Honestly, waitress returned $2,000

USA Today ^ | 09/19/03 | Staff Writer

[bedolido]

HANNIBAL, Mo. (AP)

[annyokie]

I found a $100 bill on the floor in Victoria's Secret once. I kept it.

[over3Owithabrain]

I like Talk like a Pirate day!

[RogerWilko]

Once I found a stack of credit cards, ID cards, drivers license, etc. in a supermarket parking lot. I located the guy met him and gave him his stuff back. He was wondering where his cash was (around $300 he said) and I said this is all I found. He actually offered me $50 for giving his stuff back, but I had a feeling he was thinking that I took his money!

I told him to keep the money, especially since he already lost $300. I would think after that, he would've realized I didn't take his money, otherwise, why would I have even wasted my time to return his stuff if I didn't hope to get some more cash out of the deal!?

[Porterville]

The state overpaid me 1050 dollars last month and I returned it... what is the big deal??? Only a dirt bag would keep something that wasn't theirs.

[Bonaparte]

"...she would just ignore it."

IMO, the right way to deal with a found wallet is to turn it over to police.

Let them take care of the rest.

[Rennes Templar]

I could have been the person who lost the money (ie anyone can lose money) and therefore am able, via vicarious assumption, to offer a reward. On the other hand, you could have been the waitress (or waiter), but, based on the general financial status of those employeed in such work, are not logically able to vicariously assume to refuse a reward. If the person who returned the money were say, a professional, then it would follow logically that you would be able to vicariously assume they would refuse a reward.

Vicariously assuming that the waitress would not accept a reward does logically follow if one makes honesty the only trait that would determines ones behavior in such a situation, ie honest behavior does not need a reward. However, socio-economic factors and needs may (appropriately) override such traits.