Issue nr. 5

Today, this beggar tried to tell me something, but I ignored him and kept walking. What if he was not a beggar and just wanted to ask me for directions? Maybe I should have stopped and see what he wanted.

Here we go back to the concept of duty (see issue nr. 2) which makes you feel that somehow you owe something to the 'nice' person asking for directions. You don't. Just as you don't owe money to the beggar. If you're thinking "But it doesn't cost me anything" you're either wrong or lying to yourself. It costs you time. There is nothing wrong in giving directions, just as there is nothing wrong in giving away money. But only if you, the owner of the money and the information carrier, decide to give it. If you do it because "it would be civilized" or "he might really need it", which means that it is not you at the center of this decision but someone or something else, then you are wrong. If you decided to stop and listen to what he says, you are taking the chance that he begs for money, or threatens to kill you, or puts a curse on you, it really doesn't matter what he says, but you cannot blame him for the fact that you stopped, that you wanted to be nice to him and he did not meet your expectations, it was your decision, you're the only one responsible. And if you're labeling the beggar as 'bad' and the other person as 'nice', you are wrong again. If it's OK for someone to ask you for directions, it is just as nice to ask you for money, your coat, your car, or anything else. You just have to be prepared to say 'no'.

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