How Fast is Your 'Decide and Act' Process?

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Mine's too slow.


Yesterday, I walked in the front doors of my local grocery store. Some guy was pushing a cart and had the top part of the basket full of produce. -It wasn't much, a small bag of tangerines, a small bag of apples, and maybe a few oranges.

Anyhoo, the produce section is right in front of the doors. The check stands are a ways further into the store. The guy is walking out of the produce section and none of the fruit are in a store bag (plastic or paper...)

I'm thinking, "Is this guy stealing that stuff?" I'm trying to figure out if maybe he just didn't want them to put the stuff in bags for him...no, then why didn't he come from the check stand area? He's coming straight out of produce...

I try to convince myself that it's rude to assume that he's stealing just because he looks like he can't afford to pay for it and the rest is just circumstantial...until a kid that works there starts walking in the front door with carts. The guy turns his cart around and just waits in the door looking around until the kid walks away, then he walks out of the door.

Ok he stole the stuff.

This whole scene played out in about 60 seconds, and it took me a good 5 minutes longer to figure out what I should have done.

I know what I should have done. What would you have done, and do you think you would have decided and acted upon that decision in 60 seconds? I guess granted it was less than 60 seconds from the time that I new for sure that the guy was stealing, but still I couldn't wrap my brain around it quick enough to do what I should have done.

-Check for yourself...you have the facts, give yourself 60 seconds right now and see if you can decide and act. What went into your decision?

I'll tell you what went into mine a little later. I wouldn't want to influence your decision process...

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[livendive 8]

Much faster than it took me to read all that.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[gonzalesna 0]

I probably wouldn't have paid any attention to the situation. I don't look at what people have in their carts other than when I'm about to check out and I want to find the assumed shortest line. (Variable due to number of people and quantity of groceries for each person.)

Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie.

[normiss 886]

You should have tased him.

I dunno that I would put myself at risk over produce.
Theft is not my responsibility at a grocery store, although I'm pretty sure I would have made them aware of it when I walked in the store...laughingly even.

[livendive 8]

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I probably wouldn't have paid any attention to the situation. I don't look at what people have in their carts other than when I'm about to check out and I want to find the assumed shortest line. (Variable due to number of people and quantity of groceries for each person.)

I've recently been made much more aware of what the people in my line are buying. I never really noticed how the fattest people always have carts of pop & chips & ice cream & frozen burritos & twinkies (et al) & candy... I don't suppose it should be all that surprising, but it does provide some entertainment while I'm waiting my turn.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[gonzalesna 0]

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I probably wouldn't have paid any attention to the situation. I don't look at what people have in their carts other than when I'm about to check out and I want to find the assumed shortest line. (Variable due to number of people and quantity of groceries for each person.)

I've recently been made much more aware of what the people in my line are buying. I never really noticed how the fattest people always have carts of pop & chips & ice cream & frozen burritos & twinkies (et al) & candy... I don't suppose it should be all that surprising, but it does provide some entertainment while I'm waiting my turn.

Blues,
Dave

Once I'm in line, then yes. I pick a line and I'm standing there, bored off my ass, waiting for those in front of me to have their things rung up and paid for. Therefore, my eyes and mind wander. I go through everything from, "I'd like to have a go at that philly." to, "You do NOT need to be eating that." *Sigh* The things I have to deal with... Damn this ADHD!!!

Some people refrain from beating a dead horse. Personally, I find a myriad of entertainment value when beating it until it becomes a horse-smoothie.

[Darius11 12]

Honestly if someone is steeling food most of the time it will be because they need it. I wouldn’t have said anything and would have pretend not to have seen anything.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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You should have tased him.

I dunno that I would put myself at risk over produce.
Theft is not my responsibility at a grocery store, although I'm pretty sure I would have made them aware of it when I walked in the store...laughingly even.

That was just the thing though...if it was DVD's or something, I would have yelled at someone that was working there, "Hey! That guy is stealing from ya."
He didn't look dangerous at all.

-But it was food.

I guess on a more philosophical level, I've been trying to decide when compromising your morals is acceptable. Theft is wrong, no matter what it is...right? However, I did come up with a 'what I SHOULD have done' that wouldn't:

a.) flat out accuse a man up front that may not have done anything wrong
b.) not allowed a thief to steal
c.) fed the man and his family

I should have walked up to him and asked him if he needed help. The guy probably would have tried to leave the cart and walk away, but if I explained, "I have an extra $20 from Christmas. I'll pay for those if you need help," maybe all would have been well.

He doesn't risk going to jail for $12 of produce, I don't feel stupid for standing there and doing nothing, the store doesn't lose money, and the guy will maybe find another way of getting groceries now that he knows people will notice if he tries to steal them.

Anyhow, that's what I personally should have done because I actually had a $20 bill in my wallet and it wouldn't have crushed me to give it to him. I'd just go without one of my fancy foo-foo diet treats that I was going to buy.

Like I said, I was too slow on the draw...

And further, what if it was $50 of food? Or $100? Would I have still been that generous, or am I bound by the almighty dollar in deciding what's right and wrong, too?

I'm going to stop thinking for a while. I'm going to drink coffee and eat my cottage cheese with apricot preserves.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[Squeak 17]

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Honestly if someone is steeling food most of the time it will be because they need it. I wouldn’t have said anything and would have pretend not to have seen anything.

Same here, the black market for food is pretty poor nowadays so my assumption (right or wrong) would have been "stealing for food". I would have turned a blind eye most likely

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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Honestly if someone is steeling food most of the time it will be because they need it. I wouldn’t have said anything and would have pretend not to have seen anything.

I agree with the need being the drive behind stealing food...but there are food banks. If I knew where the local one is maybe I could have offered.

-What if he was taking the groceries out of someone's car? Is it ok to steal from the grocery store but not from an individual?

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[BillyVance 35]

Does that store have hidden security cameras? Maybe they caught it on tape and can bust him later. But for $12 worth of produce, I doubt it would be a high priority after the fact.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[normiss 886]

It adds up...and we all pay for it.
Groceries

[PLFXpert 0]

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You should have tased him.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[kschilk 0]

I wouldn't have busted 'im...probably just hand him $20 and make him go through the checkout. I'm sure that's probably the wrongliest thing to do but that's usually the way it goes.

"T'was ever thus."

[dannydan 5]

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You should have tased him.

I dunno that I would put myself at risk over produce.

These tasers remarks are seriously funny when they are off the cuff like that!


The below in JackBlacks cynical/playful, vallyBoy voice such as in the movie "The JACKEL",...

"But if you NORMISS would just ConcealCarry a DirtyHarry 6" nickeled (with scroll engraving and tritium night sights and LaserGrips from Crimson Trace Co.,) 40 freakin 4 MAGNUM baby, then what what farkin "RISK" would you have been taking??"..

>


Kinda wish I had read the story first before I chkd off the first of "decide in nanoseconds and ACT"...

But in this situation I would have asked the dude (politely of course, no brandishing of weapons) this;
" pardon me Sir/Ma'am, did you forget to chk out?" (i've done this before and made it to my vehicle and went back in and paid), 1- If I see a reciept etc cool... Move on! 2-If I see a guilty sad face etc... then I offer to help! 3-If the "thief" makes a break... sayonara dude/dudette!

I saw a DUDE steal a few big pkg's of some high priced steaks one time when I was like 17yoa! I didnt do or say notta! This guy stood 6-3 at least and scared the living shit out of me back then... Today same situation, I would think about a con~fro~tation a little more stratigically first, such as making a B~line to a store manager asap!!!

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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It adds up...and we all pay for it.

I just paid $14.52 for a bunch of grapes. ONE SINGLE BUNCH of grapes.

Out of season sure, but over $14 for a little baggie of grapes -sheesh I think I got robbed!

If I'm needing to eat an apple or need a banana for the babies I take it over to the deli counter and pay for it first, then we finish our shopping. I will open up the case of water bottles and give one to the babies or drink one whilest shopping, though. I've never thought of doing something like that without paying for it, though. That's pretty cheesey.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[gjhdiver 0]

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Mine's too slow.

If someone looks poor, and they are stealing food, I don't think I'd care too much if they got away. I might even hold the door open for them. I lead a relatively comfortable life, and as such, I've never been forced into the position where I feel that I would have to steal to eat. I'm not prepared to judge anybody who does.

(I'm presuming that they are stealing to eat here, as food has just about the lowest resale value of anything that you could possibly steal to make money from.)

[popsjumper 2]

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I just paid $14.52 for a bunch of grapes. ONE SINGLE BUNCH of grapes.

Out of season sure, but over $14 for a little baggie of grapes -sheesh I think I got robbed!

You're kidding me, right?



ad infinitum

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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Mine's too slow.

If someone looks poor, and they are stealing food, I don't think I'd care too much if they got away. I might even hold the door open for them. I lead a relatively comfortable life, and as such, I've never been forced into the position where I feel that I would have to steal to eat. I'm not prepared to judge anybody who does.

(I'm presuming that they are stealing to eat here, as food has just about the lowest resale value of anything that you could possibly steal to make money from.)

If you're living comfortably, would you pay for their stolen produce, or is that where you'd draw the line?

I'm not saying any one of us should or shouldn't, I'm just asking where we're drawing the line for ourselves...that's what I've been pondering ever since.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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I just paid $14.52 for a bunch of grapes. ONE SINGLE BUNCH of grapes.

Out of season sure, but over $14 for a little baggie of grapes -sheesh I think I got robbed!

You're kidding me, right?



ad infinitum

No joke...but my baby boy was having tummy troubles and it seems that grapes are the only thing that will help the lil' guy. He's worth $14 bucks.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[SkydiveStMarys 0]

"Once I'm in line, then yes. I pick a line and I'm standing there, bored off my ass, waiting for those in front of me to have their things rung up and paid for. Therefore, my eyes and mind wander. I go through everything from, "I'd like to have a go at that philly." to, "You do NOT need to be eating that." *Sigh* The things I have to deal with... Damn this ADHD!!!"


I SO do that too!! Thats ADHD!!??





Bobbi

A miracle is not defined by an event. A miracle is defined by gratitude.

[akarunway 1]

None of my business. Off topic a bit but how fast would you respond to a bad mal at 2000'?

I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

[riddler 0]

Don't be hard on yourself. That was probably the first time you encountered that situation, and humans almost never react quickly and correctly the first time they encounter something. That's why we give AFF students like 45 seconds to figure out how to open their parachute By the time you have a hundred jumps or so, everyone expects you to take a second or two. I've seen people with thousands of jumps whip it out faster than I can blink - I know some of those same people have told me I'm a little slow with mine still.

Next time you see that (if you ever do), you'll probably react quicker (if you think you should), and you might prevent a theft (or you might get killed). Personally, I would say it's not your job to intervene, so if you feel strongly about not stealing, you can find an authority (bagger, clerk, or cop) and tell them. I buy organic grapes and I pay about $9 for a bag - I'm with you, that's robbery right there I think stores like that are used to a certain amount of theft, and that's part of the reason for higher prices (although most of the reason probably has to do with corporate greed).

I'm only mentioning this, because I often feel I don't react quickly enough to situations. But I talk to people about it, and they have told me what I tell you - the only way to learn from it it to go through the experience a few times, analyze your reaction, and then try to get better. Something like what happened to you isn't even worth thinking about, since it's not your job. As it applies to skydiving, you probably just need to experience things a few times. No one is James Bond - no one is lucky enough or smart enough to just make the right move every time they see something new. Once in a while, you just get lucky, but most of the time we only achieve success through repeated failure.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[ACMESkydiver 0]

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Off topic a bit but how fast would you respond to a bad mal at 2000'?

Pretty fuckin' fast.




I'm expecting a mal though. I'm not expecting a guy smuggling out satsumas.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[normiss 886]

if you don't you're liable to find yourself in the vegetable section....