TheNecroswanson:
Yes actually. It's obstruction of saving a man's life. Which is in America, not sure of other places, a crime.

... Wow. I'm glad I don't go out.

does this guy have any family or freinds? other than barflies i mean?

kailsar:
But one of my co-workers, not the girl who he upset tonight, but someone else who was working, after I had told her about his lifestyle, is going to report him. Without his money, I consider it a serious possibility he'll kill himself. I could probably stop her if I tried, and I don't want a corpse on my conscience, or hers.

If he's truly suicidally depressed and the only thing that's keeping him going is an obviously unsustainable lifestyle that's just going to slowly bring him lower and lower until it kills him anyway, you're not necessarily doing the guy any favors by not reporting him.

So, I dunno, from my vantage point it's pretty easy to say "report him." But if I was truly in your situation I'd probably try to make up reasons to avoid it just because I don't think I'd be comfortable with the responsibility. Luckily your co-worker seems ready to do it, so all you really need to do is support her a little.

-- Alex

Molikroth:

Combined:
Report him. It's a felony not to and it's just not worth it. Maybe the government can help him or at least, fix the drinking problem.

Is that true in the UK?

Yes, it is a crime. ALL benefit fraud in the UK is stealing, therefore by withholding information and not reporting someone who is committing fraud you can be charged with "accomplice to criminal action" and "failing to report a criminal action"

Combined:

Molikroth:

Combined:
Report him. It's a felony not to and it's just not worth it. Maybe the government can help him or at least, fix the drinking problem.

Is that true in the UK?

Yes, it is a crime. ALL benefit fraud in the UK is stealing, therefore by withholding information and not reporting someone who is committing fraud you can be charged with "accomplice to criminal action" and "failing to report a criminal action"

I meant the "it's a felony not to" part. Felony being a word not seeing much use in the UK. Didn't think to check your profile for a flag.

Molikroth:
I meant the "it's a felony not to" part. Felony being a word not seeing much use in the UK. Didn't think to check your profile for a flag.

Oh, well. Excuse me for the way I talk. Sometimes I use the term felony, sometimes I use some other term.

Still, the fact of the matter is, it's a serious crime, felony, whatever you want to call it and if you don't report, you may be prosecuted.

Combined:

Molikroth:
I meant the "it's a felony not to" part. Felony being a word not seeing much use in the UK. Didn't think to check your profile for a flag.

Oh, well. Excuse me for the way I talk. Sometimes I use the term felony, sometimes I use some other term.

Still, the fact of the matter is, it's a serious crime, felony, whatever you want to call it and if you don't report, you may be prosecuted.

That wasn't a dig at the way you talk. I thought you'd misread my questions, when actually I'd misread your answer.

Plain and simple, fuck 'em. Sounds like a dick, acts like dick, (essentailly) steals money and goes on holiday with that money. Fuck 'em.

I'd report.

Molikroth:

Kailsar - it just occurred to me to ask, why refrain from reporting this guy because you don't like him? Obviously making up things to report is something most people grow out of in primary school, but if you report this, the benefit agency (not sure what it's called in the US, IRS or something?) will obtain proof that he's cheating (i.e. if he's faking a bad leg to get Incapacity Benefit they'll tape him walking without aid or limp) and prosecute.

The reason I'm reticent to report him is because I know I'd be doing it because I don't like him. If it were someone I did like, I'd still be annoyed at them for their benefit fraud, but I wouldn't report them. I should, but I wouldn't.

jim_doki:
does this guy have any family or freinds? other than barflies i mean?

No family that I know of. He lives in a seaside town about 25 miles away, and he has a couple of friends there, fellow shaky alcoholic types. One of them died falling down the stairs a few months ago.

Report him. Like Alex said it's not going better for him with the way his lifestyle is at the moment and maybe he'll change it up with some help if he gets reported. Also not reporting him will enable him and others to not contribute.

Molikroth:
However, don't blame him for taking advantage of the moronic way this dictatorship is run. If you submit to a government that skims off your earnings to distribute among the lazy, you only have yourself to blame.

I love this. It just goes to show the power of the tabloid media.

Is unemployment caused by poor economic performance? Is it caused by recession or world wide credit crunch? Is it caused by local overpopulation or a lack of skills in the workforce of the local economy? Is it caused by a sudden loss of a large employer in the local area (major factory shuts down and everyone feels it)? Is it caused by too much red tape meaning employers have to let people got to maintain arbitrary employment levels to qualify for certain exemptions?

None of the above.

It is lazy people.

Yeah right. In other news, I have a bridge to sell...

Molikroth:

My objection to orphanages is simply cost. I don't want my money funding children's lives.

Hmmm.... when cost is factored into human life then I assume sociopathy.

cuddly_tomato:
{trimmed away)

We've already had this discussion and we've agreed to disagree. Rekindling this potential flame war is in no one's best interests.