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Question: Is buying a Wii to resell it immoral!?
I got up early one morning a few months ago and bought a Wii!. There was a family there blatantly buying multiple Wiis to resell, and ever since then I've thought about this in two ways:
1!. They suck!. Why don't they stop making things difficult for other people and do something productive with their lives!?
2!. I suck!. Why haven't I been making easy 30% profits like they are!? People are selling Wiis no matter what I do, and by staying out of the game, all I'm doing is letting them get the all the profits!.
So, what do you think is the correct philosophical approach to this!? I have some background in philosophy, but it's more related to political science and citizenship!. I'm curious what resources other people would turn to in order to answer this specific question of self-interest vs common good!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Very few people actually perform an action that they believe to be morally wrong, they justify their actions through reasoning!. Often people justify their actions after making the decision
They could justify their actions by supposing that people who can afford to pay 30% extra for a Wii ought to, or that people who get there first are more deserving than the lazy or stupid people who didn't, or that the benefits (happiness, education to do well in a capitalist world) to their family is more important to them than the happiness of the children of others!.
You can justify your non-action by supposing that people don't have time to get there early, that capitalizing on the anguish of other parents is a bad thing, that the retail price is a fair one and it would be unfair to charge more, or that the guilt you will feel is not worth the profits you will make!.
In grey areas the moral choice depends entirely on how you justify your actions!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
The stores selling Wiis are doing the exact same thing!. They buy them, increase the price, then resell them!. The same is true of almost everything you buy!.
The resellers' contribution, such as it is, is the facilitation of the purchase by the next buyer!. There are people who, for whatever reason, cannot buy a Wii from the same source as this family, so they're willing to pay extra to buy the Wii by a more convenient method!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I would say that it's wrong to hurt other people in an effort to get more money!.
I have a Wii that I purchased two months before Christmas and I could have re-sold it and made a good profit, however I have enough money and if I needed more money I could find other more ethical ways to get it!.
I believe that everything we do that is wrong will incur greater punishment from God!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
It sounds like you have a slight moral problem!. Specifically, it sounds like you want someone to tell you "Go do it!" "Be like the others who buy cheap and rip us off like the oil companies and others do!." Well I say, don't do it!. If you have a Wii and don't like it try something new!. Give it to a poor family!. Or have a raffle in which the profits go to a charity!. If you want to get in on the money pool try Tupperware parties or something even kinkyer!. Or just try mystery shopping!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Try not to compare yourself to others, especially strangers!. If you think that what you're doing is right, then that's what you should be doing!. You can't help what other people do, but you can help what you do, and maybe by doing so you may lead by example!. The only person who knows what is right for you is you!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
1 and 2 are immoral!.
1!. is resentment and jealousy for their actions!.
2!. is greed and the willingness to do whatever is necessary for financial gain!.
Jealousy and greed are generally condemned in all moral codes in the modern world!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
It's not immoral!. It's capitalism!. I suppose you could argue that the entire capitalist system is immoral, but our economy is based on looking out for yourself over other people!. Kill or be killed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
If that is immoral, then all merchants are immoral!.
Oh wait!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Um!.!.!.You're making a mountain out of a pile of-!.!.!.Air!. Yes, Air is the word!.
You had paid for what you bought, and morally it would be the correct thing to sell it for that very price!.
But I doubt it's really that morally offensive if you raised the price!. It's hard to find a sense of good and evil in economy, as it is not a matter of right and wrong!. The buyer purchases it at their own choice, whilst most likely being under the impression they could purchase the same object for less money!.
It's just not a matter of morals!. You should be asking if it is the smart thing to do, not the right thing to do!.
Now, if you want to be charitable, give it to someone who needs it!. But that is just your decision!.Www@QuestionHome@Com