This is the story we discussed in class yesterday (from Huffington Post):
KINGSTON, N.Y. -- Hassel Junior Barber lives on the streets of Kingston by choice. He sleeps in doorways and on stoops. And, police say, he's an honest man.
Barber found a wallet plopped down on a sidewalk Sunday in the Hudson
Valley city. Inside: $485. Money, Detective Lt. Thierry Croizer said,
that Barber certainly could have used for food, shelter, clothes. Instead, the 50-year-old homeless man marched the wallet to the police station and turned it in. No reward needed. "He told us that he did not want anything in return," Croizer said
Wednesday. "That he did it because it was the right thing to do, and
those are his words, the right thing to do."
In a tough town sometimes scarred by serious crime, Croizer said he
wanted to publicize a "feel good" story, and hopes people learn the same
lesson he did when he dealt with Barber on a new level.
"It made me reevaluate my perception of people, my first instinct, when I first observe someone," Croizer said.
This coming Friday, we will discuss why Detective Croizer is not entitled to say that.
It is amazing how a lost wallet can bring out one's true character. For the homeless man, even though he could have definitely used the money for food, clothing or even a place to stay- He reported the wallet to the police. He even stated that he didn't want a reward for his act. The homeless man clearly had good judgment and was motivated to act ethically. He must have been brought up by his parents or even might have lost a wallet previously and someone returned it to him. I feel we need more people like this in the world. I hope one day this man is no longer homeless because he clearly does the right thing!
ReplyDeleteIt is great to see how a homeless person returned a wallet with money that he clearly could have used for clothing, food or even a place to stay. It shows that Mr. Barber was motivated to make a good decision and to act ethically. He is clearly an honest man with good intentions and hopefully one day he isn't homeless. I believe we need more individuals like this who are willing to return a wallet with 485 dollars in it. Good intentions do go a long way and hopefully Mr. Barber will receive a good deed soon. I also love how Mr. Barber didn't want to be recognized with a reward for his actions. He is clearly one who depicts good judgment.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Mr. Barber did a good deed, it makes me think about the various factors of him returning the wallet. Using the attribution theory, one might say that this man was honest and a "good" person. However, I thought about the role of punishment in decision making. When there is punishment involved, people tend to follow rules and do good. If one were in Mr. Barber's shoes, one might think about what would happen if he were caught with the wallet. The consequences were probably not worth the 485 dollars in the wallet. Even though Mr. Barber may be a honest and good man, I believe the threat of punishment, such as going to jail, would have played a huge factor in his decision making process.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to see a homeless person return a wallet filled with money he could have used for utilities and food without any compensation in return. One can say he was motivated to make a good decision. However, he may also believe in karma and some sort of religion in which good actions with good intentions will reap good rewards. Maybe Barber also believed that whatever deity there is, if there is one, may look more favorably upon him. In addition, he may have a bad memory of a thief or robber that may have impacted his psyche. Thus, he would refuse to steal, even if the wallet was wide open for him to.
ReplyDeleteThis has to be one of the most generous act I have ever seen - the homeless man could have used the money in the wallet in order to buy food , seek shelter or for any other personal needs. Instead he decided to return the wallet to the rightful owner. Even during difficult situations individuals still have the will to help other human beings. I hope that one day this homeless man will be rewarded for his generous act.
ReplyDeleteThis course of action by Hassel Junior Barber is an act that is undoubtably honorable and yet, rare to find in the world of today. Given his circumstance as a homeless person, Barber could have used the money found for personal needs such as food, shelter, or clothing. Instead, he chose to do what is right and return the lost wallet to its rightful owner. In terms of ethics, Barber's action of being honest proves the theory of dispositional attribution which states that each individual is characterized by his respective traits - as we can conclude that not every individual put in the same situation would do the same as Barber.
ReplyDeleteHassel Junior Barber serves as a great example that there are in fact people out there who do have a sense of honor and justice. For a man who really needs the money, he decided to not take any money or any reward. Although he says he did it because, "it was the right thing to do," I would be curious to know what was going on in his head when he found the wallet. For example, did he want to take the wallet and then later decide to turn it in? Why did he pick up the wallet in the first place? I am not trying to say that he is not an honorable man, in fact I think he a genuine. However, I would be curious to study the response of Hassel Junior Barber in comparison to a man that would take the wallet and see their thought processes.
ReplyDeleteHassel Junior Barber serves as a great example that there are in fact people out there who do have a sense of honor and justice. For a man who really needs the money, he decided to not take any money or any reward. Although he says he did it because, "it was the right thing to do," I would be curious to know what was going on in his head when he found the wallet. For example, did he want to take the wallet and then later decide to turn it in? Why did he pick up the wallet in the first place? I am not trying to say that he is not an honorable man, in fact I think he a genuine. However, I would be curious to study the response of Hassel Junior Barber in comparison to a man that would take the wallet and see their thought processes.
ReplyDelete