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We put a lot of trust in big companies, so when they let us down it can have serious consequences.
I recently went shopping for a new computer. I wanted a low-end laptop for light work, and the HP Stream seemed like a good deal. That deal was made even sweeter when Best Buy offered to sell me a returned one for almost 20 percent off. The salesman assured me that it was in like-new condition and that they would honor all warranties. Sold.
I always get a little thrill opening a new gadget. The computer looked like it had never been touched and all the paperwork was still in sealed bags. There was even a slip of paper in the box with the ID of the tech who cleaned and certified the unit.
So it surprised me when I booted up and saw someone else's name and Hotmail address at the login prompt. So much for like-new!
As I stared at the full name and e-mail address of the previous owner—let's call him David—I wondered. Could I get into this computer another way? It was mine after all. And how much more could I learn about him? How bad of a mistake had the store made?
Any similar stories out there Soylentils care to share?
Original Submission
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday June 14 2015, @01:24AM
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What a touching story. And you are right, the stereotypical meddler gloves fit you just right. You've got it all, including the apparent blindness to your own filthiness and hypocrisy.
Let's recount. You betrayed the customer's trust, which was a breach of both personal and professional ethics in this case, and rummaged through his files, when creating your own temp file would have been totally sufficient. You unearthed some seemingly illegal video (not that you could verify its legality in any meaningful way). You watched what you thought were some youngsters being molested in a tub. Then, instead of talking to authorities directly, you shared this self-proclaimed smut with another employee. Then you ratted the guy out. You did this all while having zero evidence of the guy obtaining or having seen the movie. You, on the other hand, did actively seek private movie files, and have seen the movie. Prima facie, you are the bloody pedo. I don't think pedofilia is unethical, but you obviously do, right? I am not even going to start on the whole depiction versus child abuse issue here, but if you indeed found file-sharing apps, then the movie was likely a non-commercial copy, and so the whole incident did not hurt anyone, and you could as well be reporting drawn manga.
You are also a very lucky guy, because the usual practice is to shoot the messenger, along with everyone else who came in contact with thoughtcrime videos. If I were you, I would not be so concerned with your customer being let free; instead, I would be thanking my numerous gods for not landing in a big house myself.
~Anonymous 0x9932FE2729B1D963
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(Score: 5, Touché) by Runaway1956 on Sunday June 14 2015, @02:28AM
Well, hello there, sub-height, sub-soaped, early-40s humanoid.