So here’s the ethical challenge of the day (Sunday). I’m standing in the grocery line behind a somewhat frazzled mom with three little boys (probably 6, 3 and 1). The kids are a little rumbustious (climbing up and down out of the cart, chatting, sorting through the groceries, trying to sneak candy into the cart), but not out of control. Mom is paying attention to the kids (she takes the time to answer the 3 year old’s quizzing about each item in the cart, redirects the oldest away from the candy, and tickles and plays with the baby).
She is noticibly in a hurry however, and in emptying her cart for the cashier she neglects a package of margarine in the corner under the baby seat. I can clearly see this package, but the clerk obviously cannot. I don’t know if the mother notices it or not. She conducts her transaction, pays, puts her bags in the cart and leaves. All without alerting the clerk to the presence of this $1.15 package of margarine or offering to pay for it. Now, I’m going to give her the benefit of the doubt and believe that she honestly didn’t see this item while checking out.
Where my dilemma comes in is this. Should I have pointed this item out to her? She seemed like a nice enough woman, but you never know who will take offense. No one likes getting yelled at when they are trying to be helpful. Is it incumbent on me to point out her error? I didn’t at the time. But I have been thinking about it. Is it my responsibility to make sure that someone else follows the rules?
I’m interested to hear what other people think.
Sparkly Things 