- Jan 12, 2012
- 27,286
- 113
I thought that is what would happen if Churchmouse turned Nazi on us!
I think Churchmouse is watching this thread and making his list......
I'm not tracking where the "obligation" thing comes from.
A couple months ago, I got a coffee at a shop near my office. (I rarely do that.) After she handed it to me, she said someone had already paid for it. I offered to pay for the next person in line, but she said that one was already covered, too. So I took it.
I didn't feel obligated to offer the next person, it just felt like the right thing to do.
And, since they know the total number, at some point the "last" people in line just took the free food.
Finally, the "newsworthiness" of things - since I sometimes have background information on ACTUAL newsworthy things - is, to me, a riddle, wrapped in an enigma, surrounded by dollars. Sometimes, it just doesn't make sense.
Me, obviously. ...first world problems, don't ya know.Who cares?
Stanley Milgram wouldn't fully agree with this (nor would ATM ).People are free to do what they want (last I checked). If passing it on feels good to them, who am I to judge or put someone down for it? Was someone harmed by this or something?
Please elaborate (intended with a non-confrontational smile).Maybe I listen to many economist / psychologist podcast.
There's a definite social implication to "pay it forward".
One of them indulges shocking social experiments. The other was as scientist.Stanley Milgram wouldn't fully agree with this (nor would ATM ).
Please elaborate (intended with a non-confrontational smile).
"Implication" in a bad way?
But more seriously, I remain unconvinced that "someone did something nice for me so I should do something nice for someone else" is a bad thing. Particularly when there's an assumed anonymity about this. No one knows who the recipient will be, which reduces the perceived payoff for the giver.
No one here has "paid it forward" at a drive through?
I do it about once a month. Pick up the tab for the person behind me. Don't know, and don't care, if they do it for the next. Fun to see how long they kept this one going. Sure, it was mostly a "game" at that point, but at least it was a feel-good thing. The world needs more of that.
Well, back in the day, we bought rounds for the house. The rest of the night I was wasted.
If it makes you (no one in particular) happy, I'm not necessarily trying to rain on your parade... ok, a sprinkle.
Who cares? People are free to do what they want (last I checked). If passing it on feels good to them, who am I to judge or put someone down for it? Was someone harmed by this or something?
Or McDonald's just didn't have a next person in line. Kind of hard for someone to pay for the next person when that is not a known quantity to the restaurant.And, since they know the total number, at some point the "last" people in line just took the free food.
One more reason to avoid a drive through.
I'll be generous in many situations....of my choosing.
Feeding people with the means to feed themselves? Nice, but not necessary and not exactly "when i was hungry, you fed me...".
Who cares? People are free to do what they want (last I checked). If passing it on feels good to them, who am I to judge or put someone down for it? Was someone harmed by this or something?
I have a theory about Go Fund Me campaigns that's pretty unpopular too.
I can't speak for the OP, but I don't care if people want to engage in this no matter how silly it is.
For me, if placed in this social situation, I'd be anxious the entire rest of the day. It would not make be happy. Why? Because I'd be trying to figure out the correct protocol for how to deal with situation. Say thank you and leave? Pay it forward? But then how is this done? Pretend to be invisible? Throw the food and my money at the cashier? Race down the street honking the horn and try and thank the person?
These are the things that causes my wife to say, "You're on the spectrum."
Anyone remember my rant against tipping? Similar thing. Some of us don't handle social ambiguity as well as others. Tell me how much it cost, I hand you the money and say thank you, you say you're welcome**.
Forced giving, like Christmas exchanges or any holiday generated for the sake of consumer sales, is a tax. I avoid them for the most part.