Ethics and the Rat
It's mid afternoon, mid week, and you are in an empty (except for you and your guest) restaurant. In stumbles a man, obviously inebriated. Now, kiddies, we're not talking about a social buzz, or even a one-too-many bubble buzz. No no no, we're looking at a staggering snarling stinking of booze like a bum on French Skid row kind of drunk. Admittedly, it's impressive, given the time of day. Anywho, Mr. Liquor stands in the waiting area and screams a couple of curses. Ms. Hostess asks if she can help him and Mr. Liquor replies, "No". He proceeds to the nearest table, grabs some napkins (and oh what a puzzle unfolding those presented, aka Chinese finger trap), and used them to clean his glasses - the obvious cause of his blurred vision.
Ms. Hostess asks him if he'll be ordering takeout and Mr. Liquor again replies: "No". Mr. Liquor repeats the napkin process at the next table, swearing loudly, then, turns and exits while Ms. Hostess watches him leave.
So, here's where it gets interesting. Ms. Hostess approaches The Ayatollah of Rock 'n Rolla, The Emporer of Ethics, and apologizes for the disturbance; at which we chuckle. She then asks, "I wonder if he's driving" and eyeballs Mr. Liquor through the door window. Ms. Hostess returns and says "Sure enough. He's driving a big Suburban and peeled on out of here. Do you think I should call the cops?" When queried, Ms. Hostess replied "Yes, I did get the plate number and the direction of travel". "I have a daughter at home, what if he crashes into a family"?
Police scanner fans know that this sort of thing happens all the time; drivers, patrons, citizens, all using the miracle of the cell phone, turn in their fellow drivers routinely, for everything from missing a stop sign to erratic driving.
Ethics question du jour - do you tell Ms. Hostess to be like Huggy Bear and be a rat, or do you tell her to mind her own business? Do you do like The Humungus and aks youself why Ms. Hostess is aksing you to decide?
Ms. Hostess asks him if he'll be ordering takeout and Mr. Liquor again replies: "No". Mr. Liquor repeats the napkin process at the next table, swearing loudly, then, turns and exits while Ms. Hostess watches him leave.
So, here's where it gets interesting. Ms. Hostess approaches The Ayatollah of Rock 'n Rolla, The Emporer of Ethics, and apologizes for the disturbance; at which we chuckle. She then asks, "I wonder if he's driving" and eyeballs Mr. Liquor through the door window. Ms. Hostess returns and says "Sure enough. He's driving a big Suburban and peeled on out of here. Do you think I should call the cops?" When queried, Ms. Hostess replied "Yes, I did get the plate number and the direction of travel". "I have a daughter at home, what if he crashes into a family"?
Police scanner fans know that this sort of thing happens all the time; drivers, patrons, citizens, all using the miracle of the cell phone, turn in their fellow drivers routinely, for everything from missing a stop sign to erratic driving.
Ethics question du jour - do you tell Ms. Hostess to be like Huggy Bear and be a rat, or do you tell her to mind her own business? Do you do like The Humungus and aks youself why Ms. Hostess is aksing you to decide?
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