An ethical dilemma is a complex situation that often involves an apparent mental conflict between critical personal values, in which to obey one would tarnish another.
Possible scenario:
You’re traveling internationally, far removed from your daily routine and you’re having dinner with a colleague.
Your dinner companion is a pessimist by nature, and he’s speaking of ending his life because it is so hard.
You’ve known this person for 15 years, and worked with him for a decade.
You share similar interests and spiritual beliefs.
He trusts you enough to share his intimate feelings.
Do you break his trust?
Could it save his life?
Is he over-reacting and is this conversation simply a dramatic but not serious moment?
If you reveal this conversation with your boss, will it jeopardize his employment?
If he lost his job, he might very well have nothing left to live for.
But if you don’t say anything and misread this, and he takes his life, will you ever be able to live with yourself?
__________
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On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.
