Ethical Question

[rogerwa]

Re: Ethical Question

Without approaching the issue, you might suggest monitoring software or some other thing that would clue her into what is going as a 'best practice' when allowing kids on the internet..

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Ethical Question

I've given the mother the computer back. I didn't say anything about it and everyone is happy. For all I know, she was doing a research paper ... maybe she didn't know what a "head shop" was and wanted to find out... <br /><br />The kid has to be 17 or 18.. it's not my place to butt in.<br /><br />Thanks though - I thought this would be an interesting topic.

 

[vipzach]

Re: Ethical Question

jsfinn, I think you were right not to tell mom anything. I do pc repair too and have seen it all, self taken porn pictures to pictures of joints laying in the ash tray. Some times you just can't help but to see stuff on a pc when you are cleaning it up. We have been asked before to report everything found on the pc before and we do ONLY when asked, if they don't ask we don't tell. The only way I think I would report something would be if it involved someones life or child porn!

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Ethical Question

Originally posted by jsfinn:<br /> Lets say you fix computers for a living and a lady brings you a computer that she wants you to clean up for her daughter to take away to school with her.

I don't understand. Windex the screen and PC cabinet, maybe take the top off and vacuum the dust out. What's to see or tell?

 

[Link]

Re: Ethical Question

jsfinn<br />Look at the bright side. Until you posted this and I did a google search I had no idea what a head shop was...now I learned something today.<br />Now I knew what a head was back in the 60's <br /><br />I think you did the right thing. <br />The cleaned report thing wasnt a bad idea though. <br />On the other hand now my puter has the same searches??? Here comes the "Thought" Police <br />Now Im going back under my rock with my new wealth of information to ponder on.

 

[deputydawg]

Re: Ethical Question

Could be anything from a marijuana problem, looking for something to take to college, curiosity from hearing friends at school talk, research, or any number of things. Either way you tell you lose. Hard question to answer though, everyone is different. If that is the only search done related to marijuana then no worries. If she was checking into high times, candykids, eurowid, or any others then there would be more cause for concern.

 

[King P.V.]

Re: Ethical Question

I'd say that this kind of thing can happen more often than not. What if you had found kiddy porn? It's illegal. Do you call the police? Probably! But it wasn't, so... In order to ease your mind and "cover your butt", I'd have a poster printed on the service desk, explaining to all who bring in their computers, that a print-out of ALL web sites on the repaired computers is available for the customer to see, if requested!! Then, you can live with the notion that you "did the right thign"!

 

[jsfinn]

Re: Ethical Question

WHat's a "candykid" or "eurowid"? Look out Google, here I come!

 

[vipzach]

Re: Ethical Question

Originally posted by King P.V.:<br /> I'd say that this kind of thing can happen more often than not. What if you had found kiddy porn? It's illegal. Do you call the police? Probably!

We have had the FBI in our shop before making sure that we knew we had to report anything concerning child porn to them. I would not hesitate for one second to call them as soon as I saw anything that looked remotely close to child porn.

 

[treedancer]

Re: Ethical Question

Isn’t that what got Pete Townsend of the who in trouble just doing research?

 

[txswinner]

Re: Ethical Question

Just in: A College Station computer repair shop found child porn on a pc they were working on and reported it to the police. Calvert man arrested for kiddie porn. <br /><br />Sometimes right overrules wrong, guess it most involves the substance.