In your book of morals, when is it ok to inform on people to authorities such as to police detectives?

Question

I think it's ok so long as it isn't to save your own tail, when you are also looking at a sentence. And if by informing them, it stops a behavoir that is potentially very harmful for others.

Examples would include turning in a hardcore drug dealer, someone who has hurt someone or murdered.

But I think most other crimes I could turn a blind eye to as long as they don't hurt anyone I love. But on a case by case basis.

Your thoughts please?

Answer 1

This depends on the offense and your motivations.

It is moral to turn in someone who is going to kill someone, in order to prevent a murder.

It is not moral to get revenge on your ex-fiance's lover by reporting the person for driving the same speed as everyone else, even if the posted limit is slightly lower.

Answer 2

My moral compass says that informing authorities - perhaps anonymously - is OK as long as your statement is true. I.e. to inform of wrong-doing - and lying while informing - is wrong.

In general, our society is founded on the idea that we should do the right thing. Those who break laws are not doing the right thing. It becomes a question of "what kind of society do you want?" If EVERYONE turns a blind eye to the petty crimes around them, there will be no respect for the law. (Will be?... hmmm.)

Committing a misdemeanor is a step away from a felony. Which is just one more step to being a career criminal. If you "rat" on someone early, you MIGHT provide them with proof that crime doesn't pay and maybe they should try a new line of work. One more honest than their previous line.

I might disagree with certain laws and therefore have a swing in my moral compass, but in general you should not ignore the world around you. When Adolf Hitler and his youth gangs committed atrocities against the Jews in Germany, nobody spoke up. Look what happened.

When abusive husbands beat their wives, if nobody stops him, the wife has very good chances of being seriously injured or even killed. Or of reaching a breaking point that results in the husband's death. Whereas making abuse an open book will cause at least SOME abusers to think twice.

So I would say that stopping something early, before it gets out of hand, is probably a very good thing in the long run.

Answer 3

You have to see crimes as an offense against the public and not something that should just concern the police. Whether it's someone selling crack on the street corner,someone one ripping off car stereos, or some dude flashing a gun around, if it makes the world a less safe place for everyone then you shouldn't feel bad about reporting it. Do you want this stuff going around where you are, or where your kids are? If it is a property crime, would you want it reported if it was your property? Do you want a drunk driver where your little brother or sister is waiting for a bus? Face it,you guys who are anti law enforcement-the average crime has little negative effect on the cops-the negative effects are felt by the public.

Answer 4

I don't know about turning a blind eye to crimes as long as a loved one isn't getting hurt. It should be the same regardless. I believe that if someone is going to report on crime, they shouldn't pick and choose who and what to report even if they know the person or not. As far as those that "roll" on others because they themselves got into trouble? I never had a problem taking or accepting the info from them, but I sure as hell didn't have any respect for them doing that. Someone that gets into trouble needs to man up and take responsibility. It's childish.

Edit: Radar- not all police are that way. Why do you think my source always says "former"?

Answer 5

If you are motivated by stopping something that is harmful to yourself or others, I say go for it. If it's the little old lady down the street who's smoking cannabis to ease her arthritis, I'm gonna have to go with leaving her be.

Answer 6

i would turn people in if its like a bad crime. rod's answer seems a bit odd. sense we all know cops turn there heads when a fellow cop commits a crime. specially if its a traffic law or maybe hitting your wife once and a while. heck she deserved it.