What if your inaction caused someone harm?
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
I Didn't Do Anything
15 comments:
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It probably already has, for all of us. Turning away from awkward situations (arguing couple, crying child, lost dog) may result in harm (beaten wife/husband/child, dog killed in the street was perhaps a valued service animal, although the death of a pet would cause someone harm as well), and we've all done it, not wanting to get involved. I've called out parents for leaving their babies in their cars when going into (mostly) 7-11. Some leave the car running. One father went in a pizza place and waited, his baby and little girl in a car where the girl kept pressing the windows up and down. He was gone so long I sat in my car to watch over them, and called the police. Guess what? He WAS police! From another city. His license was blocked so they couldn't even contact him. Anyway, inaction is easy, action is hard, and I don't always take it. Honesty, it can be dangerous these days. Take action but only when you won't be the one harmed. Long answer, I think I'm passionate about it as far as kids in cars!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, of course. I think we more often thing of when our actions cause harm.
DeleteI am certain, like Lisa has said, that this already has happened but when I did not take action, it bothered me a lot and that told me my conscience was speaking to me. I know do say something and stand up to people even to the point that people from work, for example, asked if I wasn't scared because they were scared for me. Strangely, I am not and only think afterwards that I could have been in a dangerous predicament. Actually, I usually get an apology from the people.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to speak up sometimes. But I can see you confronting people others would see as scary.
DeleteI'd feel bad. It's like the song says, even if you choose not to decide you still have made a choice.
ReplyDeleteLisa pretty much said it all.
ReplyDeleteI'm inclined to agree with Lisa. We've all done it at times, and it probably has caused harm to varying degrees. It was in a different context, but my F-I-L has talked about not making a decision or taking an action being a decision or action itself in that we're choosing not to do anything.
ReplyDeleteVery true. Sometimes saying that it's not your problem is the worst thing you can do.
DeleteI was recently accused of that, even though I was actively doing all that I could do to get something completed. The accusation, I think, was made because the other person didn't want to own up to making unwise decisions. But, I could be wrong. I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteI can think that my spouse and I might have been more insistent over some actions my elderly mother in law should have taken and she didn't. I have a feeling that many of us have a regret or two in our lives, and we'll never know what the outcome might have been if we took a different action.
ReplyDelete"More insistent"? Sounds like you did take action, but were ignored. We can't make someone else do something. We can only advise in that situation.
DeleteJust amazed at Lisa's story--the man with the kids in the car who turned out to be a policeman. On second thought, why am I amazed?
ReplyDeleteYeah, not as surprising as it should be.
DeleteI can relate to all these comments. ~nods~ There is only so much one can do, especially when dealing with stubborn elderly parents. ~sigh~ But on the fiction side, this could lead to a compelling tale of redemption. :) Now, if I could just get back into writing stories. lol Maybe today's the day thanks to you, my dear. Be well!
ReplyDeleteWhatever works, right?
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