Moral Dilemma

[cariboo]

Last week a customer called to ask if I could repair their computer system for them, they live in 100 Mile House, which approximately 95 Km from here, and there are several reputable computer repair businesses located there. I've never dealt with this customer before, so I thought it was a little strange, but I'll do business with almost anybody.

This afternoon the owner of the computer called and asked what happened to the invoice, her SO left it here, so I offered to email a copy of it to her. They didn't leave a company name when they dropped off or pickup the computer. It turns out her email address is sxxxxa@buymmoaccounts.com. I got curious about the address so I checked it out and it turns out they sell WOW accounts as well as other things.

Now for the dilemma, I've banned what seems to be hundreds of spammers selling WOW accessories sellers, so should I still do business with these people?

[schauerlich]

Go for an epic IRL B&.

[hoppipolla]

I don't understand, what's wrong with what they're doing? I don't play WoW xD

[NoaHall]

Yes. It's not your place to interfere with their lives, and if you decide not to do it, then they'll just get someone else to do it. Get some money from them.

[Icehuck]

Last week a customer called to ask if I could repair their computer system for them, they live in 100 Mile House, which approximately 95 Km from here, and there are several reputable computer repair businesses located there. I've never dealt with this customer before, so I thought it was a little strange, but I'll do business with almost anybody.

This afternoon the owner of the computer called and asked what happened to the invoice, her SO left it here, so I offered to email a copy of it to her. They didn't leave a company name when they dropped off or pickup the computer. It turns out her email address is sxxxxa@buymmoaccounts.com. I got curious about the address so I checked it out and it turns out they sell WOW accounts as well as other things.

Now for the dilemma, I've banned what seems to be hundreds of spammers selling WOW accessories sellers, so should I still do business with these people?

Why wouldn't you still do business with them? If they pollute a message board with ads, doesn't mean you can't fix their computes.

[earthpigg]

cariboo907 the UF mod has banned WoW account/gold selling folks.

has cariboo907 the businessman ever done so, from his business? why start now?

[jwbrase]

Well, one question is whether what they're doing carries any actual criminal charges, or if the most punishment that can be doled out for it is just being banned from WoW. If there's anything actively criminal about the operation (a bit unlikely given that they're running it so openly), then it would be good to notify the cops. Otherwise, it's a tough call.

[hoppipolla]

cariboo907 the UF mod has banned WoW account/gold selling folks.

has cariboo907 the businessman ever done so, from his business? why start now?

hehe, do you think he refers to himself as cariboo907 when he's doing business? :D

It's a good point though! :)

[OpenGuard]

You got dilemma, someone else got money.

[cariboo]

On their web site they state that what they are doing is against Blizzard's TOS, so they could disappear at any time. Another thing is that the company is registered in Alberta, and they are doing business in BC. Here company registrations don't cross provincial borders.

I should also say that they offered to pay in cash.

[schauerlich]

Why are you seeking business/legal advice on the internet?

[toupeiro]

It not your responsibility, or moral obligation to judge their business activities. Its kind of like saying if you were personally against porn, would you not work on the server of a reputable porn business to feed your family if they brought it to you broken? Work is work, you don't have to like what they do, and as long as no laws were broken, smile and take their money. Wow account spammers are directly breaking COC when they do this here, and since COC and Terms of Use is something I've been pretty much going over with a fine tooth comb lately, I'd say you are doing what the guidelines of ubuntuforums is asking you to do by banning spammers. Your own personal business is a completely different matter.

[forrestcupp]

If you already have a policy of not working with people like this, don't work with them. Also, it seems that you are uncomfortable with it, so just don't work with them anymore. Their actions seem kind of shady.

Is that what you wanted to hear?

[pwnst*r]

It not your responsibility, or moral obligation to judge their business activities. Its kind of like saying if you were personally against porn, would you not work on the server of a reputable porn business to feed your family if they brought it to you broken?

what if it's child porn? still no difference? "work is work", eh?

rofl.

to the OP, if you're questioning it, you already know it's not right. dump em.

[cariboo]

This has nothing to do with business, it is a moral question. It seems that we should start a reading comprehension class here too.

Thanks guys, I decided it's OK to take money from anyone, even spammers, as long as they aren't doing anything illegal in my jurisdiction.

[OpenGuard]

This has nothing to do with business, it is a moral question. It seems that we should start a reading comprehension class here too.

Thanks guys, I decided it's OK to take money from anyone, even spammers, as long as they aren't doing anything illegal in my jurisdiction.

You shouldn't, unless you choose to. If you feel it might be impossible to establish a good contact with your client due to some odd reasons they might not even know about, for the sake of good, don't do it ( I doubt this order is so important for you that you can't say No! ).

[Glucklich]

Thanks guys, I decided it's OK to take money from anyone, even spammers, as long as they aren't doing anything illegal in my jurisdiction.

That's the spirit. Hustling the hustlers. That's some stone cold pimpin'.
Katt Williams would be proud.

[chrlywtrfall]

It not your responsibility, or moral obligation to judge their business activities. Its kind of like saying if you were personally against porn, would you not work on the server of a reputable porn business to feed your family if they brought it to you broken? Work is work, you don't have to like what they do, and as long as no laws were broken, smile and take their money. Wow account spammers are directly breaking COC when they do this here, and since COC and Terms of Use is something I've been pretty much going over with a fine tooth comb lately, I'd say you are doing what the guidelines of ubuntuforums is asking you to do by banning spammers. Your own personal business is a completely different matter.

It is that line of thought that led people to do business with the Nazis. Business without morals is bad business. While this is no holocaust, you can make no argument that what these businesses do is not wrong.

I don't think that you should do business with a people that profit from breaking EULAs and compromise the integrity of services which people pay to use. You would be indirectly doing an injustice to the WoW paying customers by helping these opportunistic low-lifes. Using an argument similar to "If I don't do it, someone else will" is wrong and you know it.

Do the right thing.

[Glucklich]

It is that line of thought that led people to do business with the Nazis. Business without morals is bad business. While this is no holocaust, you can make no argument that what these businesses do is not wrong.

I don't think that you should do business with a people that profit from breaking EULAs and compromise the integrity of services which people pay to use. You would be indirectly doing an injustice to the WoW paying customers by helping these opportunistic low-lifes. Using an argument similar to "If I don't do it, someone else will" is wrong and you know it.

Do the right thing.

Hold on a minute... did you just compared online gaming to the holocaust? Are you serious?
And I must admit that I'm really missing the practical side of it... People get what they want (which is a developed character), Blizzard gets what it wants (which is money for the time played with that character) and MOMOsomething.com gets what it wants (which is payment for their job in leveling the characters). Where's the harm done? As long as they aren't scamming anyone, I think it's fine.
So... As the OP already said, as long as they aren't breaking any legal laws, the money is good. About this, I would take EDavid's advise as well... If you have any legal doubts about this, seek an expert.

[Crunchy the Headcrab]

If it's not illegal then I don't see a problem with it. If it is, then I do. I'm pretty simple though. Good luck.

[earthpigg]

Hold on a minute... did you just compared online gaming to the holocaust? Are you serious?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

[Glucklich]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law

LOOOOOOL! Thank you very much for enlightening me. I haven't laughed this hard in quite a while.

[p_quarles]

This has nothing to do with business, it is a moral question. It seems that we should start a reading comprehension class here too.
I think it's more likely that people are failing to see this as (much of) a moral dilemma, rather than that people are failing to understand your question.

In any event, the wording of your question very much does suggest that it is a business question. It even uses the word "business":


Now for the dilemma, I've banned what seems to be hundreds of spammers selling WOW accessories sellers, so should I still do business with these people?

[toupeiro]

what if it's child porn? still no difference? "work is work", eh?

rofl.

to the OP, if you're questioning it, you already know it's not right. dump em.

clearly, if its child porn, LAWS ARE BEING BROKEN. Thanks for your selective attention to detail.

And, there is a big difference between Stealing, mass rape and murder, and a EULA code violation. If you disagree, perhaps then you think the penalty for jay-walking should be the same as first degree murder?

My point is that the OP is not breaking any laws by working on their equipment. If I had a police scanner I needed fixed, and you fixed police scanner, you're not breaking any laws by fixing it whether I use it to know whats going on in my neighborhood, or whether I am using it for less moral purposes. It's not your place to judge, and if you've always been in the position your whole life to put your personal judgements above winning bread for your family, then you've been pretty fortunate thus far. I had to watch my Brazilian mother accept a KKK robe at the dry cleaners she worked at when I was a kid, she wasn't happy about doing it at all, but technically, it was not illegal for them to bring that garment into that store, and she needed that job to keep a roof over our heads. I wonder how many of you who think my statement was wrong could have done the same thing for your families?