10-1-discussion-everyday-ethics

Give an example of an ethical conflict requiring ethical decision making in your everyday life outside the work environment. Discuss what you have learned in this course and if this knowledge has contributed to rethinking your daily decisions.

In your responses to peers, share how you would make a decision as it relates to your peers’ conflicts.

To complete this assignment, review the Discussion Rubric document (attached).

AFTER COMPLETING THE INITIAL POST ABOVE, PLEASE RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING TWO STUDENTS REGARDING THE SAME TOPIC!

STUDENT ONE:

I was presented with a difficult ethical conflict not too long ago. Two weekends ago I attended a Margaritafest for Cinco de Mayo. At the fest there were hundreds of people, in an area close to home where I know almost everyone, and I met up with quite a few friends. While there, I saw my best friend hanging around another guy. She has a boyfriend she’s been with for about 2 years now. Honestly, I didn’t think much of it as I assumed this guy she was around was a friend until I saw them dance and kiss.

Now my dilemma here is do I tell her boyfriend or just keep it to myself? If I were her boyfriend, I would absolutely want to know! The situation resulted in me not saying anything for a few reasons. One, I am friends with her and I’m not close with her boyfriend. Two, I don’t like to create or perpetuate any drama. Three, I usually go by the old saying “Not my monkey, not my circus” and decided to not involve myself. I didn’t even bother asking her who the guy was that she was with or if she was having an affair with him.

If I were to rethink this decision and use the eight-step model, I may have come to a similar yet tweaked result. I would still arrive at the conclusion of not telling her boyfriend however I probably would have mentioned something to her. I’m not sure if it would have changed anything with the outcome other than me feeling a little bit better about addressing the situation somewhat. She probably would have become very upset with me at the time which is exactly what I was trying to avoid with all the alcohol/people around.

Overall, I find myself using much of the knowledge I’ve used in this course in my everyday life and in my professional career. It’s funny, my coworker the other day just asked if I can actually apply what I learn in school to my job and I said yes! I posted the eight-step model in my office as a daily reminder to myself and others on how to move forward resolving any ethical dilemmas that we may encounter. I’d say this course has helped me to slow down, think about the situation, the possible effects of the situation and select the appropriate option to resolve it in an ethical manner. This class has also taught me to listen to my gut, although I don’t go off that instinct alone. Many times I sit and wonder what to do in situations and I’ve learned to first feel what’s going on and then take the appropriate steps of action. We usually know what’s morally right and wrong at our core. This was a fun class; I learned a lot and was very happy to contribute to some great conversations in our discussions!

STUDENT TWO:

An ethical conflict I experience in my everyday life is trying not to break the speed limit. I have never received a speeding ticket in the almost 20 years I have been driving. Lately, I have found myself speeding and breaking the speed limit by at least 10 mph. This course has definitely caused me to reconsider my actions and rethink my decisions. Ethically and morally, I should obey the laws of the road and not exceed the mandatory speed limits set to ensure safety.

An ethical decision making model can be used for this conflict. I noticed that I often speed when I’m late or in a rush. The consequences of my actions can be very severe if I’m not careful. Speeding can lead to accidents or expensive tickets. Not only am I responsible for myself and other passengers in my car, but for other cars on the road as well. Alternatives to exceeding the speed limit is to be late for appointments or to make sure I leave early enough to arrive on time. Ultimately, I decided it’s in my best interest to obey the law and not break the speed limits.