major moral dilema....

mattyfez

mattyfez

mattyfez

Soldato
Joined
12 Apr 2007
Posts
12,264
This should produce some interesting replies..


I have a very good friend, who is seriously considering stopping work simply because he can. he lives with a partner currently on maternaty leave and they have a child together, and I dont belive she plans to go back to work either.

As a tax payer this obviously angers me somwhat, because of thier situation they will be doing quite nicely on benefits, my bugbear is that we could all follow suit, and our social, health and education systems would collapse.

My friend is very intelectual, but his basic reason for doing this, is simply because he can. Me on the other hand, I belive in a democratic system, and I belive that all the little mundane jobs contribute to the comfort we all live in.

He has basicly told me what he plans to do, and with him being a really good friend and a great person, I have not really been forthcomming with my views, as to be honest, I think its shamefull and an insult to everything I belive in, but this really is potentially friendship breaking stuff for me, as my ethics wont allow me to have the same relationship with him, which hurts as we have been really good friends for many years, and he will become a scrounger in my eyes, not only a scrounger but a drain on me and all other people who make an effort to keep our society in some kind of decent shape.

Whatt the hell do I do? tell him he is a waster and lose a really good friend?
 
If he's that good a friend Id tell him and let rip. If he's intellectual like you say then he will see your side of the argument. I think he might find with a new baby that benefits dont go that far, but I guess it depends on what kind of lifestyle he's acustomed too.

Also I think most people would get bored of sitting around not doing anything, even if they are getting paid for it.
 
He has a full time job, but he may be getting made redundant, and he has said (due to his circumstance) that he is not going to bother trying to get another job as he cant be arsed basicly...
 
J.B said:
If he's that good a friend Id tell him and let rip. If he's intellectual like you say then he will see your side of the argument. I think he might find with a new baby that benefits dont go that far, but I guess it depends on what kind of lifestyle he's acustomed too.

Also I think most people would get bored of sitting around not doing anything, even if they are getting paid for it.
Click to expand...


Thats the thing, he seems happy t survive on pretty much nothing, as long as he has internet and food in the fridge....thats about as far as his asperations seem to go....

Maybe ill just have to be honest and tell him he is dead to me.
 
Morally your friend hasn't got a leg to stand on.

Personally I'd point out the draw backs to his plan, namely the economic crisis that's about to hit the real economy, and therefore government revenues very hard. And a likely conservative government in the next few years who have already promised to cut spending, on top of all the money the current government is borrowing that they'll have to pay back.

Basically, cuts in benefits and a massive increase in unemployment are a certainty now. Your friend might find that in the near future he can't enjoy the lifestyle he is expecting, and with a history of unemployment, he might find getting a job in a labour buyers market quite difficult. He should get a job now and hope he doesn't lose it.
 
Let rip and tell him what you think. If he is a good friend and intellectual then he should respect what you are saying.

But whatever you do don't go and tell the DWP, he is a mate after all :).
 
Moses99p said:
Is it not possible to say that he's merely making the most of a flawed system. If what he is planning on doing is "wrong" then we need to fix the system...

Not that I agree with choosing to go on benefits, but meh.
Click to expand...

Absolutley, and that forms the basis of his position. yes the system needs to be changed, but in the meantime, do I cut off one of my longtime best friends?
 
theres a few more reasons.
Currently lack of decent stable work in certain areas, is there anything to suite him?
If he could make do on benefits and his redundancy and have a better quality of life than he otherwise would with a crap job why would he take the crap job?
I know which id choose, until a job which actually had a real wage(greater than benefits) came along.
 
peetee said:
theres a few more reasons.
Currently lack of decent stable work in certain areas, is there anything to suite him?
If he could make do on benefits and his redundancy and have a better quality of life than he otherwise would with a crap job why would he take the crap job?
I know which id choose, until a job which actually had a real wage(greater than benefits) came along.
Click to expand...

Thats my point, good jobs dont "come along" you have to persue a good job, make a concious effort to get one, through training and/or experience.
The job fairy isn't going to knock on your door and offer you a 6 figure salary.

That is what makes my blood boil, I have worked hard (outside my employment) to better myself in my employment, only to find some people think they are entitled to my highertax contribution just because of a flawed system. just because they dont want to make any effort.

To answer you question though, yes there are lots of jobs around here that he could do, this is simply a free meal ticket, the guy has not even been laid off yet, its not even a certainty.

It's the attitude that I dont abide by.
 
Last edited:
brummie said:
i have failed to see this. You disagree with what someone else chooses to do? There's no dilemma, it's life.
Click to expand...

If you had taken the time to read the post, this guy is a really good long time friend, and I am contemplating just telling him straight that I think he is a scrounger and I dont want any more to do with him.
 
brummie said:
i have failed to see this. You disagree with what someone else chooses to do? There's no dilemma, it's life.
Click to expand...

The dilemma is what the OP should do about it. His friend may be about to do something that is, frankly, morally reprehensible. Does he make his displeasure known or does he risk his friendship by tell his friend what he thinks. You HAVE failed to see this.

Personally, I say let rip. If you can't be completely open and honest about something so fundamental, what use is his friendship?
 
Nexy said:
The dilemma is what the OP should do about it. His friend may be about to do something that is, frankly, morally reprehensible. Does he make his displeasure known or does he risk his friendship by tell his friend what he thinks. You HAVE failed to see this.

Personally, I say let rip. If you can't be completely open and honest about something so fundamental, what use is his friendship?
Click to expand...

I failed nothing. Its not morally wrong to go on the dole for some people, it make financial sense sometimes. If thats what he chooses who are you to judge them?
 
At last a reply with some logical reasoning!

You are correct, maybe I am just weak, I should just tell him straight, I dont want the friendship to end but it looks like its going to, afterall, what is a person if they have no ethics.
 
mattyfez said:
At last a reply with some logical reasoning!

You are correct, maybe I am just weak, I should just tell him straight, I dont want the friendship to end but it looks like its going to, afterall, what is a person if they have no ethics.
Click to expand...

He's recieving benefits, WOW THATS WORSE THAN MURDER

Do you believe recieving financial help for a period of time (maybe a few months) is ethically wrong? Wow, you must be a really odd person !!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom