NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, you've done it - you turned in the rapist. The police were quiet about their source and you got the scoop on his apprehension. You now also have a very good relationship with the Chief of Police. Maybe it'll be useful in the future?

Strange thing - today you were approached by a man who clais to be "Vinny the Plug". He goes on to tell you that he's a contract killer. He's taken many jobs for organized crime, and plenty of 'freelance' as well. (Life insurance jobs, jealous lovers, business competitors, 'inconvenient' wives, etc.) He shares a few specific details about a couple unsolved murders you are familiar with as proof.
He has sought you out because he is going to retire soon. He promises to tell you enough information about his career to make for a very good story without compromising the anonimity of his clients or giving the police enough to find him. He figures a career as esteemed as his deserves public respect - plus he wants to close a few of his 'trademark' secrets so 'the competition' can never use them. He gives you a day to consider his offer. He sets his next meeting with you in a public place where it would be easy for undercover police to nab him.

Now you have a decision;
Do the story? There could be a Pulitzer here.
Inform law enforcement? This man is responsible for the deaths of over fifty people. Many of whom were innocent ordinary people. He does not deserve a quiet retirement.

Well, you've done it - you turned in the rapist. The police were quiet about their source and you got the scoop on his apprehension. You now also have a very good relationship with the Chief of Police. Maybe it'll be useful in the future?

Strange thing - today you were approached by a man who clais to be "Vinny the Plug". He goes on to tell you that he's a contract killer. He's taken many jobs for organized crime, and plenty of 'freelance' as well. (Life insurance jobs, jealous lovers, business competitors, 'inconvenient' wives, etc.) He shares a few specific details about a couple unsolved murders you are familiar with as proof.
He has sought you out because he is going to retire soon. He promises to tell you enough information about his career to make for a very good story without compromising the anonimity of his clients or giving the police enough to find him. He figures a career as esteemed as his deserves public respect - plus he wants to close a few of his 'trademark' secrets so 'the competition' can never use them. He gives you a day to consider his offer. He sets his next meeting with you in a public place where it would be easy for undercover police to nab him.

Now you have a decision;
Do the story? There could be a Pulitzer here.
Inform law enforcement? This man is responsible for the deaths of over fifty people. Many of whom were innocent ordinary people. He does not deserve a quiet retirement.
Any good contract killer would never publicize themselves. It would be common sense to keep a nonexistance profile, to avoid suspicion. So I'd say he's just a killer looking for attention, or just a regular joe wanting attention. As for the couple of details, it's entirely possible some cop or other investigator let something slip to someone, or they found a crooked cop. So I'd just call the cops.

Well, you've done it - you turned in the rapist. The police were quiet about their source and you got the scoop on his apprehension. You now also have a very good relationship with the Chief of Police. Maybe it'll be useful in the future?

Strange thing - today you were approached by a man who clais to be "Vinny the Plug". He goes on to tell you that he's a contract killer. He's taken many jobs for organized crime, and plenty of 'freelance' as well. (Life insurance jobs, jealous lovers, business competitors, 'inconvenient' wives, etc.) He shares a few specific details about a couple unsolved murders you are familiar with as proof.
He has sought you out because he is going to retire soon. He promises to tell you enough information about his career to make for a very good story without compromising the anonimity of his clients or giving the police enough to find him. He figures a career as esteemed as his deserves public respect - plus he wants to close a few of his 'trademark' secrets so 'the competition' can never use them. He gives you a day to consider his offer. He sets his next meeting with you in a public place where it would be easy for undercover police to nab him.

Now you have a decision;
Do the story? There could be a Pulitzer here.
Inform law enforcement? This man is responsible for the deaths of over fifty people. Many of whom were innocent ordinary people. He does not deserve a quiet retirement.

I'm worried about the number of rapists and contract-killers who are trying to talk to me. :(

I would like to be a hitman.

These hypos are ridiculous. Nobody in their right mind would just walk up to a stranger and ask them to tell his story of being a lifetime professional murderer.

And no, this is not a Pulitzer story, mainly because unless you identify the guy you might as well have made the story up.

Tell the cops. Yawn.

Well, you've done it - you turned in the rapist. The police were quiet about their source and you got the scoop on his apprehension. You now also have a very good relationship with the Chief of Police. Maybe it'll be useful in the future?

Strange thing - today you were approached by a man who clais to be "Vinny the Plug". He goes on to tell you that he's a contract killer. He's taken many jobs for organized crime, and plenty of 'freelance' as well. (Life insurance jobs, jealous lovers, business competitors, 'inconvenient' wives, etc.) He shares a few specific details about a couple unsolved murders you are familiar with as proof.
He has sought you out because he is going to retire soon. He promises to tell you enough information about his career to make for a very good story without compromising the anonimity of his clients or giving the police enough to find him. He figures a career as esteemed as his deserves public respect - plus he wants to close a few of his 'trademark' secrets so 'the competition' can never use them. He gives you a day to consider his offer. He sets his next meeting with you in a public place where it would be easy for undercover police to nab him.

Now you have a decision;
Do the story? There could be a Pulitzer here.
Inform law enforcement? This man is responsible for the deaths of over fifty people. Many of whom were innocent ordinary people. He does not deserve a quiet retirement.

forgot the poll again. merging threads...

Well, you've done it - you turned in the rapist. The police were quiet about their source and you got the scoop on his apprehension. You now also have a very good relationship with the Chief of Police. Maybe it'll be useful in the future?

Strange thing - today you were approached by a man who clais to be "Vinny the Plug". He goes on to tell you that he's a contract killer. He's taken many jobs for organized crime, and plenty of 'freelance' as well. (Life insurance jobs, jealous lovers, business competitors, 'inconvenient' wives, etc.) He shares a few specific details about a couple unsolved murders you are familiar with as proof.
He has sought you out because he is going to retire soon. He promises to tell you enough information about his career to make for a very good story without compromising the anonimity of his clients or giving the police enough to find him. He figures a career as esteemed as his deserves public respect - plus he wants to close a few of his 'trademark' secrets so 'the competition' can never use them. He gives you a day to consider his offer. He sets his next meeting with you in a public place where it would be easy for undercover police to nab him.

Now you have a decision;
Do the story? There could be a Pulitzer here.
Inform law enforcement? This man is responsible for the deaths of over fifty people. Many of whom were innocent ordinary people. He does not deserve a quiet retirement.

No brainer here. You dial 1-800 ISNITCH and say, Hello, FBI, have I got a scoop for you.
Otherwise, you become an accessory in the worst case, or, in the best case holding an unverifiable story that isn't worth two cents.

I think it's a shame he's retiring. :(

Well, you've done it - you turned in the rapist. The police were quiet about their source and you got the scoop on his apprehension. You now also have a very good relationship with the Chief of Police. Maybe it'll be useful in the future?

Strange thing - today you were approached by a man who clais to be "Vinny the Plug". He goes on to tell you that he's a contract killer. He's taken many jobs for organized crime, and plenty of 'freelance' as well. (Life insurance jobs, jealous lovers, business competitors, 'inconvenient' wives, etc.) He shares a few specific details about a couple unsolved murders you are familiar with as proof.
He has sought you out because he is going to retire soon. He promises to tell you enough information about his career to make for a very good story without compromising the anonimity of his clients or giving the police enough to find him. He figures a career as esteemed as his deserves public respect - plus he wants to close a few of his 'trademark' secrets so 'the competition' can never use them. He gives you a day to consider his offer. He sets his next meeting with you in a public place where it would be easy for undercover police to nab him.

Now you have a decision;
Do the story? There could be a Pulitzer here.
Inform law enforcement? This man is responsible for the deaths of over fifty people. Many of whom were innocent ordinary people. He does not deserve a quiet retirement.I would do the story. but an Annomynous tip to the police would be in order. that way I can also be "surprised" and not be fingered as an informant. Any bounty on his head then won't be paid or will be arrainged to be paid to a worthy charity.

If I was successful with that, Then I would visit him in jail and do an autobiography with the proceeds of the sale going where ever he wants it to go.

As a member of the media, I can assure you very few would be tempted by such a farfetched scenario, and it's highly unlikely such a story would win a Pulitzer. Second, just to give you the thrill of a copy editing experience, your heading should read: "Media Ethics Question No. 2: Contract Killer". Your question is about ethics, not whether your question is ethical.

People have already written stories about convicted hitmen on death row, and they have stories that name names and are therefore interesting. I doubt this one would make much of a splash.

People have already written stories about convicted hitmen on death row, and they have stories that name names and are therefore interesting. I doubt this one would make much of a splash.
You don't yet know who he's killed... ;) Hmm, an old hitman who did mob jobs... Old unsolved murders linked to the mob... hmmm. Can't think of any. cough-choffaough-cough

As a member of the media, I can assure you very few would be tempted by such a farfetched scenario, and it's highly unlikely such a story would win a Pulitzer. Second, just to give you the thrill of a copy editing experience, your heading should read: "Media Ethics Question No. 2: Contract Killer". Your question is about ethics, not whether your question is ethical.

Well hell, it's a good thing then that I'm not a hit man nor coming to your media outlet! Duh - this is an exercise - a hypothetical. Real life is seldom so cut and dried. Nor, is real life; do you ever really have to bench-press 150 lbs ten times in real life? That is the difference between real life and exercise. Doesn't mean you shouldn't exercise.

Sheesh - I thought even someone in the media could figure that out - Even a paperboy!