Is it morally wrong to be a snitch?

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 1:10 pm

Elsewhere, Shota wrote:No, I'm not a snitch.

Is it morally correct to place our loyalty to friends, colleagues or family above the principles of justice and the safely of society? What is wrong with exposing evil for what it is and assisting the authorities in the application of our laws? Why do we consider whistle blowers to be a bad thing?

Nilloc James · Post by **Nilloc James** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 1:58 am

So, as an individual, what are your values? It looks to me that your values hinge on staying in good with your friends and family rather than doing what is right.

I am aspiring to go to law school so I beleive in law and justice over my families values.

Cathar1950 · Post by **Cathar1950** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:25 am

Nilloc James wrote:
So, as an individual, what are your values? It looks to me that your values hinge on staying in good with your friends and family rather than doing what is right.
I am aspiring to go to law school so I beleive in law and justice over my families values.

Or law and justice can serve your family values.
I think our cultural values are rooted in our relationships with family and friends and morality is extending those values to a larger groups of more complex and distant relationships.
As social animals we evolved among family and friends.

Ink · Post by **Ink** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:54 pm

McCulloch wrote:
Ink wrote:Like a few other people said it depends what the snitch is snitching about.

Personally if it was my friends or family I wouldn't dob them in, unless they did somthing really horrible.

Even if a member of my family killed someone I wouldn't dob them in.
Why not? Is it that loyalty is to you a higher ethical value than justice? It seems to me that must be the case. It is more important to you to remain loyal to your friends than it is that serious crime be prosecuted.

Yes that is exactly the case. But, like I said it depends on the circumstances.

VermilionUK · Post by **VermilionUK** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:11 pm

The bad-feelings towards snitches come from the circumstance:

If someone told a group of Nazis the location of where some jews were hiding. - I'd feel anger towards that person.

However, if someone was being a snitch and told the police that their friend had murdered his wife - then thats (imo) totally justifiable.

Yes, it betrays the loyalty between you and the person you snitch on, but if it is for the benefit of society, or if it brings justice - then so be it.

Nilloc James · Post by **Nilloc James** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:28 pm

VermilionUK wrote:The bad-feelings towards snitches come from the circumstance:

If someone told a group of Nazis the location of where some jews were hiding. - I'd feel anger towards that person.

However, if someone was being a snitch and told the police that their friend had murdered his wife - then thats (imo) totally justifiable.

Yes, it betrays the loyalty between you and the person you snitch on, but if it is for the benefit of society, or if it brings justice - then so be it.

Exactly my feelings, sometimes its justified, sometimes its the wrong thing to do and sometimes its debatable.

Ink · Post by **Ink** » Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:36 pm

I couldn't agree more, that was my point in the first place. If a friend stole a car, I wouldn't 'tell on them', but if one of them say murdered a child, then I would 'tell on them' without hesitation.