Morality question

[Moderated]

If you were to pick up a hobo, feed him, and give him some of your clothes, and allow him to live with you, but then make him work for free, or something low like a dollar an hour, would that be moral?

 

[Keoul]

No.
Why would it be? that's just slavery durr.
You've essentially kidnapped a homeless man, given him a uniform and forced him to work for you without pay.
Even if you pay him a dollar an hour you're still forcing a new life on them. You never know, maybe they enjoyed the carefree life of a hobo...

 

[Waffle_Man]

That depends.

Is he drowning in this scenario?

 

[Hazy992]

Of course not, you've just forced someone into slavery. Giving someone clothes and a home doesn't justify enslaving someone.

 

[C F]

Did he agree to work for the dollar an hour? If so, I'm sure I've got stuff he can do for cheap. Or free. Heck, the room and board can be his pay; that's fine by me if it's cool with him.

If he didn't agree; not only is it immoral, it just really isn't worth it to go out of your way to collect an unwilling hobo and have him work for you like that. Seriously, what's the deal? Just get some day labor or something; at least they have enough skills to be in the job market. Plus they come with their own clothes.

 

[game-lover]

No. You were doing very well in the moral department at first. In fact, it was all quite moral up until you figured it was a good idea to get him to work for paltry sums or no sums at all.

 

[DevilWithaHalo]

If you were to pick up a hobo, feed him, and give him some of your clothes, and allow him to live with you, but then make him work for free, or something low like a dollar an hour, would that be moral?

It depends entirely on whether the hobo agrees to the deal. Room & board for work isn't slavery as some others are suggesting. Do people really think chores are slavery? This is the deal kids grow up with till they're 18 for crying out loud.

 

[370999]

If you were to pick up a hobo, feed him, and give him some of your clothes, and allow him to live with you, but then make him work for free, or something low like a dollar an hour, would that be moral?

It depends entirely on whether the hobo agrees to the deal. Room & board for work isn't slavery as some others are suggesting. Do people really think chores are slavery? This is the deal kids grow up with till they're 18 for crying out loud.

It's more the OP seems to imply he kidnaps this chap.

I agree with you though that if he agrees to it, it's fine. Illegal, but that changes from country to country.

 

[DevilWithaHalo]

If you were to pick up a hobo, feed him, and give him some of your clothes, and allow him to live with you, but then make him work for free, or something low like a dollar an hour, would that be moral?

It depends entirely on whether the hobo agrees to the deal. Room & board for work isn't slavery as some others are suggesting. Do people really think chores are slavery? This is the deal kids grow up with till they're 18 for crying out loud.

It's more the OP seems to imply he kidnaps this chap.

I agree with you though that if he agrees to it, it's fine. Illegal, but that changes from country to country.

The OP said; "Pick up", not; "kidnap", I'm not sure where people are getting that impression.

The legality depends entirely on the circumstance of the labor involved and the associated regulations on the type of work. Granted, this can change dramatically from region to region. One of those reasons we don't prosecute people for having stay at home spouses (even the non-contractual kind).

 

[370999]

If you were to pick up a hobo, feed him, and give him some of your clothes, and allow him to live with you, but then make him work for free, or something low like a dollar an hour, would that be moral?

It depends entirely on whether the hobo agrees to the deal. Room & board for work isn't slavery as some others are suggesting. Do people really think chores are slavery? This is the deal kids grow up with till they're 18 for crying out loud.

It's more the OP seems to imply he kidnaps this chap.

I agree with you though that if he agrees to it, it's fine. Illegal, but that changes from country to country.

The OP said; "Pick up", not; "kidnap", I'm not sure where people are getting that impression.

The legality depends entirely on the circumstance of the labor involved and the associated regulations on the type of work. Granted, this can change dramatically from region to region. One of those reasons we don't prosecute people for having stay at home spouses (even the non-contractual kind).

Depends on how you interpet "pick up" especially in the context of if the hobo was fully aware of the nature of the contract.

And you are right, I was more pointing out the problem with the minimum wage but if of course does depend on the relationship (if it's official) or whatever.

 

[Euryalus]

If you were to pick up a hobo, feed him, and give him some of your clothes, and allow him to live with you, but then make him work for free, or something low like a dollar an hour, would that be moral?

If you're willing to feed or house him, why not just nix that and give him a proper wage? To answer your question, though, It could be... You haven't actually given me much to go on, so its hard to say with certainty. Probably not :/

 

[DugMachine]

Of course not, you've just forced someone into slavery. Giving someone clothes and a home doesn't justify enslaving someone.

How is giving someone food, clothes and shelter and then asking them to help out with chores slavery? This is what children basically do until they get old enough to work and support themselves. To my knowledge children aren't slaves.

 

[Hazy992]

Of course not, you've just forced someone into slavery. Giving someone clothes and a home doesn't justify enslaving someone.

How is giving someone food, clothes and shelter and then asking them to help out with chores slavery? This is what children basically do until they get old enough to work and support themselves. To my knowledge children aren't slaves.

Where does it say anything about asking them? The OP says making the homeless person work for you.

 

[DugMachine]

Where does it say anything about asking them? The OP says making the homeless person work for you.

Well yes if you want to take what the OP said quite literally then yes that's immoral but in reality a hobo doesn't have to stick around.

 

[Hazy992]

Where does it say anything about asking them? The OP says making the homeless person work for you.

Well yes if you want to take what the OP said quite literally then yes that's immoral but in reality a hobo doesn't have to stick around.

All I can go base this on is what the OP said and the OP said making them work for free, so until they say otherwise that's what I'll assume they meant. I don't see how you can make the jump between saying 'making them work for you' and 'asking them to work for you' in all honesty.

Even if we were to assume the OP actually meant ask I'd still find it immoral as it sounds exploitative.

 

[DugMachine]

All I can go base this on is what the OP said and the OP said making them work for free, so until they say otherwise that's what I'll assume they meant. I don't see how you can make the jump between saying 'making them work for you' and 'asking them to work for you' in all honesty.

Even if we were to assume the OP actually meant ask I'd still find it immoral as it sounds exploitative.

Fair enough. My reasoning was only that we "make" children do work around the house. Oh we ask but in the end it's not a demand, it's an order. Exploitative? Maybe. But who wants to mow the lawn anyways

 

[mitchell271]

That's kind of like slavery... which may not be a bad thing.
Before you get mad, keep reading. What's are the main differences between a slave and a servant? Respect and willingness. If he willingly works for you and you respect him, then it's not as bad. If he's forced to work for you, then no, that's not a moral thing to do.

 

[Akytalusia]

he gets a bed and food, that's not working for free. only kids would think like that. as long as this guy is free to step back out onto the street at his leisure and isn't being held against his will. then there is nothing wrong with this scenario. it isn't even a question.

 

[Bullfrog1983]

If you were to pick up a hobo, feed him, and give him some of your clothes, and allow him to live with you, but then make him work for free, or something low like a dollar an hour, would that be moral?

Slavery isn't really moral - your idea is almost as moral as the Maquiladoras in Mexico.

 

[floppylobster]

Allow him to live with you? Maybe you suck to live with. Doesn't sound like such a good deal. Besides, many homeless are homeless by choice.