Ethics Question
 

My neighbor died. He had no relatives in North America. His relatives in Russia are not interested in his estate. He had no legal documentation showing legal title to the property he had lived on for years so the property will revert to the gov't to be resold. My ex neighbor did not have much for possesions (he was a doukohbor (look it up on google if you want to know more)) I was wandering around on the propory on the weekend and noticed some fencing materials and a few tools in the carport. I am currently fencing my 12 acres as I get the money to buy the materials.

How wrong would it be to use the fencing and aquire a couple shovels and a few other old unusual tools?

Take 'em, dude!

Let your conscience be your guide. If you honestly feel it belongs to no one then take it - If you don't someone else will.

if his relatives arent interested go for it bro otherwise some govt. employ will either take or toss it when they come check out the property

It's wrong, they're not yours. That said, you can do wrong things sometimes. It's a question of how bad you'll feel in the future and if you're screwing anyone over. If you won't feel guilt gnawing away at you and no one will notice or be mad, then do what you will, but know that, yes, it is immoral.

I agree that they are not yours, but.

If the estate reverts to the gov then what small part you have found will probably be treated as refuse and removed so that the property can be made salable.

It's only you that will know if this is a proper thing to do or not, and only you will ever know if you took the items or not.

Well, I agree. If the gvt is going to toss the stuff, might as well take them. If you even took the time to know him and understand what he did, then he may have even wanted you to have them.

No worries.

I agree with the general consensus if things are like you say.

Stealing is wrong, but if the govt is just going to take everything and put the procedes in the general kitty, I would go ahead and take what you've mentioned.

I'm sure your neighbor wouldn't have minded.

If you had the kind of conscience that would allow you to take them, you already would have.

agreed. in the end this one's gonna come down to how you feel about it. since the relatives aren't interested, the government gets it. they will only care about selling things of major value, like the house and land. plus as shalafi said, the items you are talking about would only get tossed or stolen by some government employee....

i would think that ethicly, it would be as right or wrong to take this stuff as it would be to keep something you found somewhere, after trying to find the owner, and then having the owner tell you they didn't care. the relatives have said they don't want it, so therefore the "owners" have said they don't want it... like if you found (for example) a tool someone had lost, but when you located the owner to give it back, they told you they didn't want it - it wouldn't then be wrong to keep it would it? (i hope that the rambling analogy above made sense)

but regardless of what opinions i or anyone else here may have, it's your own feelings that are gonna count

Had a quick look at 'doukohbor' on google.
Doubt he would mind, given that these are things you want to use for their actual purpose, rather than just to have.
Do you think he would have happily loaned them to you, where he still alive?

Make a little 'In memory of' plaque for that section of fence.

Here's my "tongue in cheek" response:

This situation reminds me of a commandment: Don't covet your neighbour's goods.

Neighbour has passed on, can't covet a dead man's possessions (because you can't take it with you!) so the fencing material is up for grabs.

This then reminds me of another catch-phrase: An eye for an eye.

And another commandment: Don't steal.

Mango, you list your location as B.C. Well, as a fellow Canadian, I can say catagorically that the Crietien government has wasted bucket-loads of hard-earned tax dollars - OUR tax dollars. Since the property is reverting back to the government, taking the fencing material won't be stealing from the government, it will be renewing some government waste!

Seriously, most of the posters are asking you to follow your heart. Good advice. Whatever you do, just make sure that you sleep well at night no matter your decision.

If you aren't going to keep them, then coud you send them to me?

Take them.
He's not going to be using them and neither is his family, so take them and use them and when the fence is done perhaps say a little word of thanks to him.

if your conscience allows you to deal with it, then by all means. A plaque for the memory of the individual would be nice, and a donation to some charity in his name for the items would then make it "paid for" could also be something to consider.

I would say no, since technically he still owns it.

If you do decide to take them, why not plant a tree in memory of him in your yard.

In addition, make sure no one else wanders through his property to take things.

There is nothing more fun than stealing from the dead.


Take it... he's never gonna know.

if they are still unclaimed, use the tools, but OPENLY. make sure you are not caught 'stealing' them.

take care of the stuff and be easy. if anyone cries out, ask why and take it from there. as for concscience..... fuck it on this one.

it is a crime against humanity to simply let tools go to waste when they can be used.

Take the tools and use them. When the house is sold and someone moves in, offer them the tools telling them the whole story. Chances are, they will refuse your kind offer. If not, no problem, you aren't stealing, you're borrowing.

taking his things and not letting others would be a bit hypocritical

Where you and your neighbor friends?...Do you think that he would mind if you took these things?...If you knew each other I don't see a problem with it...I wouldn't go crazy and empty his house though...lol.

Ah shit! I'm honest to a fault! I would feel guilty taking what isn't mine.
But if you don't have a problem with it, I guess do it.

take 'em.

i'm sure he has borrowed something from you.

Vermin and mogo have got it nailed.

Vermin and mongo have got it nailed.

Ask your self this...........
Would he have given them to you, if he were alive?

i'd say help yourself.
take only what you need.
i think it'd be right to take something to help you remember him.

What would he have said?

I think if you can say (and believe) that he would have wanted you to take them and use them, then god bless. Otherwise, you should leave them where they are.

I'd take it. If no one is around to claim it then it's just going to waste. You don't wanna contribute to unneccesary waste in a disposable society do you? What's the big debate? Take it and USE it since the dude is DEAD, he can't use it anymore.

Why haven't you thought of sqwating the house?

once you are going to take the fencing eqiuipment and tools why don't you just go all the way and take the house?

how do you know they don't want the estate or anything? My point to that is.. if you really feel guilty, find a way to ask them.

Also, if you do take it, I would suggest making something in his name.. especially if he was a good neighbor which i assume, cause if you hated him, you wouldn't be asking this question as the fence would already be up. heh I believe in an afterlife, and I think it would make him happy to know you were able to use what he cannot, and more importantly that you took it thinking of him.. and that as long as the fence has str.... you'll always remember him.

Are you really stealing? Isn't it true that the government was and is established by the people(citizens), for the people(citizens), and to help the people(citizens). And you are a (citizen), so, in part it is yours. at least part of it, right?

Don't do it. It's not wrong, but if you're unsure about it now, it'll start to haunt you in a few years time.