What is wrong with snitching?

[Team Fortress Two]

I read online about this topic, and people end up saying "snitching is bad because it's blah blah blah." Many people seemed to use some horrible logic, such as (A) implying the act in all circumstances is wrong (by using the strawman) or (B) "if everybody did it, the world would be . . ." (Kantian logic)

Let's ignore "tattle-telling" on your friends or criminals, for now. For example, a story about how a "person" reported a student cheating, and something bad happened to this first "person." The top rated reply said "next time, don't be a snitch."


Help me understand.
Don't focus on the semantics. If you aren't sure of what I mean, move along.

[chiefputsa☒lag]

if the pay is good, i'll be a snitch or rat :)

[Azza ☠]

Snitching is a form of betrayal.

Accusing of something they might of just glimped or overheard, which could of even been taken out of context or wrong.

It also paints a revenge target on your back. Most want to get back at them.

Little kids tend to sometimes snitch on their older brother just so they can appear like the good kid. Even if it's a small thing, they make it bigger. Some tend to get pleasure from getting others into trouble. The older brother later on refuses to let him tag along or hang out due to that fact he can't be trusted.

[The Space Butterfly]

Because others hate people who like doing the right thing.

[CatPerson]

Originally posted by Azza ☠:

Snitching is a form of betrayal.

This belief is why the term "snitching" has become associated with being a bad thing. Thief, knight, murderer, saint ... no one likes to feel betrayed. It's not always a rational thing.

Originally posted by A Space Butterfly:

Because others hate people who like doing the right thing.

Whether snitching is bad or not ... I'd say it depends on individual circumstance. Sometimes it may be closer to black or white, but sometimes it's a very grey area.

[APerfectCircle]

I snitch all the time, on people at my work. The only time I won't snitch on them, is when they are doing something that I would probably do eg riding on the pallet jack. If they are doing something I would not ever do eg stealing time from work, then I snitch.

[Γαῖα]

The first thing i do is look at whether its whistleblowing or snitching as one clearly acts with good intent while the latter may suggest an air of possible deceit, misinterpretation, even betrayal for self gain.

Sadly the majority that walk this earth, especially those with a power complex like nothing more than to conveniently substitute one word for the other.

[One]

Snitching is merely a concept, to reach an objective moral stance we would first need to know the frame/scenario in which it happens

[Fork_Q2]

Nobody wants to feel betrayed, especially if they allowed the "snitch" in on the secret.

Is it wrong in and of itself? No; tipping off the police on criminal or dangerous activity is a good thing.

[renamed_user_♥♥♥♥boysya]

dunno

[CJHRRIHRH]

Snitching isn't always done for the right reasons. Some people use it as revenge. It's basically the basis of blackmail.

Sometimes the thing they're snitching on is less of a wrong than the betrayal of trust. Or at least it's seen like that. Cheating on a test, for example, doesn't really hurt someone else. If you snitch on someone cheating on their gf or in a criminal conspiracy that's different, someone was harmed there.

Some people believe that even when they do something bad it was justified in some way, that they are good people despite the fact and then the narrative in their head is that the snitch has done something to hurt them, a good person.

By snitching on a friend you show them you can't be trusted to keep a secret and that will hurt your relationship, whether or not they deserved to be snitched on or not. Of course if you have friends who constantly do bad things then you should make new friends.

[Sparse Dunes]

I'll warn the person that they are doing something wrong and if they continue to ignore it yeah I'll snitch, I warned them that they are doing something that isn't right, yet they continue to do so it's their own ignorance that is to blame.

[Team Fortress Two]

Many people say that for people cheating on tests and quizzes (spare college), if they aren't hurting anybody [but themselves], one should not tell the teacher.

It's "victimless," so people should mind their own damn business if it ain't bothering them.


Then again, if you work hard or have natural academic gifts, do your deserve a high grade if you got one? Maybe, maybe not.

If you cheat, (whether laziness, bad time management skills, important life events) should you get a similar grade? I mean, it is unfair and you know it is wrong, yet "snitching is somehow more wrong." It may be unfair, but it ain't harming me; I should leave cheaters alone.


Some people will claim that everybody cheated once in their life. Hmmm, if enough people do something they personally know is wrong or unaccepted, we should let most of them get away with it. Reminds me of how people actually buy music these days and nobody crosses the U.S.-Mexican border illegally.

Point? Maybe telling on every, single, freaking, thing that somebody does bad is annoying and dumb and immature and selfish. Maybe if you do it to get back at them or to punish them, you are doing it wrong.

But sometimes, if you see something that is ethically and/or morally wrong that should not have happened or should not continue, maybe you should not just mind your own business.

[Naedmi]

I have the high score of keeping secrets. But I was never really listening anyways.

[Eat3n]

Originally posted by A Space Butterfly:

Because others hate people who like doing the right thing.

^This, 100% this. I'd even go farther to say that it's not even about the other person doing the right thing. People hate the do-right person because of the guilt (even if it's subconscious) we feel by not doing the right thing ourselves.