Ok I think this has gone overboard. I'm willing to bet that everyone in this thread has "stolen" company resources. Ever gone to the bathroom outside your allotted break? That's theft of time. Used a company phone to make a personal phone call? Theft of time. Talk to your coworkers about the NCAA tournament? Read Facebook at work when it's not your job to do so? Used a sticky note to jot down something that you forgot about to do at home?
etc, etc.
My 7970 (at home) costs me $0.64 cents per day to mine. The shit I just took at work 10 minutes ago? $2.08 of company time.
Listen, I get that you don't want bitcoin to get a bad name, and these actions would darken bitcoin's image. But seriously, I would have just ignored the kid, not get him fired. That's wrong, IMO.
So, you're equating bathroom breaks with $500/month of electricity and stolen computer systems being sold on eBay? Really? REALLY?
I mean, I think it's an interesting thing to think about (I even analyzed the company I work for a few years ago and estimated they paid $17k/month for people to use the bathroom), but I wouldn't at all equate unintentional labor hours lost with intentional misuse of company resources and/or actual theft of physical resources.
There have been a number of articles recently in major newspapers regarding the Millennial Generation. These articles describe a number of reputable studies that indicate that the majority of Gen M have little regard for anyone, but themselves. Some rebuttal articles would describe Gen M as, "differently moral," and not careless. The latest articles would describe these "differently moral" attributes primarily as more tolerant of other's lifestyle, e.g. LGBT, and more conscious and caring of the environment. The later study also points out that these "different" morals have more to do with individualism rather than any conception of moral fabric or social contract.
As a wise man once said, "You can't make up your own morals." Morality, in large part, doesn't seems to be at play with Gen M.
My point follows. IMHO
I say, that both you, Tonto, and Mr. Metcalfe's attitudes are absurd and typify this kind of corruption of morality that ppl are reporting about Gen M.
People with an honest disposition get upset about Mr. Metcalfe's actions and attitude. While cases of jealousy at someone's ability to take advantage of their situation in a very dishonest way is a possibility I seriously doubt that represents the majority sentiment for posters on this thread.
The honest man can't believe someone would be dishonest. The dishonest man can't believe someone would be honest. I suppose somewhere in the middle are those that would just have the chips fall where they may.