New Ethics question

[prairieboy]

Given that it was the highlight reel, you knew it was either a touchdown, interception or questionable call by the officials. Betting on a touchdown isn't 100% but it is definitely +EV. That said, is the bet ethical?

You didn't disclose that this was the highlight reel, but you also didn't prevent your brother from looking at the tv and verifying for himself that the uniforms had miraculously changed colors. All of the information he needed to make an informed decision was available to him if he had the wit and inclination to seek it. Did you have an obligation to provide it?

Is this any different than a casino letting clueless old ladies play slots or offering "Let it Ride" and "Carribean Stud" to the mathematically challenged? Wholesalers frequently sell direct to the public, does a retailer who marks-up and resells the same products have an obligation to tell this to customers?

I'm going to vote no. Taking/making bets in which you have the advantage is smart, not unethical. It would have been unethical had you prevented your brother from obtaining the full set of available information (i.e. blocking the tv screen). Similarly, it would have been unethical to change the rules/standards by which reasonable people would compute their odds (e.g. by dealing yourself aces in a card game). But in an open environment where all people have the same access to the same information outwitting your opponents is ethical.

If your opponent is incapable of interpreting the information (blind drunk, mental retardation, young child, very elderly, blonde etc.) this bet would be unethical as they do NOT have access to the same information you do, but against typical opponents (and especially younger brothers) go for it.

[Louie Landale]

"or laugh in your friends face while holding the dollar up like a conquering warrior chanting, 'who's ya daddy'...... " Well, that's pretty much what I did. I mean, it was my BROTHER and all.

You know, the one that bet Who-Done-It "Murder She Wrote", getting a phone call from the Sister on the East coast who had already watched the show ... Now he ended up giving all THAT money back, but he still won a great psychological victory.

- Louie

[CrisBrown]

Hi Louie,

This reminds me of an old Aggie joke (apologies to any Aggies out there), where one took another to see a movie. It was a western, and at one point the hero tries to jump a fence on his horse. One Aggie bets the other that he won't make it over the fence, and the other takes the bet. Well, the hero doesn't make it over the fence, and has to shoot his horse, which gives him yet another reason to get back at the bad guys, etc.

After the movie, the first Aggie offers to return the money he won in the bet. He says "I'm sorry, but that wasn't a fair bet. I'd seen the movie before."

The other Aggie smiles and says, "That's okay. I'd seen it too, but I was hoping he'd make it this time."

Cris

[Mark Heide]

Louie,

Give the buck back to your brother. If he knows it's highlights from games already played, you will no longer be trusted by him. Here's why:

Sometime in the future your car is not going to start leaving the poker room. You call your brother and ask him for a ride because you know he is sitting at home doing nothing. Guess what your brother's reply is going to be. It will start off like this, "Hay Louie, remember that dollar bet you won?

Good Luck

Mark

[Louie Landale]

He only had a couple seconds to respond, so its reasonable that he may not notice in that short a time.

[M.B.E.]

[ QUOTE ]
it was a trick bet to be sure. and you are obligated to return some of the money. not all mind you as you could have lost the bet.

[/ QUOTE ]
Suppose you and I are playing a private game of blackjack, but I cheat and arrange for my first card to be an ace. It turns out that my second card is a ten giving me a natural, so I collect from you. Since I could have lost, am I obligated to return only part of the money?

[Alobar]

Absolutely fair game. All your doing is taking information that is available to everyone and using it to your advantage. Isnt that what we all do when we play poker? are we therefore all unethical for taking money from the fish?


[ QUOTE ]
Suppose you and I are playing a private game of blackjack, but I cheat and arrange for my first card to be an ace. It turns out that my second card is a ten giving me a natural, so I collect from you. Since I could have lost, am I obligated to return only part of the money?

[/ QUOTE ]

your using information that isnt available to everyone. and your also manipulating circumstance. Thats unethical.


Take the dollar, have it framed in a nice little plaque and point to it and laugh every time your brother gives you [censored] about something [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Alobar