[NovemberWest]

During The Great Depression, farms were having their equipment repossessed for non-payment. The John Deere Tractor Company decided to do no such thing. They told people "At some point, the weather will improve and you will need your tractor. Pay us when you can." Supposedly, for decades afterwards, if a tractor salesman for a different company saw a John Deere on a farm, there was no point in stopping.

John Deere is still going strong. I imagine a lot of their competitors went under during The Great Depression. It was impossible to sell the repossessed tractors since no one had any money.

I am feeling pretty bitter (about my personal situation) and feeling like, yes, evil wins. But I am not convinced the objective evidence really bears that out.

[nicholas73]

The cynic businessman way to look at this is that John Deere knew repossessing a tractor was pointless, because there would be no one to resell it to. It would better to forebear the loan for later repayment and gain the goodwill.

[NovemberWest]

My oldest son is basically a sociopath. He once tried to tell me a good thing he did was not really good because he did it for bad reasons. I assured him there were no thought police and the only important part was that he had, in fact, done the right thing.

I honest to god do not care what motivated their decision. I am a bleeding heart idealist, or at least perceived as such. Yet, I think "doing right" is a pragmatic thing, not some abstract ideal measured by some supposed god in some supposed spiritual realm.

(But have an upvote. Good comment.)

[nicholas73]

Our minds are made to feel good doing the right thing, because it brings social benefits, and hence evolutionary benefits. But logically we know when to choose otherwise. So I don't think your son is a sociopath.

[esw]

That's a great anecdote. Thank you so much for sharing.