Hello all, first time poster, I have a moral dilemma just fall into my lap and i’d like some others perspective, because i’m sure of the response from anyone else I know.
Onto the issue, I walk into work today, about to walk into my office, when a coworker, plus two children walk ask me to walk into the facility’s game room to work on a pinball machine that isn’t working. After they all leave the room for me to remove the old glass and peek inside, I find the metal coin box, about half filled with quarters.
For a little more setting context, i’m a higher-up at a care facility for residents who live there regularly. (for anonymity sake, that’s as far as i’ll go) and the problem lies in, we’ve never cracked the pinball machine open since we’ve gotten it in. I was there when we bought it, this pinball machine HAS to be late 60’s early 70’s. You have to kick the bottom somewhere to turn it off without the plug lol.
Would I be the asshole if the coins just… disappeared wink, wink?
The it very well could be these residents money, that just didn’t know any better, but the point has been made that it’s a free play cabinet and we haven’t had any complaints of people losing their change in the machine, otherwise we very well would’ve gotten it opened to get it back out.
There is a possibility it was just never emptied from the get-go, but we had moved it a pretty long distance to not hear change sloshing around the bed of the pickup we were driving.
Not that it really matters, but the money would go into a new years fund i’ve started for myself. I’ve always had the dream of racing cars on dirt trails. (rally) With this fund i’ve made is gonna force my hand in making this dream a reality. A selfish dream, maybe. Definitely not how I look at the dream as a whole, but I understand that perspective.
No choice has been made yet, this is all hypothetical of course. But reddit would I be the asshole?
(Edit) To further clarify I was the purchaser of said pinball machine
(Edit 2) Just finished counting all of the change and it had a grand total of $21.52
Is this for real? You are asking if stealing quarters from a care facility pinball machine makes you an AH? Yes it does. YTA. Give the quarters to the activity person to buy some treats for the residents or something. Just because you opened the box doesn’t mean it’s yours.
YTA
Stealing is stealing. Justifying it once will lead to justifying it every time you want to crack it open to see if there is extra money.
Go to your boss, show the money, tell them the coin slot needs to be blocked and signage is needed to let people know it’s free to play.
YTA for even contemplating taking the money. Buy something nice for the residents not yourself, as it is probably their money.
YEs, YTA. It is not your money. Give it to the organization itself: they bought the pin machine, so it is theirs.
YTA dude come on. you work at a care facility and you’re thinking about pocketing change that very likely belongs to the residents? that’s their home. that’s their money. the fact that nobody complained doesn’t mean it’s up for grabs.
and i gotta be honest the “wink wink” thing is not the vibe you think it is when we’re talking about vulnerable people’s quarters lol. doesn’t matter if it’s five dollars or five hundred. you’re in a position of trust at this place and skimming coins from a machine in their game room is just not it.
put the coins in a jar at the front desk, let people know you found them, or use it to buy something nice for the residents. fund your rally dream literally any other way
YWBTA that would be theft! ETA: Even with your update that you are the original owner, you are even more of the AH for not taping it off… how much is in there?? Use it for something for the residents…
Hmm, interesting, how did you become a “higher up” at a care facility while being 12 years old? Also who let you on reddit? YTA.
The money in the pinball machine belongs to the person or organization that purchased it. If that wasn’t you, it’s not yours and taking it would be stealing.
YTA for asking if it’s OK to take something as long as nobody knows about it.
YWBTA. Seriously? You really have to ask if stealing makes you an AH?
What’d you get, like $20?? Wow, what a windfall to make your dreams come true!
YTA for this being completely fabricated.
YTA
YWBTA. Give the money to the recreation coordinator. Tape a sign over the coin slot stating the machines are free.
obviously YWBTA. I don’t know why you think stealing money is okay.
” i’m a higher-up at a care facility for residents who live there regularly”
Sure, it’s probably the resident’s money or maybe it was there when I purchased it for the residents – without even knowing for sure whose money it is, I’m thinking about taking it for my own private use.
Hypothetically, you have a criminal mind by justifying theft. My question is, what else have you stolen from the residents for your own use? YTA