I need to do a quick survey for a class I'm taking, so consider this hypothetical situation:

You are living in an apartment with a roommate. This roommate always has some form of change, and usually drops it in a bowl on the top of their dresser. Over the course of the year, this amount has grown substantially large.
Today, while you can manage to get by, you are a bit short on cash. Your roommate is out, and you remember this bowl of change.

The question: Would you take any money out of this bowl, and most importantly, why?

If you could also tell me your gender (if you're comfortable with it) and approximate age (preteen, teen, 20's, etc.), that would be most appreciative (It's important to the survey).

EDIT: it seems that a few people are confused by the question. I'm not really looking for situational responses, but more "inner-core", "moral-compass" type responses. For example I wouldn't "because it's not morally right" or "I would feel bad if I did", etc.

In case you were wondering, I'm trying to compare the results of results of male vs female response, then compare those against the theories of moral development brought forth by Lawrence Kohlberg and Carol Gilligan to see which more accurately portrays humanity. (fun, right?) The reason I need ages is to make sure I'm comparing apples to apples.

Cheers!
~Alt

The question: Would you take any money out of this bowl, and most importantly, why?

- Male, teen.

Yes I would take money from the bowl, if he notices this I will pay him back with even some extra change. But if he doesn't notice, well, what one doesn't know won't hurt one. (I also think it's pretty stupid to keep large amounts of change in freaking bowl, so it's somehow also his fault for being stupid)

15, Male. And sad.

No. I'm not a thief, and I will never EVER take it. Dunno why, but I cant, even if I has too. There must be another alternative.

13, male

I would probably have temptations to take it, and may be even as far as to actually feel it and take it out of the bowl.But I would not take it and just go back to do what I was doing.

Sorry If I can't help since Im so young
D:

15, male

I would not take the money because he had worked for the money so taking it would be moraly wrong it would be better to just ask to borrow some money from my roommate.

@Alien:
Don't worry, this actually helps a lot! I need a sample from a large age range.

~Alt

Quote from Rochedan

(I also think it's pretty stupid to keep large amounts of change in freaking bowl, so it's somehow also his fault for being stupid)

Haha wow. "My roommate keeps his money out in the open, I mean he's basically asking me to steal from him! What a dumbass." I feel sorry for whoever winds up living with you in the future.


21, male. Take all of the money, spend it on scratch-off lottery tickets. Scratch them off over roommate's pillow. Use winnings to settle financial obligations. Use excess winnings to take roommate's mother out to Chili's, do the nasty, then never call her back. Sell roommate's clothes to get his money back. Go to the bank, convert money into pennies. Convert pennies into ass pennies (self explanatory). Put pennies in bowl. Shit in roommate's sock drawer.

17(female)

Unless you want to become a thief, of course not. At least not without his permission, it'll never be right to take others' stuff/money without asking for it first.

Male 22. This is very dependent on the situation. If we were roommates by choice, as in we are good friends and we chose to live together, then I would take money with the intention of paying him back. I would not ask before hand as I know he would understand I was in a pinch and am good for it.

If he put the excess change there because he didn't want it, and was just dumping it, I would know this before hand. In this case, I would take the money and not think twice because we both know it's there for whoever needs it. I would also contribute my spare change to said bowl if this were the case.

If we were like, forced roommates through college, I would ask before hand what the point of the bowl was, and whether or not it was cool if I borrowed or took from it. If I have permission, then I will do so. I wouldn't just take from his shit without knowing if it was okay.

It's hard to give one straight answer because of how vague the question is and how many variables are involved.

Quote from Exilement

Haha wow. "My roommate keeps his money out in the open, I mean he's basically asking me to steal from him! What a dumbass." I feel sorry for whoever winds up living with you in the future.

Well, that's one way of explaining it. I rather meant it's not smart to put large amounts of money in a bowl on top of your dresser. It's like a treasure chest showing it's gold, making it extremely hard to fight the urge of NOT taking some change when you need some. It's like a fruit bowl for the entire family, but instead filled with money. That's how I look at it.

Quote from Exilement

21, male. Take all of the money, spend it on scratch-off lottery tickets. Scratch them off over roommate's pillow. Use winnings to settle financial obligations. Use excess winnings to take roommate's mother out to Chili's, do the nasty, then never call her back. Sell roommate's clothes to get his money back. Go to the bank, convert money into pennies. Convert pennies into ass pennies (self explanatory). Put pennies in bowl. Shit in roommate's sock drawer.

And you are not incarcerated why?

Quote from Alien

And you are not incarcerated why?

Exilement is above the law in real life just as he is here.

And with how detailed his 'plan' is, it seems he has committed these series of offenses in the past.

<.<

I would report Exilement to the police,If I lived near him.

"hello, 911? I'd like to report a crime. you see, someone is joking about ass pennies and shitting in sock drawers... on the internet.

why yes, of course I'm serious



...hello?"

Male, 17

I'd honestly take the money. If he wants to leave it out, it isn't important to him. I will take all I need, maybe a bit more, and do what I need to do. If he has a problem with it, I'll consider paying him back, but not before explaining that if you leave your money out in the open for long periods of time, then expecting it not to get used is retarded and he should feel bad.