Oh how the horses are up on high, but in this case I think it’s because they were eating the mushrooms along the way.
I can understand why some would take issue, at least with their personal choices, with having work done under said conditions. I truly can. What I cannot understand is the ethical bashing and delusions of legal infractions in order do justify such claims.
I was of the utmost standard of integrity as a police officer (when many took to excessive force, racism, and skimming off the top–I did not). And in my time in the military (when many took to killing and harassment because they could–I did not). I removed myself from both of those positions because I believed they intrinsically lacked integrity and any sense of virtue; I did so at great personal/financial loss.
I wonder if those objecting on ethical grounds know the name of the 15 year old Indonesian girl who made the shirt and shoes they they are wearing? Perhaps they know if she made those items before or after she was raped that day? My point being that it’s easy to claim one’s integrity after the fact and so long as it suits them. This went from accusing me of theft, to justifying actual theft on the grounds that it helped make productive employees more productive. Stealing is stealing, correct? For all we know this guy could be the best damn mechanic in the region and they let him do what he pleases with his bay so long as it keeps him happy–if stealing is in fact okay under those conditions, as claimed.
I posted this story to gain some insight on the inner workings of shops for which I am ignorant of. I wondered if flat-rate shops didn’t care much what their techs did in between work orders. I assumed they did, if for nothing but liability issues, yet it was as much a matter of curiosity as it was getting my car repaired at a reasonable rate. If the parts didn’t come with a receipt I would have had an issue. But perhaps he did steal them, perhaps he put the part manager at gun point, perhaps he’s part of a national part/hydraulic lift time theft ring…perhaps.
I personally don’t have a problem stepping into the land of “no harm no foul” from time to time. Not stealing, but bending the rules to where the little guy makes out. I did that as a cop by letting people go home who could have gone to jail. Years ago working in a furniture warehouse I gave my employee discount to friends when it was frowned upon to anyone but family members (shame, shame). I would never knowingly take a stolen part (where many do, especially regarding catalytic converters and air bags) nor would I commit fraud (say, allowing a service manager to write a work order for half of the work to be done, thus coming out of the shops pocket). I paid an honest price to a guy for his labor which he did in a place he probably wasn’t supposed to, but also a place that he makes a great profit for every day. He took a little back, and while that’s on him, I’m sure none of you can say you didn’t take a little along the way–however you care to justify it while preserving your perceptions and arbitrary status quo.
“The misuse of language induces evil in the soul.” And while I can understand the objections here, the present satiety of lacking intellectual integrity is far worse than any shady auto repair.
