My friend’s partner made the following moral argument: Toilet paper is free in the shared bathroom on the first floor Kouri Residence Mansion. But we still have to buy it for our suite, which has a bathroom that you have to walk through our room to get to. Since we could go downstairs every time to use the bathroom and free toilet paper, why not just get toilet paper from the downstairs bathroom when we’re out?
An interesting thought. It seems kind of unfair that they generally replace the toilet paper in those in the larger suites when you have to go get it at Target.
However, the argument that stealing the toilet paper downstairs for your own use would be morally equivalent to going to the bathroom downstairs every time doesn’t hold up.
By analogy, imagine your parents calling and making the following argument: Whenever I wanted some water at home, I could have walked to the park and used the public water fountain for free. So I don’t have to pay my water bill.
That would obviously be absurd. Your parents will have to pay their share for the convenience of running water straight to their kitchen, and you will have to pay for the convenience of having a bathroom – including toilet paper – right next to your room, accessible only to you and your three suites.
Additionally, the theft of said toilet paper could cause the bathroom downstairs to run out, creating an unfortunate situation for whoever uses it. The housekeeping staff I spoke with at Spencer Residence Hall said they have to replace the toilet paper in the lobby bathroom every day and they wouldn’t approve of taking it.
“It makes a little bit of sense, but also, is it morally right? Maybe not,” housekeeper Katelyn Sharpe said of the scenario.
“He should supply his own,” said housekeeper Kimberly Sharpe, and colleague Carlos Roque agreed.
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