There was an interesting chain on the Princeton Alumni in NYC email listserv recently when a couple of runners asked if they could buy anyone’s entry into the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May. Presents interesting ethical quandaries around when secondary markets are OK, and when violating contracts, enforceable or not, is OK. Here’s the chain with my reply in final.

Anyone have any opinions on the matter as it relates to Airbnb, Uber, StubHub or the sharing economy when it flies in the face of legal regulation and contracts renters, car insurance owners, and others have in place? Or, for that matter, in driving event ticket prices up because scalpers buy them early and then resell them with no intention of going?

On Thu, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:28 AM, Avi Millman wrote:

I believe the point of the policy may also be to prevent a re-sell market from emerging and for entries to go to the highest bidder. Makes sense, as does someone who can’t any longer use an entry trying to sell it to someone who can but did not sign up in time. Selling perishable items is the new norm, despite violating leases, insurance policies, etc: airbnb, uber….

I’m not sure whether violating this contract is the same type of moral affront as plagiarism, particularly if the spirit of the law is upheld and the entry isn’t sold at a higher price (I wasn’t a philosophy major). But like Arthur says, he cleans up after his dog when no one is watching, and he probably recycles when no one is watching, too.

I’ll let you black market scoundrels know if I hear of anyone who can’t use theirs. Otherwise, see you 5/16.

On Thu, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:24 AM, <another princeton alum> wrote:

Please don’t reprimand us. We’re trying our best. I clean up after my dog when no one is watching.

On Thu, Feb 19, 2015 at 11:08 AM, <the alum who emailed the policy> wrote:

I understand Ryan’s point; however, those who registered for the race agreed to follow the rules when they registered. You can’t complete registration on the website without checking the box saying that you understand and agree to the rules.

When I was at Princeton, we had an Honor Code. Does that still exist?

E

On Thu, Feb 19, 2015 at 10:52 AM, <another princeton alum> wrote:

This rule is a) utterly ridiculous and b) practically unenforceable given the sheer number of participants in events like the Brooklyn Half. I mean…it’s a running race, not some black-tie presidential ball.I’m also interested in an entry.ThanksR ‘06

On Thu, Feb 19, 2015 at 10:19 AM, <another princeton alum> wrote:

Dear Tigers,

I hope that E is not talking about the NYRR Brooklyn half.

From the NYRR website (http://www.nyrr.org/races-and-events/race-faqs)

NYRR reserves the right to reject any entry and to disqualify and bar any individual from any NYRR event. This rejection/disqualification may be based on, but is not limited to: violation of the aforementioned rules; unsportsmanlike conduct; non-payment of race fees; competing with an unofficial number; competing with an official number or B-tag/D-tag assigned to another person; transferring or attempting to transfer an official number or B-tag/D-tag to, or to obtain such number or B-tag/D-tag from, another person; being paced during the race by a person not entered in the race;

E

On Thu, Feb 19, 2015 at 9:53 AM, <a princeton alum> wrote:

Hi Tigers,

I’m looking for an entry to the Brooklyn half marathon. Does anyone who currently holds an entry and cannot make the race want to sell it to me?

Thanks,

E ‘09