he usually performs, but a service just the same.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 22nd, 2011 at 11:03:42 PM
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I would have given a tip but probably just because it was something that would've been expected of me by society and I would've felt bad and guilty if I didn't. I'd probably feel like giving him $50 but would probably feel better if I gave him $100. If I found someone's wallet and returned it I would want to do it cuz I would want the guy to have his wallet back.Quote: NareedIf it had been you getting the $1K chip back, would you have tipped the OP and, if so, how much?
An even better question is would someone be more likely to give someone their money back if they knew ahead of time they would get no financial gain from it?
I disagree with this. It wasn't a service but a gesture.Quote: NareedAnd that's a service. Not the service he usually performs, but a service just the same.
OFFICIALLY and justifiably reclaimed my title as SuperHotBlonde!
July 23rd, 2011 at 2:40:15 AM
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(double post sorry)
July 23rd, 2011 at 2:40:17 AM
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I do agree that a tip should not be expected, but it is a nice gesture to reward someone for their honesty. I do believe that I would have like him to have offered a larger tip, I am not sure if I would have accepted $100, $10 in the end does seem appropriate. At the time I was still in "shock" thinking of all the things I could have done with $1,000 ( an amount my checking account rarely sees!) But the right thing is always the best thing to do, even if most people disagree (most of the coworkers I told about finding the chip said I should have kept it). About HotBlondes post regarding people giving back money if they would get financial gain, people could return money to maybe get financial gain, or keep the money and be guaranteed financial gain, so therefore people who return it probably are doing the right thing regardless of financial gain.
July 23rd, 2011 at 7:04:21 AM
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a related question is that if he had kept the chip, would he be able to cash it in? Don't casinos keep track of their large chips and require you to show how you got it? Are poker chips like roulette chips and are worthless away from the table?
July 23rd, 2011 at 8:02:27 AM
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Quote: HotBlondeI would have given a tip but probably just because it was something that would've been expected of me by society and I would've felt bad and guilty if I didn't.
Absent social expectations, would you have tipped him?
Quote:I disagree with this. It wasn't a service but a gesture.
Everything a service worker does on the job for a customer is a service. That doesn't mean you tip them when they say hi, or return a pen you dropped, but for more valuable services, like returning lost money, you should tip.
One time I left a pack of gum behind at the supermarket. The bag boy ran after me all the way to the parking lot to return it. i tipped him more than the gum was worth, because it's really good service to do things like that.
Donald Trump is a fucking criminal
July 23rd, 2011 at 9:42:26 AM
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I probably would not have wanted to.Quote: NareedAbsent social expectations, would you have tipped him?
NicksGamingStuff did what he did as a person, not as an employee. That's why I'm saying what he did was a gesture, not a service.Quote: NareedEverything a service worker does on the job for a customer is a service. That doesn't mean you tip them when they say hi, or return a pen you dropped, but for more valuable services, like returning lost money, you should tip.
One time I left a pack of gum behind at the supermarket. The bag boy ran after me all the way to the parking lot to return it. i tipped him more than the gum was worth, because it's really good service to do things like that.
OFFICIALLY and justifiably reclaimed my title as SuperHotBlonde!
