Word of the week – ethics

Ethics - the science of morals.

Morals - directed towards right; capable of knowing right from wrong.

Yesterday I was contacted by a company telling me that they were interested in what I was doing. It sounded like a fact-finding call so I called back. You guessed – they were trying to sell me something – in this case ad space.

A couple of weeks ago I got a call on my mobile phone from a company that were – according to the caller – “subcontracted to my provider”. Not sure how you can be subcontracted to something – but as she asked for the “business owner” and my contract is in my own name it was clear that she and my provider were not on speaking terms no matter what she told me. She was from a company that gets you to switch your phone contract to them without you realising that is what you have done.

Last week a man called at my door. He opened with the line – “Don’t worry I am not trying to sell you anything..” which of course was exactly what he was doing.  He asked me if I would take part in a survey and at the first question was my name I knew what he was up to.

All of these people sounded plausible – nice even. And indeed all of these people were just doing their jobs.

But are their tactics – or the companies’ tactics if you like – ethical?

Clearly the numerous unsolicited “offers” I get in my e-mail in-box can be ditched without reading as most, if not all , are totally unethical. But if the definition is that they know right from wrong then the others above might actually appeal to some people. So because I object does not make it unethical . Or does it?