Responsible vs Practical Thinking

[Haydyn]

Last week I went for a drive in the snow. I had heard about how much fun it was, and based on my track record I have not done that many crazy things before. All my friends seem to get away with it. So going just about 15 mph I end up side swiping a parked car. Little damage was done to my car, but the other car had a dent in the door. Later I found out that it makes it hard to open all the way. It's an older car, so it shouldn't have been such a big deal.

Turns out it is. The repairs costs $2100+. I am a college student and have no idea how I am going to pay that. I have insurnce, but the rates would just skyrocket and cost more than paying out of pocket. I am living in a shell of regret.

For a split second, driving away came to mind. I left my car there and went to get a pen and paper to write my number down and when I came bac the owner was there. So I made the responsible decision. However, if this was a video game, I could have driven away and never looked back. In games, choosing the practical option doesn't have much of a negative outcome. After that part of the game is over, the only difference is how much money you have. Had I drove off, I'd have 2.1k more than I have right now.

So my question is did I choose the better option? I'm hoping it's not going to cost that much and the owner is just trying to get other things with the car fixed. Had I drove off and had the mindset of a video game protaginist, would I be better off? And also other examples of responsibility vs practicality in general to keep discussion flowing is welcomed.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Practicality and responsibility in decisions are not mutually inclusive or exclusive.

 

[Stammer]

Think of it this way: had you just driven off, a series of events might have led to you being caught and then you would have had to have dealt with even more severe consequences.

If anyone had witnessed you, you would have been done for.

And you can also think of it from a third perspective: sure you had to pay $2,100 to fix the man's car, but if you hadn't, then he would have had to have paid for that himself. So not only would "some jerkwad" (thinking from his perspective, please take no offense) ruin his vehicle, but now he has to pay for it himself.

You definitely did the right thing.

 

[Haydyn]

So it looks like I did what I should have done. It's just that I know people who wouldn't have done the right thing. Is having morals almost a weakness, a disadvantage?

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

So it looks like I did what I should have done. It's just that I know people who wouldn't have done the right thing. Is having morals almost a weakness, a disadvantage?

It's not, unless your morals waver all over the place.

Also now hopefully you've learnt not to do reckless things just because your friends have.

 

[gostlyfantom]

you did the right thing from a moral standpoint but damn, 2.1k is a shit-tonne of money, i would have kept on driving

 

[Zaverexus]

So my question is did I choose the better option? I'm hoping it's not going to cost that much and the owner is just trying to get other things with the car fixed. Had I drove off and had the mindset of a video game protaginist, would I be better off? And also other examples of responsibility vs practicality in general to keep discussion flowing is welcomed.

You did the right thing, whether it feels like it now or not.
In a video game you don't have real people with real lives that you're impacting. In real life there are consequences, whether on you or people you wrong.

The "right" choices may be tougher, but in the end it makes you stronger and more disciplined. You learn to take responsibility for your actions.

 

[Xenomemphate]

Had I drove off and had the mindset of a video game protaginist, would I be better off?

No. Chances are you would have been caught, then you would be completely screwed. As it is, perhaps the fact that you were being responsible may show you in some good light to the owner, and he may look kinder upon your situation.

Ever heard of the Butterfly Effect? Basically this implies that the flapping of a butterfly's wings in brazil can set off a tornado in Texas. Sounds ridiculous right? Apply that idea to this situation. You sideswipe his car and drive off. You get away with it, but you feel guilty, this brings you down. Now, you feel bad. The guy who is having to pay the money because you drove off will be pissed. Depending on the person, he could do something in anger to stir something else up.

I shall leave you with this quote from the Samuarai Code of Honour:

"Decisions you make, and how they are carried out, are a reflection of whom you truly are. You cannot hide from yourself."

 

[Haydyn]

Had I drove off and had the mindset of a video game protaginist, would I be better off?

No. Chances are you would have been caught, then you would be completely screwed. As it is, perhaps the fact that you were being responsible may show you in some good light to the owner, and he may look kinder upon your situation.

Ever heard of the Butterfly Effect? Basically this implies that the flapping of a butterfly's wings in brazil can set off a tornado in Texas. Sounds ridiculous right? Apply that idea to this situation. You sideswipe his car and drive off. You get away with it, but you feel guilty, this brings you down. Now, you feel bad. The guy who is having to pay the money because you drove off will be pissed. Depending on the person, he could do something in anger to stir something else up.

I shall leave you with this quote from the Samuarai Code of Honour:

"Decisions you make, and how they are carried out, are a reflection of whom you truly are. You cannot hide from yourself."

I've been reminded of the butterfly effect a few times lately. Last monday I turned on some Rammstein and neded up talking with a friend about going to their concert, which lead into a great moral discussion about some of their content. Might not seem like much, but I was already about to leave, and if it wasn't for that song the whole night would've been different.

So I guess I did the right thing, but I'd rather go back and change the fact that I was driving in the snow to begin with. Had I decided to stay inside, this last week would have been compleely different, more than likely better. But hopefully Karma will reward me for my good actions in life and punish those who seemingly get away with everything.

 

[Xenomemphate]

So I guess I did the right thing, but I'd rather go back and change the fact that I was driving in the snow to begin with. Had I decided to stay inside, this last week would have been compleely different, more than likely better. But hopefully Karma will reward me for my good actions in life and punish those who seemingly get away with everything.

Hindsight is a ***** right?

I am a firm believer in Karma, because recently I seem to have been getting all the terrible luck, so hopefully it will turn. For you as well

Off topic, but I do love a bit of Rammstein...

 

[LetalisK]

If it makes you feel any better, many more people have wasted much more money on far stupider things. Like myself. It seems to almost be like a rite of passage.

 

[Haydyn]

So I guess I did the right thing, but I'd rather go back and change the fact that I was driving in the snow to begin with. Had I decided to stay inside, this last week would have been compleely different, more than likely better. But hopefully Karma will reward me for my good actions in life and punish those who seemingly get away with everything.

Hindsight is a ***** right?

I am a firm believer in Karma, because recently I seem to have been getting all the terrible luck, so hopefully it will turn. For you as well

Off topic, but I do love a bit of Rammstein...

I think the show "My name is Earl" did a great thing for the world. It got many people, including myself, who would have never believed in karma interested in it. And yes, Rammstein is phenomenal. I ahd heard they were banned from performing in the US, so I got a rush when i heard they were gonna do a show nearby.

If it makes you feel any better, many more people have wasted much more money on far stupider things. Like myself. It seems to almost be like a rite of passage.

Haha, thank you. I like the idea of it being a rite of passage. It's probably the stupidest thing I've done, costwise.

 

[Haydyn]

You did the right thing but how the hell does it cost 2100 to pull a dent?!

I'm relatively sure he's throwing in other things that was wrong with the car that he expects me to pay for. From the looks of it the repair time and paint took up a lot of it.

 

[Haydyn]

You did the right thing but how the hell does it cost 2100 to pull a dent?!

I'm relatively sure he's throwing in other things that was wrong with the car that he expects me to pay for. From the looks of it the repair time and paint took up a lot of it.

Either he's doing that or it was more of a t-bone than a sideswipe.

Or maybe he has a super rare car.


I don't know. A new door for my old clunker is 100 bucks or so.

I know, right? If I wasn't the one covering the costs this whole situation would sound silly to me. It's a 1996 Honda and wasn't in good shpae to begin with, so there has to be some missing detail. I've heard from people I've talked to that the car wouldn't even cost that much. I guess that's the price for trying to find a specific part.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

Practicality and responsibility in decisions are not mutually inclusive or exclusive.

Exactly. In this case, for example, you could have driven off, and then ended up getting found and charged with hit and run. However generally I'll take the more practical choice if it clearly IS the more practical choice.