Where did honesty go?

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I truly think that most people are honest.  But something happened last night at our restaurant that makes me wonder how anybody could do this and live with themselves.  We have a 5 ft suit of armor outside on the steps of the double door.  It could be a second entrance, but we don't use it except to display the knight holding the menu.

A couple in their 50's was walking by, and the woman picked up the knight and started to bolt with it.  Our manager saw her and ran outside yelling.  She put it down and ran away.  Her husband, as he was walking by, said "We have one like it at home."  And our manager said, "Then you don't need two."

It would be more understandable -- though still not right -- if it was a bunch of teenage kids thinking they were funny, but as old as they were, what's this world coming to?

[Anna Iram]

If I had a dollar for every time I said "what were they thinking...". Sounds like they were just wraped up in their own "I want" without any thought of consequence. 


I have a story to tell from yesterday as well. A friend stopped in to the grocery to get something for lunch before heading into work. When she got to checkout her wallet was missing from the pocket where she had placed it. She searched for an hour all over that store with the help of several employees and it was not to be found. The store was kind enough to let her take her "purchases" at no charge.There were just a few things. That's the nice part of the story.

Anyway, she receives a call from some guy an hour or so later. He found her wallet in the store...and TOOK IT WITH HIM!!. Idiot. Now why did he not turn it in right then? She would have had it before she even got to checkout. So he finds her business cards and calls her. Then he wants her to meet him at his house to pick it up. She made him meet her at a corner store. Then he plays all these games, making her describe the wallet and it's contents...he holds up her ID to compare it to her face. Total control drama. Meanwhile she's like.. Please just give me my wallet so I can go home.... Geesh!

It's like people don't know what the "right thing to do" is anymore.

[maelstrom0370]

Never underestimate "The Power of Stupid" in most people.

[Lady Neysa]

Lady Renee, theft is inexcusable regardless of age.   I'm glad they didn't get away with it.  Did they really think they could just sneak away with a 5 ft suit of armor without anyone noticing?  It makes me wonder what was going through their heads at the time, other than vacant stupidity?  It would "almost" be more understandable if they had said, "we had one like it but it was stolen-we thought this was ours so we wanted to steal it back."  I mean, it's not everyday you randomly see a suit of armour out in the mundane world, so like I said, IF that had been the case it would have been more understandable, but still not the right way to handle it.
However, since that wasn't the scenario, you were very generous in not calling the police on these stupid, selfish idiots.   

[Lady Neysa]

Anna Iram, I'm glad your friend got her wallet back with everything apparently intact, but wow, that story was starting to sound creepy...I'm glad your friend had the common sense to insist on meeting in public, or it may not have turned out so well.  Reading more into that situation just gives me the chills...

[Noble Dreg]

Honesty has no reward, crime does indeed pay.  Was the woman making off with the armor arrested?  Did anyone even think of calling the police?  Even had she been arrested would there be a penalty?  I'm guessing the answer is 'no' to all three.

The other day at the mall I saw a woman with two young children drop a twenty while I was eating in the food court.  She had just entered a photo-booth with the kids.  I went over, picked it up, and handed it to her when she came out saying "I believe you dropped this".  Her response?...she spat "F-you!" and walked off.  Yep, it's a fine world we live in.  Technically honesty did pay as I was $20 ahead but it would have been far more pleasant for me had I just wondered off without the insult.

[renren]

Honesty has no reward, crime does indeed pay.  Was the woman making off with the armor arrested?  Did anyone even think of calling the police?  Even had she been arrested would there be a penalty?  I'm guessing the answer is 'no' to all three.

The other day at the mall I saw a woman with two young children drop a twenty while I was eating in the food court.  She had just entered a photo-booth with the kids.  I went over, picked it up, and handed it to her when she came out saying "I believe you dropped this".  Her response?...she spat "F-you!" and walked off.  Yep, it's a fine world we live in.  Technically honesty did pay as I was $20 ahead but it would have been far more pleasant for me had I just wondered off without the insult.

Wow..just wow!

[Lady Neysa]

You were trying to tell this woman she dropped money and she responded like that?  I don't get it.    I guess she didn't need the money? 

Uhh.... I'm being a little slow here...was she a "lady of the evening"  and when someone waved money at her, she automatically thought you were trying to score in front of her kids or something...? I can't think of any other reason why she'd react like that.  If someone told me I'd dropped money I'd be tripping over myself to thank them.   

[RumbaRue]

I've always said, "I'm the most honest person around", pretty good for someone playing pirate at events.

I've found wallets in stores/shopping carts and have always turned them into the store manager without ever looking inside of them - it's none of my business...

I've found money, faire finds like knives and such - I always look around to see if someone might have dropped it. Things like knives I've found at faire, I put out where it can be seen if someone comes looking for it. No one shows up, then it's mine.

I tell the truth, though many people don't want to hear it and would prefer a lie.

I don't necessarily lie, but I may not bring up a subject due to the consequences that might happen - always ask yourself when lying or spreading rumors:
A. Is it the truth?
B. Is it fair to all concerned?
C. Will it build good will and better friendships?
D. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

**Note this info comes from the Rotary International Four-Way Test

[Anna Iram]

Lady Neysa, I didn't actually get that he was being scary, though yes it's never a good idea to go to a strangers house. You never know. He was an "old guy" is how she put it and I think he had just decided he was going to be in charge of the wallet now....make sure it was returned to the right person....or some kind of crazyness. I don't know...

Noble Dreg, I'm shaking my head over here. Instant Karma there I'd say. Wish life were always that simple.


RhumbaRue, those are good words. Though much like the Ten Commandments easy for me to say, "yeah sure I do that" and then forget I was coveting my neighbors good fortune last week. Ah well.

[white trillium]

Hmmm....is it possible that the older woman could be sufferring from alzheimer's?  Her husband's comment that "we have one just like it at home" makes it sound like he was trying to explain her behavior away.

Just a thought.

And, Nobel Dreg...wow, just wow.

[Noble Dreg]

There are good folk out there, embrace them and ignore the rest.

I have three 'obsessions', R/C Planes, 'G' scale trains, and Ren-Fairs.  I can honestly say the most kind and honest folk, as a matter of percentage, are those I know in the Ren community.  That is why I like to hang with other Rennies.

[ADraeger]

Honesty has no reward, crime does indeed pay.  Was the woman making off with the armor arrested?  Did anyone even think of calling the police?  Even had she been arrested would there be a penalty?  I'm guessing the answer is 'no' to all three.

The other day at the mall I saw a woman with two young children drop a twenty while I was eating in the food court.  She had just entered a photo-booth with the kids.  I went over, picked it up, and handed it to her when she came out saying "I believe you dropped this".  Her response?...she spat "F-you!" and walked off.  Yep, it's a fine world we live in.  Technically honesty did pay as I was $20 ahead but it would have been far more pleasant for me had I just wondered off without the insult.

I feel your pain.  About four years ago, my mother (who is a very gentle soul) and I were shopping at a mall.  This teenage kid sprints (and I mean makes a HUGE run for it) past us, clutching a purse under his arm.  Purse snatcher, right?  So, I run after him as mom calls the mall security.  We end up in Dillards (that's where I lost him), Mom and security catch up, we explain to the security what he looks like AND that we didn't SEE him take a purse, but we saw very suspicious behavior & they might want to check it out if they can find him.  Amidst all of this, a middle-aged woman with a cane and no purse comes creeping up. Mom notices, puts two and two together, asks her if her son was running through here with her purse, she replies 'Yes', Mom= 'Thank God. We thought he might have stolen someone's purse.  I'm sorry for any inconvenience."  Her reply was: "You f*&*&* bi*@#.  I'm dying of cancer.  He's trying to get the car for me. You *&$&^& *&^*&."   Like we knew that.   It was horrible and completely rude.  I'd bet she'd have a different reaction if it had indeed been a purse snatching.  She continued to curse out my mother (I was so shocked I couldn't react) as she left through the doors. 

[Joyce "Delfinia DuSwallow" Howard]

Right Out The Window!

[renren]

To answer the question "where did honesty go?"

I think someone STOLE it!