Ethics question.

[Hlucn8]

An interesting thing happened on the way to the theatre...
Upon arriving at the Class Six today, (the only place within Swims world where members of his communistic society can buy large amounts of alcohol at a deep discount without taxes), a group of teenagers, obviously near their twenties, approached swim and asked him to buy a bottle. His immediate response was "no", and he kept on walking.
Later, swim began to reflect on his adolescence, and remembered all the times he "fished" for buyers outside the liquor store. He remembered his commitment to himself,(when he was that age),
to always "hook up" oppressed members of society.
My quandary is this; Did swim refuse by matter of law, or out of concern for the youth that was asking him for a bottle? Swim would have no problem sharing some x with friends, or perhaps some smoke, but only to those well known to swim.
So, is swim now a hypocrite, or just becoming a responsible adult?
It's helpful to keep in mind that he thinks alcohol is one of the worst drugs mankind can abuse, (but on occasion uses himself), and would much rather see a young person smoke a j than tip a bottle. But he is still questioning his motives.
What would be swiy's response?

Reputation Comments on this post:

What an excellent question. You broght a very timely and important moral dilemma to the discussion table. Good for you...

[Nagognog2]

"No thank you. I don't want to go to jail."

[quili]

Swim would probably go ahead and buy it for them, but keep in mind swim herself is not 21 yet. They will get it from someone, somehow, so swiy are not really going to change anything or protect them by not buying it. And as for law dangers- that's rarely a problem since it happens all the time. The only reason swim wouldn't do it is if the kids were punks about it or if she didn't feel like putting in the effort for whatever reason (in a hurry or something).

[CrookedEye]

Not for random youth, could be a setup.. However, Swim has, in the past, been the older man with many under drinking age women, which persuaded him to buy the bottles... HEHE!! So sue swim!!!

[Hlucn8]

Aaaahhahah!

[Hlucn8]

Swim's a little tipsy.

[London_Bloke]

Originally Posted by quili

...... They will get it from someone, somehow.....

Would that be what SWQuili use use to console one's self if later that same evening those liquored-up kids plowed into a minivan full of family? Now who is responsible for that event? Not just the kids SWIQ bought for, that is for certain.

SWIM absolutely detests that fatalistic logic that some event would still happen even if it weren't for SWIQ filling in any missing pieces.

The question was one of ethics. Even if those kids would have gotten the booze another way, SWIHlucn8 was on the side of the angels saying no. But in any question of ethics it's not just the answer that is important, it the logic that drives the answer. Would SWIHlucn8 give the same answer if those same kids approached looking to buy a joint? From this SWIMmer, I think a different answer would have been forthcoming. Why? From SWIM's POV, alcohol is one of the most life destroying substances she can think of. She wants to cry for every kid who wraps their car around a tree, for every parent who's freshman died from alcohol poisoning at a frat party. We Americans allow alcohol to be advertised on TV while our children die in mangled cars or on a dorm-room floor at 4am while everyone else walks around them ("I just thought she was sleeping it off!) and women and small children everywhere are terrorized by the footsteps of the drunken man approaching their bedroom door.

The Answer matters a great deal and "they'd get it someplace else" is one of the worst I can imagine. SWIM knows that you are much younger than she is, that the lens of perception is vastly different as the mother of 2 university students and she apologizes for the stridency of her tone. But the subject of underage alcohol abuse (and please do not tell me that 16 year old IN GENERAL are capable of drinking responsibly - shit, most adults can't pull THAT one off) is one that sends SWIM through the roof.

Where others see rites of passage, SWIM sees funerals, and for every life lost, she tallies up the number of maimed, injured, traumatized and destroyed.

**SWIM doesn't hate booze - she hates drunken behavior.

Reputation Comments on this post:

you obviously feel verry passionate on this matter

[SNAFU]

My quandary is this; Did swim refuse by matter of law, or out of concern for the youth that was asking him for a bottle?
__________________________________________________ ______________

SWIM would refuse to buy the youths a bottle out of concern for self. It is against the law to contribute to the delinquency of a minor. SWIM does not know these youths and would not be willing to take the chance of getting caught. Yet, SWIM has purchased alcohol for underage friends (17/18 yrs old) and allowed underage drinking at SWIM's house.

SWIM would consider the situation.
__________________________________________________ _________
So, is swim now a hypocrite, or just becoming a responsible adult?
__________________________________________________ __________
SWIM thinks SWIY is not a hypocrite, just a smart person who made a logical decision given the circumstances.

[mick mouse]

SWIbadness needs is correct. It is indeed a question of ethics, or perhaps a better answer would be a test of YOUR ethics. Everyone knows the dangers of alcohol, not only on ones own body, but as a member so rightly pointed out, on the bodies of others (potential victims) as well. As much as I disagree with society at large, it does have some things right, and limiting access to alcohol is one of them (for those under age). Just because you did it in your youth doesn't make it right, either. Several threads have been started regarding various substances on the very topic. Everyone has done dangerous actions when young, unprotected sex, stupid amounts of powerful substances, drinking and driving, etc., but you learn with age and time through the acquisition of knowledge. Thats what this forum is all about! As far as being an "oppressed member of society", well, we are talking about military brats hanging outside a class six store, for christs sake! I'm certain that they had some G.I. buddies somewhere that would buy for them. They obviously had money and would probably have paid a premium for the booze. In all likelihood, they lived on post and in base housing. How were they oppressed? Just because they didn't have any booze? SWIM drinks, SWIM has trolled before, SWIM has NEVER bought alcohol for those underage. SWIM has seen good friends die due to alcohol.
Besides, this is America! Let them get a fake I.D.!

SWIM would say that you passed the test.

[Nature Boy]

SWIM will only buy for underagers if:

1) They are near the legal age
2) They ask politely
3) It isn't a large inconvenience at the time

Normally he wouldn't bother though.