Here’s an odd situation. For you, this will be hypothetical, but for me it happened a few moments ago.
I went to the computer lab to print of a junk copy of my maths paper for editing. On my way back, one of my acquaintances, a freshman girl, who was walking across the front lawn, tripped in the grass as she carried two cardboard trays of beer (I think it was about twenty-four cans each on two trays). She managed to keep the balance of one tray, but the other fell to the ground and the cans scattered everywhere in the grass. Here I am, minding my own business, witnessing her disaster. What should I do?
Should I help her replace the cans on the tray, give her the tray and walk away? Or should I carry the beer for her? (Walking away without helping is not an acceptable option, in my opinion.) She was going to carry the beer across campus. In my head I have two conflicting thoughts: you’re only carrying beer, it won’t kill you; and it’s beer, it could kill someone, and you’re facilitating recklessness. So what did I choose?
I gathered up the cans, carried the one tray and let her carry the other. As I approached the quad, another of my acquaintances spotted me. With womanly intuition, understanding my convictions, she discerned that I was not comfortable carrying two-dozen beer cans around campus. She rushed up to me, snatched the cardboard tray with a knowing smile, and whisked the beer away with the other girl. It was an interesting exchange. I’m not yet sure what to think about it.
I went to the computer lab to print of a junk copy of my maths paper for editing. On my way back, one of my acquaintances, a freshman girl, who was walking across the front lawn, tripped in the grass as she carried two cardboard trays of beer (I think it was about twenty-four cans each on two trays). She managed to keep the balance of one tray, but the other fell to the ground and the cans scattered everywhere in the grass. Here I am, minding my own business, witnessing her disaster. What should I do?
Should I help her replace the cans on the tray, give her the tray and walk away? Or should I carry the beer for her? (Walking away without helping is not an acceptable option, in my opinion.) She was going to carry the beer across campus. In my head I have two conflicting thoughts: you’re only carrying beer, it won’t kill you; and it’s beer, it could kill someone, and you’re facilitating recklessness. So what did I choose?
I gathered up the cans, carried the one tray and let her carry the other. As I approached the quad, another of my acquaintances spotted me. With womanly intuition, understanding my convictions, she discerned that I was not comfortable carrying two-dozen beer cans around campus. She rushed up to me, snatched the cardboard tray with a knowing smile, and whisked the beer away with the other girl. It was an interesting exchange. I’m not yet sure what to think about it.
2 comments:
I used to have a neighbor from Bosnia who smoked. He was around 30, I think, but didn't drive. I used to take him to the gas station so he could get cigarettes and he'd get me chocolate in exchange. I don't like smoking, but he'd already made his choice on that count, so I don't feel like that is my responsibility.
Tough one-- but it isn't as though she wouldn't have carried the beer anyway. I think you had two good outcomes. One girl was the recipient of your kindness, without judgment of her choice, after a public embarrassment. Likewise you were the recipient of the other girl's kindness (and ESP!)in a situation that was uncomfortable to you.
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