Ethical Dilemma

[MRC_Hans]

No matter how many disclaimers you make, why would you mention possible magic powers? To boost your sales. Why might i boost your sales? Because gullible people would believe in the crap. Where would that put you? As a fraud and a quack who didn't even have the guts to say it worked.

Honesty does not come in degrees; either you are honest, or not. Don't be a fraud and a quack. There are better ways to make money.

Hans

 

[MRC_Hans]

There are better ways to make money.

Yes there are better ways to make money - inheriting it comes to mind.

Perhaps you people who are convinced that I am being dishonest even after making an explicit disclaimer and should seek another line of work would consider telling me how you make money and how your product or service is advertised.

I work as a quality engineer in a medical company. Our main product is insulin. It is advertized according to relevant laws about advertizing medical products.

Yes, I could sleep at night with the disclaimer stated above. If people insist on ignoring it what can I do about it? I am not selling babysitting services.

By pointing out that "many people believe" you are inviting people to believe it too. And since you expect it to boost your sales, you are counting on it to happen. Thus you expect to make money on gullible people, period.

I hope that one or two of you out there realize that I am truly concerned about not advancing crackpot claims. And honestly I could leave the disclaimer out entirely and probably not get sued because I never said that the jewelry had any medical benefits. But I don't want to do that because in my opinion that crosses the line of moral deception. All of us have different lines.

The magnets in your jewellery have a practical purpose. By simply not claiming ANYTHING, you leave it to people to make their own conclusions. This is perfectly OK, but it would not boost your sales, and you specifically stated in your opening post that you wanted to make the "some people belive" statement to boost your sales.

If people choose not to do the independent research I suggest then they can only blame themselves. No? I believe I have surpassed the doctrine of Caveat Emptor.

How would it boost your sales, unless.....?

Some of the comments I'm getting seen to characterize my proposed advertising as if it were the moral equivalent to the most outrageous claim I could possibly make - one where I could perhaps make millions by utilizing offshore corporations and hiring the "best" lawyers to tie up the courts for a long long time and launder any profits to there is nothing recoverable. But this is another route I have no interest in taking.

Nonsense. The comments are just that if you boost your sales by hinting at magic effects, then, in spite of your disclaimer, you are making money on gullible people. If you can sleep with that, fine (it is not as if you are robbing them of a fortune, after all), but you asked for opinions, and my opinion is that you will not be innocent. Live with it.

I am not a con artist but I see no moral dilemma about McDonalds selling "Happy Meals" to fat people either.

No, but what if they advertized: "Some people believe that you can reduce your weight by eating Happy Meals. We don't have any evidence for this, so we encourage you to make your own investigations"

Thanks for all of your responses. I am listening and taking your opinions into consideration so far my line is only in the sand.

Good luck!

Hans

 

[fishbait]

From your post, it's obvious that you have already made up your mind to include this questionable information in your sales pitch to "maximize my income." Asking the question "how far would you go" is just a way of seeking approval for this scam and legitimizing what you know to be deceptive.

What a load of crap. There is no ethical dilemma here. Either you are going to take advantage of people for the sake of a buck or you are not. Your post is a poor attempt at appearing to take the 'high road' when all you want is to cash in on the scam without the appearance of being a conspiritor.

I don't see an " ethical dilemma" here. I see an honosty issue.

 

[arcticpenguin]

I don't think your hands are any cleaner than mine. But nice try.

If you are completely at ease with your actions, why did you open a thread called "Ethical Dilemma"? I am starting to get the impression that you were just trolling for a reaction so that you could condemn it.

 

[roger]

I don't think your hands are any cleaner than mine. But nice try. [/B]

Faulty logic. The cleanliness of Hans' hands are not relevant to the question of your ethics.

 

[Michael Redman]

By stating that many people believe it, you are stating that there is reason to believe. Sure, an appeal to popularity is a logically false claim of truth, but it is a claim, nevertheless. Stating that you are not yourself making the claim is completely disingenuous. You are making the claim that others believe it is true, and by implication that there is therefore reason to believe it is true.

If you didn't want to give the impression that the product has qualities that you know it doesn't have, you wouldn't be telling prospective customers that people believed it had those qualities. Considering your intent, in my opinion what you propose doing might very well be illegal. I could certainly see taking a civil case as a plaintiff's attorney in similar circumstances.

 

[Gulliamo]

I'ma gonna say number 3.

You could give us samples and we could all post on your "Satisfied Customers" link that

"I got this product and received absolutely no medical benifits or side effects at all! This product works EXACTLY as advertised!"

 

[MRC_Hans]

*snip*
I don't think your hands are any cleaner than mine. But nice try.

What try? You asked a question and I answered. Of course the primary aim of the company I work for is to make mony for the shareholders, and of course my primary reason for working there is to make money, what did you think?

But there IS a difference: My company does not hint that our product has some property that we cannot document it has. If for no other reason, then because we are not allowed to.

If you don't like the answers, better not ask the questions.

Hans

 

[arcticpenguin]

In fact, I am such a changed man, born again you might say, I feel like I should put a disclaimer out there anyway but that too may entice so I won't.

But dang it. I want to use Magic in the brand name like they do for Magic Markers. Any objections? Should I include clearly state a disclaimer such as "This Magnetic Jewelry is not magical but demonstrates purely scientific principles".

Look I'm trying to be good here. Would you all consider providing your comments on my use of the word Magic in my brand name and if that is acceptable, should I disclaim it, and if so would you please suggest appropriate wording to disclaim it.

I have no problem with the use of the word magic in a brand name, and see no need for posting a disclaimer.

 

[arcticpenguin]

No strings or clasps, they just stick together via magnetism? Interesting. Is there any difference between the different colored spheres, other than the color? Are they all equally magnetic?

Could be a nuisance or even a hazard for people who work with machinery.

 

[roger]

Wow, those look cool.

I don't see any problem with 'magic' in the title.

 

[mjv]

If I were you, I'd forget using the word "magic" and go instead with the word "power".

e.g.:

"My jewelry utilizes the ancient power of magnetism"

"the natural power of magnetism is harnessed and formed into wearable jewelry"

If some wacko chooses, because of their own previously held belief, to interpret that to mean "healing powers" or whatever, that is their problem.

 

[ebola]

Mike,

That IS a neat product. I think it would practically sell itself, negating any need for a foray into ethical gray areas. I also think working the word "magic" into the brand name would help describe the product, as customers can alter the jewelry as they wish. You might want to try "Magic Changing Jewelry" or better "Presto Chango Jewelry". n/c by the way.

Eric

 

[RSLancastr]

Wow, those look cool.

Yup, until someone bumps you, and the bracelet falls to the ground, and you find yourself chasing little round balls all over the floor, under the couch...

Seriously, I have seen magnetic bracelets, magnetic clasp0s on neklaces and brooches, and have yet to see one that does not come apart - and usually get lost - the first time worn out of the house.

 

[fishbait]

That's it? Just colored magnetic balls?

Well, I hope you have a regular day job beside this.

Did ya consider how wearing these magnetic balls on your wrist
will effect credit card stripes and cell phone display screens and other techy stuff? And, who wants to spend all day removing paper clips and other assorted metal debris from their jewelry?

Fetching wayward soup cans that have rolled under the table is a useful feature but ......