Doing the right thing can be painful
This afternoon while walking home from the bus stop I found a brand spanking new 32gb iPod Touch lying in the middle of the pavement. I stopped and stared at it for a second and to be honest couldn't believe my luck. Sat on the pavement was essentially 200 quids worth of equipment just begging to be pocketed.
To my shame I pocketed it and was more than happy to continue home counting my lucky stars. As I continued walking I noticed a young chap (maybe 19 or 20) walking about 150m further up the path. At this point I realised that in all probabilty this iPod was his, because only moments earlier he must have been walking along the same stretch of path and would have had to be really absent minded not to have spotted the iPod looking up at him from the asphalt.
Over the next hundred meters or so I battled with my conscience.
Sure the iPod wasn't mine but can it really be theft if I found it? Does the owner deserve it back if he's not bothered to look after it? Surely if I don't have it the next person to walk along will do.....especially in pikietown (Sandy Hill) where I live.
The guy ahead of me then stopped outside the school and started rummaging through his pockets and bag. Because he was now stationary and I was moving the gap between us was getting smaller.
Crunch time was approaching.
Do I keep this valuable piece of equipment (an item I do really want it has to be said), or do I approach him to see if he's lost it.
My mind was like a see-saw, one way then the other. I'm not a thief but I am poor (well, short of cash...not really the same thing I suppose). He's lost his iPod but then it's his fault, why should I bail him out?
What would he do?
The moment of truth came.
As I walked past him, I held up the iPod and said, "I think you dropped this."
Now, remember I have no evidence that it was actually his and he might have just been a quick thinker and an oppourtunist but he replied, "Yeah that's mine, thanks for that mate."
With a quick nod of the head, I left him with the iPod and continued with my day.
I would like to say that sat here I have a warm glow. The kind of glow you get when you do something spotaneous and good.
But that would be a lie, I don't.
Instead I'm sat here, counting the days till pay day thinking, "You idiot. You foolish f*cking idiot. Why the hell did you give it back!!"
I did what I think was a good thing but now I regret it. A strange feeling to be sure.
Does that make me a misguided honest person?
Or a misguided dishonest person?
Or maybe I am just an idiot.
A foolish f*cking idiot.
28 November 2009 at 00:40
Think of the good Karma mate. U know what they say, what goes around comes around. I think u did the right thing. It’s only an ipod. . . AND think of how pissed off you’d be if you’d lost it. I reckon doing the right thing must be a good thing in the long run. Even if it is painful. I guess the question is would your conscience punish you if you’d kept it?