Is it immoral, unethical, or illegal to use movie prop money for collection plates, tip jars, beggars, and strip clubs?
Is it immoral, unethical, or illegal to use movie prop money for collection plates, tip jars, beggars, and strip clubs?
If I'm paying for my goods and services with actual money, but using prop money for tips, is that bad? In my understanding, tips are given of one's own free will and would be considered a gift to the recipient, the same as if I gave flowers or cookies as a tip. I've also seen fake money passed off by religious people that looks fully real on one side, and has church propaganda on the other side.
This is a hypothetical question that came up when assembling a gag gift for my kid from my parent. I don't plan on doing it (though, there are some instances where it'd be VERY tempting...), but it does make me curious.
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It’s both unethical and illegal.
only if the "currency" is convincing enough. If it's literally monopoly money, not so much. most prop money usually is not all that convincing up close. (which is one of the reasons it's usually only folded over or in wallets. they'll put real bills on top if they need close ins on the cash.)
There is absolutely an intent to defraud aspect, and it's clear the intent here is to pass of the money as real even if it's monopoly money. This is particularly true in strip clubs where you're getting a "service" based on your donations.
is it? or is it to hide the fact that they're not tipping to escape the social stigma inherit in not tipping (or tithing).
if you were right, those religious tracts would be illegal and the company that produces them closed down for counterfeiting currency.
I edited my comment about strip clubs right when you posted this. There's a legal gray area in my opinion by using it for tipping. If you've already received the service, you really can't be committing fraud. Essentially, the producers can easily say the thing is not meant to commit fraud because it's obviously not real money. But if you personally passed it off as money anyway and received something for it, you'd get nailed.
I’m not positive about that. Possessing obviously fake money is not a crime, but passing it off as if it were real money in a transaction itself may constitute a crime. Back before sensors became more sophisticated, I had a friend who used photocopied bills (which were obviously fake) in subway token machines, and he got into some trouble for it.
So those Christians with the fake one sided bills with propaganda on the back that they leave as tips should be arrested.
Came here for this. That’s been happening for quite some time lol
Back before sensors became more sophisticated, I had a friend who used photocopied bills (which were obviously fake) in subway token machines, and he got into some trouble for it.
this is a bit different. at the point that you're paying for goods or services with it, yes, that's definitely trying to pass counterfeit bills. But tips are not payment for the food or wait service. You don't pay a tip in lieu of a bill, you pay a tip along with the bill. While socially it's understood there will be a tip... there's no legal obligation for there to be one; or even what is to be given as a tip.
Oh, I know. It’s not necessarily a crime, although I wouldn’t recommend it without reading what actions specifically would trigger those laws. It’s the wording of the laws that I’d want to be comfortable with.
But morally speaking it’s not even a grey area. It’s absolutely worse than just not tipping at all. If I were a restaurateur I’d ban this person on the first offense, no questions asked.
But morally speaking it’s not even a grey area. It’s absolutely worse than just not tipping at all. If I were a restaurateur I’d ban this person on the first offense, no questions asked.
Absolutely.