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MacGyver Online Forums > MacGyvering Your Life > Doing the right thing.

Posted by: Beaum2000 10 August 2018 - 10:08 AM

The other day at work I was starving. Ok..Ok...maybe not "starving" but just really hungry. I had money in my pocket so I made a little trip over to the vending machines. I don't use the vending machines as much as I used to. First of all I am trying to be more healthy in my eating habits and second of all we got a new vendor and all the prices are much higher.

So here I am at the vending machine and I decided to buy a protein bar. I thought that would help me more than a bag of chips....so I went to buy it...2.25....what a rip off!

But when bad hunger strikes what are you going to do? So I went ahead and bought it. To my shock and surprise I got 8 dollars back in change! At first I was like

but then I thought: should I keep this money? Its not mine. Wouldn't that be stealing? I struggled with this moral question while I ate my seemingly free protein bar. The vending machine was actually paying me to eat it!

I finally decided to turn the money in. The worst part was the guy who is in charge of vending machine matters was on the phone and made me feel like I was inconveniencing him. After I explained what happened he didn't even thank me. He just took it.

I did the right thing... Something that most people would not do...and didn't have any happy feelings about it.

I would imagine that Mac would of done the same thing. He has a high sense of right and wrong......I guess in that way we are alike. Sometimes it feels more like a curse then a blessing...

That said though I want to encourage all of you to do what is right (I know you all do...there are wonderful people here)....even if no one thanks you or pats you on the back.... We need more people in this world who will do the right thing...even if they don't want to...even if its something small like giving back a few dollars that does not belong to them...

Posted by: MacGyverGod 10 August 2018 - 10:56 AM

That's society's biggest problem. The moment you're trying to be nice or do the right thing, you're mostly getting snapped at. And when you have a bad day and snap at others you're the bad guy.

Getting back way too much, I'd probably do the same thing. Getting 8 dollars back after you spend 2,25 is indeed too much. It's the most honest thing to do. But if the vending machine guy treats me the way he treated you, I would've kept it, maybe depending on what I've said so far.

Whether we like it or not, everybody steals. If you find a nickle on the streets, you'd put it in your own pocket. Finder's keepers. It's maybe a bad example but I think it's true. Everybody steals or cheats in their own way for their own benefit and be honest, can we blame them?

But I would do the same thing. I found a wallet once in the station, I brought it to the police station. I didn't even bother to see who it belongs too or what was in there. The police station also happens to be located in the station itself so, I don't know what I would've done if it was located somewhere else. I felt happy about myself afterwards even though there was no reward in it for me. It's not hard doing the right thing, it's harder to show gratitude because we're all to self-absorbed.

Posted by: Jediferret 10 August 2018 - 11:26 AM

Nice story.

Being honest and trustworthy is rare, but a very valuable trait. I've had my trust broken before, and it sucks. Even poor MacGyver has trust issues. lol

But regardless, you did the right thing and that is to be commended. Good job!

Posted by: Barry Rowland 10 August 2018 - 06:59 PM

Exactly!