I made a bet with a guy I know at school on how I'd perform during this year's Track season. Twenty bucks if I could get my long jump up to 21 feet. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to compete this season. I asked if we could extend our bet to next season since I couldn't compete this season. He said no and demanded his twenty. I told him if he had any decency he'd extend it to next season, but agreed that he had won and will pay him. Do you think the more ethical thing to do, on his part, would be extend our bet to next season?
2007-06-01 20:14:34 · 20 answers · asked by fslcaptain737 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I said I am paying. AM. What I'm asking is if you think he should extend it or not. And, yes, I was out before the season began.
2007-06-01 20:44:37 · update #1
If you didn't compete at all, there's no game, and no game no bets... I'd say the whole thing was off. Unless it was a bet made as an incentive to get going rather than as a boast; bets about losing 20 pounds aren't off if you never start your diet either :)
2007-06-01 21:36:22 · answer #1 · answered by Sheriam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because he's a friend he should extend the bet, it looks to me that he really wants the 20. bets between friends should be something fun, not like dealing with a lone shark. he should offer you the possibility to prove yourself, as it wasn't your fault that you weren't able to complete the season.
that's what a friend should do, well at least in my world.
alright, that's what i would be saying if i was your lawyer. if i was defending your "friend" (and by the quotes you can tell what side I'm really on), i would say this:
a bet is a bet. you didn't bet if you will complete the season. you bet if you will have a 21 feet long jump - and i quote you here- "during this year's track season".
you didn't have a 21 feet long jump during this year's track season, so you have to pay
2007-06-01 20:28:21 · answer #2 · answered by succubus 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The truth is you did not lose, because you didn't get a chance to compete, so you shouldn't have to pay. If it rains and the horses don't get to compete, that doesn't mean that those who would have picked a winning horse should still get their millions. They have to wait until there is an actual race. The sad thing is that this is life. You made a bet, and you did not include a clause that if you don't compete or if he doesn't compete all bets are off. Because of this you just have to pay.
2007-06-01 20:34:24 · answer #3 · answered by Haveitlookedat 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You lost the bet so you should pay. It's not his fault you weren't able to compete so ethics has nothing to do with it.
Now if you want to make it sporting, why not go double or nothing? If you make 21 feet by next season then he gives you your $20 back. If you don't make 21 feet you pay him another $20.
2007-06-01 23:01:05 · answer #4 · answered by JavaJoe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why couldn't you compete?
When was the bet made?
What exactly was said with the bet?
IMO you talked about THIS years track season.
Since you couldn't make it you lost the bet.
2007-06-01 21:25:50 · answer #5 · answered by Terri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's my question: does your long jump have to be in the competition, or could you satisfy the bet by just doing it on a soccer field or something?
If it has to be in the competition then I say he's an *** and you shouldn't pay him unless he's willing to wait until next season.
If you can just go somewhere with him and jump and then measure your distance (you should get a third party to measure it) then use that to base the outcome of the wager.
2007-06-01 20:20:48 · answer #6 · answered by The Lobe 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bet included all the conditions and was specific about this season.
So you lost and you rightly paid up.
Etiquette would demand, however, that the winning party realises that he did not win the bet; you just managed to lose it.
The actual thing the bet was about, namely your performance, has not been tested. The bet just defaulted to the benefit your friend.
Etiquette demands that he acknowledges this and gives you a rematch for this season.
It's also not unreasonable to call the current bet invalid - which would be up to him, not to you.
2007-06-01 20:59:50 · answer #7 · answered by mgerben 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No I don't think it would be ethical for an extension. When you made the original bet a timeframe was agreed upon and that agreement should be stuck to. You can always ask him of course, there is no harm in that. It would be polite to accept the offer, but he is not ethically or morally obligated to do so.
2007-06-05 12:38:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A bet is a bet but so is fair play, how can you lose if you never competed? I would have extended the bet.
2007-06-01 23:50:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bet you shook on is the bet that you should pay up to. You don't want to end up like Brian in that episode of Family Guy!
2007-06-01 20:41:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋