What would you do Ethical Question

[3AND4]

I ask the members of this forum as you usually get either good advice OR 50/50 advice & then are more confused LOL!


I recentlly got a bunch of junk at an auction. Mixed in with the junk was personal pictures & a few momentos. Mostly a woman ( NO Porn) including wedding photos & a kid. Pics range from teen years to 30s-40s.

There was enough info that I somewhat was able to find out a general location.

Would you try to return the pics & if so How.

Mail, Drop them at last known address etc etc


Of course first thing is Yes Return them its nice & the right thing to do, However If I do try return the pics

1 If I am not 100% sure the address is correct I could be sending it to another stranger

2 What if the woman passed?

3 What if she didnt want the pics & then it open up old wounds?


I Really could use advice. Returning them to the auction place is a no go as it would get tossed. Lots of storage bin type consigners so they wouldnt be interested in tracking down someone for pics.

My biggest fear is opening up old wounds for a stranger.

Thanks Blowout!

[MossDC4L]

Honestly, I would toss them...

[Frankp2311]

Trash can

[BigL7370]

It’s not your hassle - discard them.

[3AND4]

Thanks & I know its not my hassle. I just wonder what if its a woman down on her luck & her memories get tossed in a dumpster & wonder what if I was in her shoes? :-(

[mwheeler27]

How close are you to the address you think they might belong to?

If you're not far, take them there personally and knock on the door. Ask them if they are the previous owners of the pictures and see if they want them back. If not, let them know you'll throw them in the nearest trash can on the way back home.

[3AND4]

Dont really want to meet the person. Too awkward & not knowing what happened.

I was thinking maybe just drop then in a mailbox with the last known address? Let the PO maybe do something good?

[JosieD]

I work with people experiencing homelessness. I am amazed at how many have multiple storage lockers. Often times, they cant afford them and all their personal belongings get auctioned off. Its sad.

[IronMonkey415]

Do what I do and just randomly mail the items to them.
The family will probably be happy to get it.

I mailed 2 random mugs and the recipient is very happy with them, I wonder if he still have them.

[mmbtvs]

Tape them all over your body and wear it to your local Walmart. Call it art.

[escapegoat]

first off, i think it’s cool that the thought crossed your mind! i’d personally make the effort to try and get them to the owner. good or bad memories, i think it’s admirable to at least let the owner have the final say on what to do with the pictures, if you have the time and want to make the effort!

[JMarchand1981]

I don't have enough time to track people down. If these people wanted them they would have done their own tracking down of the items.

I commend you for even giving it a second thought.

[Peties Army]

This is no way an ethical question.

Do you want to try to do something that maybe nice or not cause it’s a pain in the ass.

I probably wouldn’t. Who knows what happened?

[Pearce77]

Originally Posted by mmbtvs

Tape them all over your body and wear it to your local Walmart. Call it art.

IronMonkey with the photos taped to his body knocks on their door, hands them the stuff and says "I like shih tzus" then turns around and walks away.

[Peties Army]

Also why do you think it’s the right thing to do? You have no clue what happened. Maybe it was a horrible time in her life and doesn’t want to remember them

[asujbl]

Originally Posted by JMarchand1981

I don't have enough time to track people down. If these people wanted them they would have done their own tracking down of the items.

I commend you for even giving it a second thought.

Winner

Trash them

[Siberian13]

Go and get them all framed and put them up throughout your home.

[JosieD]

Originally Posted by JMarchand1981

I don't have enough time to track people down. If these people wanted them they would have done their own tracking down of the items.

I commend you for even giving it a second thought.

I had a woman who tried to desperately track down her things. They would not tell her who bought her unit.

[jdandns]

Asking a question where the affirmative answer requires empathy of people who largely have none isn't really asking a question.
Do what you think is best, the thing you thought of doing when you were researching whom the photos belonged to in the first place.

[IronMonkey415]

mmbtvs post made me crack up so much.
That came out of nowhere.

[hxcmilkshake]

Any toenail clippings? If so you can put the evil on her.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[kerg]

Not really an ethics question.. for of an empathy question I think. Given they are pictures, I'd probably try to get them back in someone's hands. I wouldn't expend a massive amount of energy, but if it was a quick google/fb lookup, sure.

[smackvay]

I have been in this position before. Short story is I bought a storage unit and it ended up having childhood pics, diploma, family photos, old family photos, ball cards, and tons of personal stuff. I went to school with the guy and returned the stuff, well turns out he ripped his parents off of about $30,000 worth of stuff then crashed their car and passed away. Moral of the story is just toss the stuff and move on.

Needless to say I made a huge mistake returning that stuff, especially in person.

Mike

[ThoseBackPages]

BO? seriously? nobody has asked if shes hot yet?

you disappoint me!

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by smackvay

I have been in this position before. Short story is I bought a storage unit and it ended up having childhood pics, diploma, family photos, old family photos, ball cards, and tons of personal stuff. I went to school with the guy and returned the stuff, well turns out he ripped his parents off of about $30,000 worth of stuff then crashed their car and passed away. Moral of the story is just toss the stuff and move on.

Needless to say I made a huge mistake returning that stuff, especially in person.

Mike

did his family let the storage unit be sold off?