Ethics in magic

[Crimson Ace]

A few days ago I found myself in a unusual situation. I had stayed at a friends house pretty late and decided to take the train to my house as I did not have a car. Only problem was that the train station was a two hour walk away from my house and it was about three in the morning. I decided to go anyways. After getting to the station though I got mixed directions from a few people. And after about 40 minutes of walking around in circles I found my way back to the train station and asked a group of guys in front of a bar for directions. They tried to convince me that I was crazy for walking for a good ten minutes and insisted that I stay and hang out in the bar with them until the morning and try to find a ride home then. I personally don't like to drink and wanted to get home so I turned down their offer and started walking home after they gave me directions. As I was walking I had a thought. I realized that I had few decks of cards in my bag and plenty of effects ready to go. And it got me thinking. Would it have been morally wrong of me to go back and use magic to in a sense hustle people out of money to get home? So my question to you guys is this. If you were in my shoes would you have taken the walk? Or went back and used magic to get money?

 

[Slicke]

Well, in that situation, you could definitely use your skillz to hustle people but do YOU think that's the right thing to do ...? It's like playing a game where you always win, you know you are the only winner while everyone else think it's fair ... What i would try is, use my card skill to hustle them but i would tell them beforehand that there's no way they could possibly win, where the odds and stakes are very much in their favor and where i win/they lose very little. If you are a stranger to them, they would most definitely think you're crazy and would play with you. The whole situation ends in a win-win cause you get the $$$ needed while providing entertainment to them ....

 

[Luis Vega]

I would have definite went back and do some money.,..but not by hustle them, but maybe doing some table hopping or stay in a corner and ask people if they would like to see some magic...and get some tips...

I think there is nothing wrong to get some money with your skills...some people lives by that means...if you knew how to play football (a skill) would you do it to get money? of course you would..

 

[Aaron.Williams]

I wouldn't try to hustle them out of their money. I would perform and try for tips.

The only way I would get money from them by "hustling" would be to tell them that there's no way they could win and make a game out of it. That way I'm not really cheating them

 

[JButterfield]

AWould it have been morally wrong of me to go back and use magic to in a sense hustle people out of money to get home? So my question to you guys is this. If you were in my shoes would you have taken the walk? Or went back and used magic to get money?

Define 'hustle people out of money'. It may be just an odd choice of words, but 'hustle' has a somewhat negative connotation. If by that you mean a crooked gambling scheme (like 3 card monte, or a poker deal), then yes it's immoral and likely illegal.

Performing for tips would be the way to go. Wagering can cause a lot of hard feelings if it's discovered (or strongly suspected) that you cheated. People get beat up for that kind of thing, and worse.

Just perform - forget about trying to cheat people out of money. Put on a good show, be gracious and appreciative, and you'll do fine. If you cheat people, then you're asking for trouble.