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[edited below, 4:37 CT]
Here's a scenario, let me know what you would do in this situation. Later today I'll tell you what I did...
Let's say you're waiting for a bus to the train station. There are a lot of people on your stop to get on. You get on the bus, which was empty before your stop, and find yourself a comfortable seat.
As you're getting off the bus at the train stop, a young woman taps you on the shoulder, pointing at the ground. "There's a five dollar bill by your feet," she says, continuing with, "I don't know if it's yours or not, but if it isn't, Happy Holidays!" Then she walks away.
Of course, the money isn't yours, nor by its position on the ground was it dropped by anyone else who was on the bus as you got on. Do you leave the money on the ground? Do you pick it up and keep it? Do you pick it up and find the girl and give it to her, since she's the one who found it in the first place?
There's no right or wrong answer, but I debated over the answer for a while...but I'm curious to see what you guys would have done.
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What I Did
YOU'RE ALL WRONG!!!! YOU SHOULD HAVE GIVEN THE MONEY BACK TO THE GIRL!!!
I was the girl who gave the money to the guy.
I got on the bus, and I KNEW that the money wasn't his, because he came in after me and there was no way that he dropped it. During the whole bus ride I debated on just waiting til he got off the bus to take the money. But then it would have looked like I knew that he dropped the money and that I was stealing it. Then I debated on asking him if he dropped it, and if he said no, then to take the money myself. I started imagining all the wonderful things I would buy with that $5 - White Chocolate Mochas at Starbucks, ice cream at Ben and Jerry's, etc. But then I felt bad and greedy, and knew that if this guy just looked around, he'd see it. It was under his seat, so in a weird way, he had first dibs on it.
So I decided to tell him about the money. If it was meant to be mine, then he would stop me as I slowly walked down the street (and I DID walk slow, let me tell ya) and tell me that I deserved the money.
But it never happened. What became of that $5? Did it go to charity? Was it used for the next days lunch? Was it invested? Is it riding the hip of a strippers g-string as we speak? I'll never know.
Dammit, I should have taken it for myself! Damn this conscience of mine!!!
Posted by Yano at December 20, 2005 04:32 AMPick it up. Obviously, the powers that be meant for you to have it. Then do something good with it. Drop it in the Salvation Army kettle or tip the lady at McDonalds.
Posted by: Denise B on December 20, 2005 07:15 AMKeep it. Then treat your lady to a fine Denny's breakfast.
Posted by: Sam on December 20, 2005 08:02 AMPick it up and give it to one of the countless beggars or street muscians near and in your transit station.
Posted by: SusanG on December 20, 2005 09:48 AMkeep it of course! i agree with denise. you're meant to have it... what you do with it is up to you.
Posted by: bumblebootie on December 20, 2005 10:12 AMSometimes such luck is meant for you and sometimes it's meant for other people. I think it was clearly meant for you in this case so you are well within your right to enjoy it however you see fit IMO. Besides, maybe it was for the baby. :)
Posted by: Anita on December 20, 2005 10:19 AMThe lady could have planeted the $5 there. The way she said 'if it isn't, happy holidays' really sounds like she wanted to give you the money. I swear I have heard stuff done like this before. She could have seen a pregnant woman (you) and wanted to help.
Posted by: Jenny on December 20, 2005 10:50 AMpocket that money and run
Posted by: Master Foley on December 20, 2005 12:41 PMTake the money but if you aren't sure you want it drop it in a Salvation Army bucket like Denise said.
Posted by: Sue on December 20, 2005 12:57 PMGiven the scenario, I think you're fine to take the money and do with it what you want.
I wouldn't be able to though. I'd feel too guilty or worry I was taking someone else's money even if I knew there was no one else there it could belong to! So I'd wind up leaving it, or turning it in to the driver.
Posted by: noelle on December 20, 2005 02:34 PMI once found a coin purse by a Walgreens in Chicago that had $500 in it?!?
I told Walgreens about it, then for one month no one called to claim it back?
I kept the money & put it in a mutual fund.
Posted by: Maria on December 20, 2005 03:54 PMI would donate the $5 or buy a Starbucks peppermint mocha =P !
Posted by: Maria on December 20, 2005 03:56 PMThat happened to me at the Dallas airport. I told the guy he dropped his money, and handed it to him. He gave it to me, saying he knew. Then he put his jacket on and walked away....
Posted by: Leen on December 20, 2005 04:57 PMWould you believe this evening I saw a watch fly off a woman as she as getting on BART? I went shouting towards the train and jumped through the door just as it closed. "Oh, yeah, that's mine, thanks." But I sure could use a new watch!
Posted by: SusanG on December 20, 2005 06:53 PMWhen I was in grade school, I found a 5 dollar bill on the bus during a field trip. I didn't keep it though. I told one of the teachers that I found it on the floor and she told me that she would hold on to it and find out if anybody lost any money. The next day she said nobody had claimed it so she gave it back to me. I at least made the attempt to give it back to the rightful owner.
The guy should have given the money back to you. Don't worry, the bad Karma will smack him in the face later. The Good Karma will come back to you 10 fold.
Posted by: Marky Mark on December 20, 2005 11:31 PMOne time i found a wallet while cleaning my plane. It had so much cash I didn't want to count it and made sure I handed it off to two witnesses(ground ops)... When they located the owner, he immediately insisted on giving me a hundred bucks. That Karma came back in just 20mins...
Posted by: Nino on December 23, 2005 10:37 AM
