Winning by Default: When Taking Advantage Exposes the Real Lesson

In a world where opportunity is often seen as something to grab at all costs, a strange phenomenon plays out repeatedly: people seizing mistakes made by others, claiming “victory” at the expense of basic human decency. A recent example that stirred much debate involved Cartier, the legendary jeweler. A pair of Cartier earrings, normally priced at a staggering $14,000, was accidentally listed online for just $14. As expected, the internet went into a frenzy. Buyers, seeing an obvious error, rushed to purchase the earrings at this absurdly low price — some even fighting for legal enforcement of the transaction. They knew it was a mistake. Everyone knew it was a mistake. Yet, many insisted on holding Cartier to it, citing “a deal is a deal” and “buyer protection” laws, as if morality and fairness were suddenly outdated concepts in the face of technicalities. But let’s be honest: is that really winning? When someone knowingly exploits another’s error, what they’re really doing is st...