Klarinet Archive - Posting 000087.txt from 2003/12

From: Jeremy A Schiffer <schiffer@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Flea market finds
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 13:12:51 -0500

> Jeremy A. Schiffer wrote:
>
> If, on the other hand, the owner said "I don't really know what it's
> worth, so make an offer" and the other person responds with something
> absurdly low knowing the real value, it _would_ be an unethical act
> because he or she would be knowingly deceiving the owner for personal
> benefit.

On Tue, 2 Dec 2003, rien stein wrote:

> I do not quite agree! Several years ago an Afghan refugee I counseled showed
> me "two flutes" he had bought for sixty guilders (at that time about $30)
> from another refugee. It was a bassethorn in F. Brandnew. Packed in two
> plastic bags! I immediatly offered him 75 guilders (some $37 or 38). It was
> immediately clear to me the instrument was stolen somewhere. And as I knew
> this man very well I also was rather sure he was not the thieve.
<snip>
> But the[n] I told the story to a
> student of Harry Sparnaay, the Latvian clarinettist Uldis Locenieks, who was
> first chair in the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra and now is a good friend of
> mine. He knew where it was stolen: the Utrecht conservatory.
<snip>
> In a way it was a relief to deliver the instrument again where it belonged,
> but at the same time I felt a bit sad to take leave of such a good and
> beautiful friend!

Fascinating story!

Ethically speaking, you did the right thing by attempting
to find the owner of what you deduced correctly to be a stolen instrument.
Your actions are commendable; too many people wouldn't have done the same.

I do not believe, however, that you mean to disagree. In this case, you
did not buy the instrument for personal benefit, so it does not violate
the sentiment of the statement I posted. Had you kept it, you would have
been acting unethically, and in many places illegally.

-jeremy

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