article yesterday that addressed these questions and our culture's new take on the Golden Rule. Apparently, the Rule has changed. Lost cell phones are found and returned, but only for a ransom.
Not willing to pay? Don't count on getting your phone back. Go to a party and lose your wallet?
You'll probably get it back, but don't think the cash will still be in it. "If you expect someone's going to return your wallet with all the cash, you're probably a little delusional," Cohn says. Taking the dough might not have been the most ethical course of action, he admits, but it's not a sin.
Well, call me delusional. I've been a victim of this new take on the Golden Rule. When I left my purse on an airplane a few years ago, an airline employee (Delta, if you're curious) helped themselves to the cash inside before returning my purse.
This was an airline employee that I was supposed to entrust with my life in the event of an emergency, and as it turns out I couldn't even trust them with my purse. But according to this new Rule, I should put aside my anger and just consider it a finder's fee. Whatever happened to doing the right thing, just because it was the right thing to do?
The article theorizes that went out the window with the advent of reality TV. Cook good food, design nice clothes, agree to a makeover, and win a prize. I'm not so sure I buy into that.
We can't blame TV for all of our problems, though that does seem to be the popular thing to do these days. I think it comes from the pervasive sense of entitlement and "me first" attitude our culture has developed. We've all been taught from a young age that we deserve good things and that we should look out for ourselves.
It's a great message, but somewhere along the way we got a little carried away with it. Now we seem to think that we deserve good things, even if they belong to someone else. So, I'm curious, what would you do?
For the record, I'd return the wallet (cash intact) and the cell phone, in exchange for one little thing - a simple "Thank you". June 27, 2007 | Link | In the News Ten Word Review site yesterday, which inspired me to share some 10 word reviews of my own: Children of Men (movie) Saving Private Ryan with a baby instead of Matt Damon. Pirates, ham, Darwin, and a talking monkey - funniest book ever.
Eternally cursed, yet marginally successful and still lovable.
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