Moral/Ethical Dillema?

[McPoyle]

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Hey all, hope everyone is having a good fall, a good application season if it applies (pun kinda intended)...

Anyways I was hoping I could get some input as to what you all think about this qualifying as a moral/ethical dillema:

I have friend who I grew up with, we were virtually inseperable throughout high school. After graduation (2000) he made a poor decision resulting in his being incarcerated for four years. We remained close through this, but obviously I changed and grew while he remained the same person he was in high school. Then he was released (2006) and I had to decide whether to keep pursuing this relationship or not.

Any input?

thank YOu.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

Hey all, hope everyone is having a good fall, a good application season if it applies (pun kinda intended)...

Anyways I was hoping I could get some input as to what you all think about this qualifying as a moral/ethical dillema:

I have friend who I grew up with, we were virtually inseperable throughout high school. After graduation (2000) he made a poor decision resulting in his being incarcerated for four years. We remained close through this, but obviously I changed and grew while he remained the same person he was in high school. Then he was released (2006) and I had to decide whether to keep pursuing this relationship or not.

Any input?

thank YOu.

Being convicted of a crime (other than murder or rape, I suppose) doesn't immediately define your character. It's a bit, well, impossible, for anyone on an internet forum to tell you how to approach a relationship when all we know is that you two were friends and he has a criminal record.

 

[LizzyM]

Usually, in these ethical dilemmas the easy way out is morally questionable and the harder road is morally superior.

Drifting away from old friends (not being friends with people who were friends in HS, college, at your first job, etc) isn't always a moral issue.

BTW, you did grow and change over the period of time he was locked up but if you don't think that he changed to you are uninofrmed. How he changed -that's something you may not yet know.

 

[McPoyle]

Hey, thanks for the replies, I can see how this is a pretty weak example.

The only other option I can think of is through my work as a paramedic, when I first started I was working with a partner who had been around 20+ years. We got a call at the end of our shift, and he was obviously trying to dissuade the patient from wanting to go to the hospital, writing off the patients substernal chest pain as coming from sleeping in an odd position. I, as much as anyone, really enjoys getting off on time, especially after a twenty four hour shift, additionally I knew that stepping on this particular medic's toes would bring social consequences for me. however, at the same time I also realized that this patient deserved to be seen in the ED. Ultimately I chose to intervene suggesting that the patient really should be seen, an offer, that to my partners consternation, the patient accepted.


Do you feel that this may be a better option for presenting a moral and/or ethical dilemma?

Thank you all.

 

[Dulcina]

Hey, thanks for the replies, I can see how this is a pretty weak example.

The only other option I can think of is through my work as a paramedic, when I first started I was working with a partner who had been around 20+ years. We got a call at the end of our shift, and he was obviously trying to dissuade the patient from wanting to go to the hospital, writing off the patients substernal chest pain as coming from sleeping in an odd position. I, as much as anyone, really enjoys getting off on time, especially after a twenty four hour shift, additionally I knew that stepping on this particular medic's toes would bring social consequences for me. however, at the same time I also realized that this patient deserved to be seen in the ED. Ultimately I chose to intervene suggesting that the patient really should be seen, an offer, that to my partners consternation, the patient accepted.


Do you feel that this may be a better option for presenting a moral and/or ethical dilemma?

Thank you all.

i think this is much better. emphasize how tired you were, and howmuch you wanted to go home, but how you made the right decision

 

[LizzyM]

i think this is much better. emphasize how tired you were, and howmuch you wanted to go home, but how you made the right decision

👍

 

[rigel]

what about dealing with an abusive family member?

i've had to cut someone off after trying several times to reconcile with them. i really wanted their validation, but i was unable to deal with how they treated me.

is this more along the moral/ethical dilemma lines? it was difficult, but i'm not sure it fits the definition of moral/ethical

i can't really think of a more obvious example, myself.

 

[McPoyle]

👍

Lizzy, thanks for your input, its nice to have a reliable opinion

 

[LizzyM]

what about dealing with an abusive family member?

i've had to cut someone off after trying several times to reconcile with them. i really wanted their validation, but i was unable to deal with how they treated me.

is this more along the moral/ethical dilemma lines? it was difficult, but i'm not sure it fits the definition of moral/ethical

i can't really think of a more obvious example, myself.

What's the ethical dilemma?

"I wanted .... but I was unable to... with how they treated me."

This sounds to me like it is all about you. You are acting in your own self-interest. What's the dilemma?

If you expressed it as a religious obligation to honor your mother and father or an obligation to be your "brother's keeper" and the conflict between following your obligation and protecting yourself from grevious harm or needing to practice "tough love" with a person set on self-destruction (e.g. from addiction), then I could see the dilemma. Think about how you want to frame it.