Yesterday we are playing golf at Verandah and the guy I am playing with hits an awful shot into someones back yard. It is not "out of bounds" because there are no white stakes at Verandah, so technically, anything is "in play." Anyway, we found the ball and the guy could take a swing. I did not want the guy to play from some one's back yard, so I told him he could take a free drop (no penalty) so that he was not hitting out of the back yard and he said to me, "I don't think the owner is home." In other words, he would play it from where it lays and only take a drop (and technically a penalty) if the owner can see him. The thought occurred to me that this guy knew it was wrong to be playing the ball from some one's back yard-- especially since I told him he could have a free drop -- but he would do it as long as he would not be caught. This guy was formerly a CFO of a very large and well known public company. I had to wonder what ELSE he did when no one is looking.
Today I was playing golf and hit the ball to the edge of a water hazard. The ball was actually partially in the water but I decided I could play it out, rather than take a one stroke penalty. Now technically you can not touch your club to the ground (ground your club) or touch the water when you are addressing the ball in the hazard. The guy I was playing with was Doug Bowers -- a real stickler for the rules. (To his credit I have to say that Doug also holds himself to a high standard when it comes to following the rules of golf.)
Anyway, I walked into the hazard and addressed the ball. I was obviously being careful not to touch the water. As I was addressing the ball I inadvertently grazed the bottom of the club to the water (barely enough to even cause a ripple). Before I actually swung at the ball Doug said, "That's a two-stroke penalty." He was right, but no one I play with would ever call a two stroke penalty for what I did, let alone do it before I had hit the ball. (The edicate (not a rule) in golf is that you call penalties on yourself and you don't talk when someone is addressing the ball. ) I made the saving shot and took an 8 (triple bogey) instead of the 6 (bogey). After the hole was over, I told Doug that it is a disadvantage to play with him (since no one else follows the rules as closely as he does). His response was "The rules are the rules" and while that is true, it is also true we are not playing in the PGA Championship and the other 25 guys in this league are not abiding by Doug's standards... So I AM disadvantaged by playing with him.
So here are two situations in two days on the golf course that are kind of similar. In the first situation I GAVE the man a free drop (even though he is not entitled) and he choose to do the wrong thing (because no one was watching and he could get away with it.) I think I was "doing right" by offering the free drop (even though technically it was not allowed.) HE was being right (not touching or moving the ball) and doing wrong (by hitting the ball from some one's back yard.)
In the second situation, I called a two stroke penalty on myself primarily because Doug WAS watching and I could not get away with NOT calling myself on it. Doug was technically correct that I had made an infraction, but I think he was "wrong" in calling me on it before I had hit the ball or declared my score. If the roles were reversed I would not have called a penalty on Doug.
So what is my point? I guess the point is that the world does not work if we try to run it by rules alone. Rules and laws are broken and sometimes it is RIGHT to break the rules and sometimes it is WRONG. Judgements have to be made about right and wrong and when the rules should apply. The Japanese seem to have figured this out and the society runs very smoothly as a result. In many ways I wish Americans were more like the Japanese.
On my way home from golf today some guy in a white Lexus pulled out in front of me (from the Racetrack on Sandhill Road) and proceeded to do a u-turn in the middle of a Sandhill without using any turn signal. I was trying to pull into the car wash while he was doing his u-turn. He clearly made an illegal and dangerous move. If I was a cop, I would have pulled him over and ticketed him. Instead, I raised my two hands and shrugged my shoulders in a gesture of "what the hell are you doing?" Instead of a gesture of "I'm sorry", I was greeted with a middle finger. In the interest of social harmony, a Japanese would at least have said "I'm sorry" while making an illegal u-turn. But here people in the wrong have an "in your face" attitude. No wonder there is road rage and senseless violence in America.
Yoko and I are both amazed by how much American Christians talk about Jesus and God and then flip the bird to their neighbors. Is that was Christ was teaching? Screw thy neighbor before he screws you?
The other thing that got me thinking about the use of judgement and right and wrong is the case of Marion Jones, the Olympic athlete accused of using performance enhancing steroids. Did the judge that put Marion Jones in jail for six months do right by giving her such a severe sentence? Her reputation as an athlete is ruined and her endorsement career is ended. She lost five gold metals. What is the point of a six month jail sentence? How is it right that Marion Jones gets six months for lying about whether she took steroids and Scooter Libby, a high government official, gets no jail time for lying about whether he outed a CIA agent?
8 comments:
This is a great blog. Interestly enough I'm currently taking yet another Business Ethnics course where just these types of scenarios are questioned. And also interestingly enough I too was listening to NPR the other day when they were discussing Marion Jones and I had pretty much the same sentiment as you? In addition, what good does it do us tax payers to pay for that jail time? The justice system needs to spend more time keeping violent crimals in jail longer rather than putting someone like this behind bars. Its just all out of proportion. I don't know how that judge sleeps at night. It isn't any benefit to society to keep her in jail for 1 day, let alone 6 months.
Besides lying to the Feds, there was a charge of check fraud.
Hey Tom! I like your thoughts and questions as well. Ethics is a great debate topic! I always tell my kids, "Character is doing the right thing when no one is looking." Sounds like some of your golfing buddies didn't learn that adage. I felt bad for Marion as well. She will be made the example so other athletes will think before they make poor decisions. Clemons is in the limelight as to whether or not he used steroids. After seeing him interviewed, I don't believe he did. He keeps dishing out millions defending himself! Being famous can really have huge disadvantages!!
Tom, You are pulling me into the 21st Century. I was nervous about signing up for the Google account, which seemed to be required for participation in your Blog. (I already get tons of spam, and I'm suspicious anytime I need to give out my address) But I finally decided to "get over it" and jump in. This is my first ever post to a Blog site.
I'll just share my observation that emotions are highly contagious. The driver who flipped you the bird sends out waves of negative emotions that are easily repeated. American society doesn't have much of a positive emotional feedback mechanism for "good ethics." Do the Japanese have more in the way of positive feedback?
Man, you are really getting into the heavy stuff. In everyday life, I believe there are very few instances where the concept of right or wrong or good or bad is easily discernable. So many times the determination depends on the circumstances. I know this sounds like situational ethics, but absolutes seldom work in real life. Sometimes it is a matter of degrees. We can all agree that it is wrong to steal, but if your family is starving and you shoot a hog on someone else's property to feed them, are you wrong?
So many good comments! The Japanese maintain social harmony with good manners and ethical behavior.
I did not hear or understand that Marion Jones was passing bad checks...is that why she got six months??
I think we all know in our hearts what is "right" and what is "wrong"...it is not a set of rules or laws that tell us...it is our conscious.
“On January 11, 2008, Marion Jones was sentenced to 6 months in prison for perjury concerning her involvement in the check fraud case and her use of performance enhancing drugs. She has been ordered to surrender on 11 March to begin her jail term. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Karas admonished Ms. Jones in the courtroom, stating that she knew what she was doing and would be punished accordingly. "The offences here are serious. They each involve lies made three years apart," said Judge Karas, also adding that Jones' actions were "not a one-off mistake... but a repetition in an attempt to break the law." “
I am conflicted with these type of "white collar" sentences (she will probably only serve less than 1/2 the time in actuality). I think that a more appropriate sentence would be a couple of 1,000 hours of community service more appropriate. (But, then again, I'm also against jailing pot users, and advocate the de-criminalization of same)
Your comment on so-called Christians who constantly and self-righteously harp on their "Christianity" whilst doing all sorts on non-Christian acts is appalling. The old slogan "What Would Christ Do?" doesn't seem to stop many of them, if they even give it a moment's thought. I suspect that were Christ to come back for a visit, whole hosts of organized religions would cease to exist, and he would take to task those fundamentalist “leaders” for promoting hate and discrimination in his name.
Glad to hear that you’re doing well. The pictures came out great (you have to tell us which one you chose). I was able to go to the site and screen grab some of the shots and emailed them to Mom. Keep up the blog – it’s interesting to hear what’s going on.
PS- We got Paula’s invitation – it was SOOO cute!! Jessie did a great job.
PSS: Here is my take on the candidates, which is a sad commentary:
*The really, really old guy,
*The serial adulterer,
*The Baptist Minister,
*The Inexperienced One,
*The Guy who wears Holy Underwear and flip-flops,
*The old Actor from Law & Order,
*The Trial Lawyer,
*The Power Chaser
Did I miss anyone? What a freakin’ choice !!
Great topic and interesting comments. There isn't one answer that is absolute right or absolute wrong. The circumstances will color the situation and influences the decision. So much of the decision is perception. Even the ideas that are considered absolute. We don't condone killing and but there are circumstances that allow it.. as an extreme example. Letting your conscience be your guide is probably naive as the "sliding scale" of guilt or remorse varies with conscience. Marion Jones is a big girl, happy to take the money, the endorsements, the fame and made a decision to lie (I thought to a grand jury) I don't know about the check thing. The gamble was not to get caught. She did get caught and while I don't view her as a threat to society, there is a civil price to pay, not just a monetary one as with the endorsements. Scooter Libby, the dishonest government officials, wealthy/powerful athletes, corrupt bank/business execs should all be held to the same standard. Alas....
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