AP Photo / Haraz Ghanban
For the second time in two months, news stories which bring into question - ethics, careers and reality television have grabbed the headlines. Back in October, the story broke of the 6 year-old that was believed to have been hiding in a balloon as it raced through the air. Worried citizens and police raced frantically after the balloon, while millions watched on TV. Most recently, we are caught in the grips of the Salahi story. Known throughout the media as the “party crashers”, the pair attended the state dinner at the White House, allegedly, without an invitation and causing a hailstorm of controversy. What do these two families have in common? The desire to have their own reality television series. This brings into question - what happened to their ethics?
When considering the question of ethics in careers - we hold these two stories as excellent examples of ethics gone horribly wrong. Does the desire for a huge paycheck, to be adored by millions or to become a household name and rack up a huge television deal dismiss the need to behave in an ethical manner? Definitely not!
In fact, we see the result of a lapse in ethical judgment as the stories of these two families continue to be played out in front of millions of viewers. If ethics is defined as the principle which actually defines behavior as true or good, the problem becomes obvious. Rationalizing inappropriate behavior, whether it’s to sign a television deal or some other workplace issue should never occur.
Ethical decision making requires that choices in behavior are taken seriously. It also requires understanding the ramifications of the decisions that we make. Has reality TV colored the judgment that we use in behaving ethically? Many would argue - it has.
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