Comments on: When Did Cheating Become Acceptable? http://www.senseoncents.com/2009/10/when-did-cheating-become-acceptable/ Navigating the Economic Landscape Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:55:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Larry Doyle http://www.senseoncents.com/2009/10/when-did-cheating-become-acceptable/comment-page-1/#comment-6963 Larry Doyle Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:11:47 +0000 http://www.senseoncents.com/?p=12248#comment-6963 Bill....good to hear from you. I think your point is well taken and spot on. Regrettably that concept pollutes our country ...it's called 'moral relativism.' Bill….good to hear from you. I think your point is well taken and spot on. Regrettably that concept pollutes our country …it’s called ‘moral relativism.’

]]> By: Bill Berliner http://www.senseoncents.com/2009/10/when-did-cheating-become-acceptable/comment-page-1/#comment-6961 Bill Berliner Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:53:38 +0000 http://www.senseoncents.com/?p=12248#comment-6961 Hello, Larry: The question that Susan's theory raises is that punishment (i.e., permajail for Madoff) should equally serve as a disincentive for cheating. Playing amateur sociologist, my view is that people are very willing to look on their own activities as modest violations justified by circumstances, even while they shake their heads at cheating by "others." It reminds me of a line from the Blues Brothers, where Elwood says to someone (I forget who) who accused him of lying: "It wasn't a lie--it was...bullsh*t." Hello, Larry: The question that Susan’s theory raises is that punishment (i.e., permajail for Madoff) should equally serve as a disincentive for cheating. Playing amateur sociologist, my view is that people are very willing to look on their own activities as modest violations justified by circumstances, even while they shake their heads at cheating by “others.” It reminds me of a line from the Blues Brothers, where Elwood says to someone (I forget who) who accused him of lying: “It wasn’t a lie–it was…bullsh*t.”

]]> By: Larry Doyle http://www.senseoncents.com/2009/10/when-did-cheating-become-acceptable/comment-page-1/#comment-6898 Larry Doyle Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:10:58 +0000 http://www.senseoncents.com/?p=12248#comment-6898 Norb, Your links are ALWAYS welcome here at <em>Sense on Cents</em>. I agree, I think a lot of people possess the "win at all costs" mentality. They do not have any real appreciation for the risk they take. What is the greatest risk? Reputation risk!! Ask the crowd at Bear Stearns how that worked out. They sold their reputation short everyday. When they finally needed some friends for support, nobody was there. In regard to the football . . . I use up all my gusto on the Holy Cross Crusaders. To be frank, the NFL has lost its allure. Norb,

Your links are ALWAYS welcome here at Sense on Cents. I agree, I think a lot of people possess the “win at all costs” mentality. They do not have any real appreciation for the risk they take. What is the greatest risk? Reputation risk!! Ask the crowd at Bear Stearns how that worked out. They sold their reputation short everyday. When they finally needed some friends for support, nobody was there.

In regard to the football . . . I use up all my gusto on the Holy Cross Crusaders. To be frank, the NFL has lost its allure.

]]> By: Norb Vonnegut http://www.senseoncents.com/2009/10/when-did-cheating-become-acceptable/comment-page-1/#comment-6897 Norb Vonnegut Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:49:54 +0000 http://www.senseoncents.com/?p=12248#comment-6897 Larry, I've been wrestling with the issue of why people cheat, both in my fiction (Top Producer) and in my non-fiction, Acrimoney. The Galleon scandal is yet another example of the important issue you raise in this post. I think "the Madoff effect" is a reasonable explanation. But cheating is more of a drug than a virus in my opinion. There's a certain glory—a high—from betting big, being right, and winning the game every time at any cost. I've explored this issue as it relates to Galleon and hope you don't mind the link here: http://acrimoney.com/2009/10/28/ceo-overboard/. And I'm with you on the Pats. Does this mean you're a Jets fan now? Larry, I’ve been wrestling with the issue of why people cheat, both in my fiction (Top Producer) and in my non-fiction, Acrimoney. The Galleon scandal is yet another example of the important issue you raise in this post.

I think “the Madoff effect” is a reasonable explanation. But cheating is more of a drug than a virus in my opinion. There’s a certain glory—a high—from betting big, being right, and winning the game every time at any cost.

I’ve explored this issue as it relates to Galleon and hope you don’t mind the link here: http://acrimoney.com/2009/10/28/ceo-overboard/.

And I’m with you on the Pats. Does this mean you’re a Jets fan now?

]]> By: Larry Doyle http://www.senseoncents.com/2009/10/when-did-cheating-become-acceptable/comment-page-1/#comment-6877 Larry Doyle Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:55:59 +0000 http://www.senseoncents.com/?p=12248#comment-6877 Nice...thanks for sharing. Nice…thanks for sharing.

]]> By: TD http://www.senseoncents.com/2009/10/when-did-cheating-become-acceptable/comment-page-1/#comment-6876 TD Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:47:00 +0000 http://www.senseoncents.com/?p=12248#comment-6876 LD...check out Daniel Henninger's video op-ed on the WSJ website: http://online.wsj.com/video/daniel-henninger-were-all-balloon-boys-now/13F63C15-2331-40CF-9CDD-25DE85E54ECE.html Reminds me of WC Field's old line, "Anything worth having is worth cheating for." LD…check out Daniel Henninger’s video op-ed on the WSJ website: http://online.wsj.com/video/daniel-henninger-were-all-balloon-boys-now/13F63C15-2331-40CF-9CDD-25DE85E54ECE.html Reminds me of WC Field’s old line, “Anything worth having is worth cheating for.”

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