13 Comments
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brie's avatar

i would definitely keep the 50$. cuz I'm always broke and I figure thar if someone has 50s in their pocket so carelessly that they could lose one, then they can probably spare it to the charity of me.

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Belle Plaine's avatar

valid perspective!

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Ian Mattey at Wits End's avatar

You were raised right.

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Belle Plaine's avatar

Thanks, Ian. But it’s also me controlling the narrative! Somewhere out there a woman in a white parka may disagree.

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Amber's avatar

But what about the $50?!

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Belle Plaine's avatar

🤐

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Casey May's avatar

So you’re going to keep the outcome to yourself, are you?!

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Fog Chaser's avatar

The title of this piece is so good.

In all honesty, I probably would have picked up the $50, hung around a bit to see if someone came looking. If nobody came frantically looking, I'd eventually go to the front desk and ask if anyone had turned in any money — acting like I was the one who lost it (before just handing it over to someone else who I would be forcing to grapple with this ethical dilemma). Anyway, that might get them to say "this is the second time today!" And I'd say, "Oh, really? Who else?"

If that failed, well, I would probably give it to the front desk, and ideally a manager of some sort. The donation box would make me feel like I was being a little too decisive with someone else's money (even though we can assume that this person, the rightful owner, likes the institution).

I think I could sleep at night if I did all of the above. I once found someone's wallet in a parking lot. I packaged it up and mailed it to the address on the ID. A few weeks later I got an effusive thank you note and a nice gift.

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Belle Plaine's avatar

Do you have all my precise movements on surveillance camera, or just this instance?

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Fog Chaser's avatar

Haha — I think I took this assignment a little too seriously.

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Wendy Crawford's avatar

Oh man! On the subject of littering I used to tell my students “The 🌎 is not your garbage can.” Thanks, Melanie.

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Carmen Vilness's avatar

Was her name Karen? Sorry all the nice real Karen’s out there. Entitled people like her need some serious old wooden spoon action.

Glad you’re venturing out, my guess is that you donated it.

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Belle Plaine's avatar

Haha. So many nice Karens! I feel bad for all the kind and thoughtful Karens.

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