(False) Pretexting

[jackofallgeeks]

Ok, for the sake of argument, I'll at least consider the possibility that, as investigators quoted in This article claim, there may be legitimate uses of 'pretexting' -- frankly, I prefer the terms 'lying' or 'deception', but those are emotionally-charged. Notably, though, it's never stated in what ways this is needed. Can anyone out there explain why anyone should have to lie outright to get personal information, and how there isn't some less-deceitful way of obtaining the same information? The only end that grabs me as legitimate at all is the missing child bit, but even then I've never been a fan of 'ends justify the means' ethics.

Thoughts?

Comments

[uhlrik.livejournal.com]

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, and this is so because the means justify the ends rather than the reverse.

but then, I don't believe there is ever such a thing as a shade of grey in morality. Our human myopia is what causes us to blur the distinctions.