Imagine you have a big red button in your house

Not only would I never press it, I would build a box around and over it so it couldn't be accidentally pressed. The vast majority of the world's population is relatively poor, so the chance of taking money from one of them is very high.

I wouldn't press it because I don't believe in receiving something without earning it.

So many people say they would never press the button. I admire the good intention, but I don't think these people are being honest with themselves.

You're gonna be tempted. And maybe you can resist temptation for a long time, years even. But one day that temptation, combined with an emergency need for money is gonna override your principles. All you have to do is press it, and then you can come up with a justification so easily in your head.

It's such easy thing to say, "I'm only going to support local businesses with ethical manufacturing practices and fair pay for their employees."

But then when things are tight, you find yourself in Walmart again.

Easy to say "I'm not going to buy things from this company that pollutes or eat at that restaurant with sexist hiring practices or buy these products that test on animals just to save a few bucks," when you don't need that few bucks. It's an entirely different thing when you do need that few bucks.

Naturally, I would use it in this context...

The planet and its resources have literally been given to us just by virtue of us being here. We didn't earn the earth's bounty; it's just here. It's always within reach, no matter where we go (even to the ISS, the Moon, and Mars) We each take from it, some sparingly and others with reckless abandon. When people in developed nations consume goods that they need, want, or waste because they can with no consequences the results of their consumption effect people the most in less developed parts of the world. It literally feels like there are no consequences. Yet we are collectively guilty even those who claim ...

1. I feel no guilt. I deserve it. It's what God wants.
2. I only take what I need.
3. I only take what I earn.
4. I am supporting the labour of undeveloped countries by consuming the goods they produce (at slave wages).
5. I have been socialized to consume these "things."

I must confess, I take a lot from the planet and have consistently done so since arriving here. I sometimes think about how my consumption of the planet's resources affects others, but it doesn't alter my "hitting the button." and I don't feel guilty about it.

So, in this scenario I have to assume I would do the same. Naturally, there would be rationale... "Oh, I really need the $100 today." "Oh, I really earned the right to hit the button for the $100 during this day, this hour, this minute, etc." My guess is human behaviour would prevent anyone acting differently despite their individual stories and rationales. It's what we do... as humans.

My church teaches that we are not even supposed to gamble, ie: scratch tickets, because for every person that wins, there is another who loses, and possibly can't afford to lose.

Wow, what a brain cracking question. But to be honest, I wouldn't bother pressing at all since pressing it would deprive another person either rich or poor their hard earn savings, cause pressing it despite knowing that some random person somewhere is losing his or her own money would mean greediness and wickedness. So I would try as much as possible to stay away from the bottom and be contented with what I have

I’d have to say I would be pushing the button as needed, hoping that it isn’t affecting anyone terribly. I also may cover it so it won’t be too much of a habit.

Usually if you have a house every time you turn around it costs you another $100.

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@Dex1981 If everyone had such a button in their homes would there be a problem?

We all have such a button. It is called personal initative. If we are mentally sound we get exactly what satisifies us. Most people are lazy, which is why they aren't billionaires. Millionaires are lazy compared to billionaires but they are more energetic than most other people, such as myself. I push the button just enough to satisfy my needs and desires.

I wish. My flesh tells me to launch a nuke. spiritually I can't.

Thankfully I'm lucky to be in a situation where I really don't need to press it

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