No, Honesty is not completely dead!
By Lindalinda
@Lindalinda (4111)
Canada
May 5, 2009 6:04pm CST
This is totally amazing. The City of Toronto in Canada has a population of 2.48 Million people, 5.5 Million if you count the greater area. The Toronto Star a local newspaper did an experiment 2 weeks ago. They outfitted 20 wallets with $ 43.77 (Two 20 dollar bills and change) a baby picture, a grocery list, some receipts and a contact phone number.Then they dropped these wallets in different places, bike paths, grocery stores, side walks, park benches, stores and libraries. How many do you think were returned ???. So far 17 wallets have been returned. All of them were intact, money and all except two. One was missing the two 20 dollar bills, the other was was found and returned without money. What I find most amusing is that one of the missing wallets was left in the library of the Law Society which is really only open to lawyers, law students, law clerks and judges.
Would you have believed so many wallets would be returned?
4 responses
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
6 May 09
I am not surprised at the honesty of most Canadians. The results would be about the same here in the U.S.A. However, having dealt with lawyers, I was not surprised at all at the missing money at the Library of the Law Society. The basis of modern law is that there is no right or wrong, only legal and illegal and that one is innocent until proven guilty. After being seeped in this philosophy for years, most lawyers become amoral. That means, if they are sure they won't get caught, they'll rob anyone blind.
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
6 May 09
I am very happy to see that most Canadians are basically still honest. I also think you are right you would have similar results in most places in the USA. Your comment on lawyers is very cynical. I hope not all of them become amoral. I find it rather amusing that in this case somebody who is supposed to be a pillar of society has been caught redhanded and is giving the whole profession a bad reputation (correction: a worse reputation) Oh, I know I know, it was probably the cleaning lady, haha.
Having had contact with quite a few lawyers during my working years and having had quite a few conversations with some lawyers I do know that a lot of them regard the winning or loosing of a case as an intellectual game that is won or lost.
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
6 May 09
More illumination concerning lawyers comes from these remarks a law student told me he was actually taught in class by the professor.
"When a client comes through your door, it does not matter if he is innocent or guilty. It only matters how much money can you make off him."
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
6 May 09
That is neat. I guess some of the people tried to be honest but they needed some moey also. I bet they wanted to return the personal items to the person who lost it too though.
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
6 May 09
I guess you are right. They wanted or needed the cash but they were still bothered by their concience and left the wallets where they were found by another person and returned. I think though the overall result was impressive.
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
6 May 09
I think that's a very impressive showing of honesty. 
Very refreshing. I wonder what the results would be in L.A. or New York.
Very refreshing. I wonder what the results would be in L.A. or New York.@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
6 May 09
To tell you the truth I was really surprised to see such a good turnout. I don't know what other cities would be like. I am usually down on Toronto because I always read about a lot of crime but really impressed me.
@derlilaStern (1756)
• United States
6 May 09
I really am not very surprised at all. I know that I would have returned the wallet - especially when it is easy to identify whose it is!
I worked a bank for a couple of years. There was one time when someone left $100 at the writing station. No one was around it. A person walked up and filled out a deposit slip. When they approached me to make the deposit, they handed me the $100 and told me that someone had left it there. They didnt know whose it was but they were sure that someone would be looking for it. This person could have walked away with an extra $100 in their pocket. No one would have known it was them. Only 1 person would have ever known the money was missing - the person who left it there. But the person who found the money did the honest thing.
I think there are a lot of people like that around. I think many people go by the theory 'I would want someone to turn it in if I lost it'. It really is the best way to go about life!
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
6 May 09
Yes, you are absolutely right. We should always do unto others what we wish others would do for us. I was really happy to see such a good turn out. Thanks for responding.
