Nine for One

That video teared me up. In summary, a mother took her son to a toy store to buy a toy of his choice. When they took the toy to the cashier, the mother realized that she was 11 dollars short. She tried to explain to her son that they couldn't afford the toy. She said that they could come back again next month with extra cash. He was really disappointed because the toy was supposed to be his reward for getting straight A's at school.

You might be thinking, "Why didn't they just pick another toy they can afford?"

No they couldn't.

Because it's not real. It's just a social experiment. However none of the people inside the store knew the real situation.

You can see in the beginning that a lady with her baby overheard the conversation. However no actions were taken. The mother and the son left the store empty handed. However please don't be so quick to judge because behind every action there's a reason. Later she said that it seemed like a scam. She said that she had seen the same thing before. It's understandable, it's not her fault because such scam exists and she wasn't obliged to help them. In addition, 11 dollars might be too much for her to share. Apparently the next customer seemed to share the same idea and let the mother and son left empty handed.

Clearly it's just a social experiment. There's no real sad mother, there's no disappointed son, there's no broken promise. But what it it's real life? There's always chance that it could be a scam. But what if it's real? And what if it's a more urgent situation? Like someone needing money to get home, or to help their family member. What if they're really desperate and maybe our help is really their last resort available at the very moment? Maybe they've tried everything and finally exhausted of any other options.

Fortunately, later on, more people at the store were willing to help. The last man's action at the end of the video (start about 7:20) however, touched me the most. Not only that he was willing to help, he immediately gave his credit card without asking how much she needed. The host of the show approached him at the end and asked why he didn't hesitate and consider the possibility of scam. His answer really hit me. Let me quote him.

"If you help people, and say... nine out of ten times they're not and then the one time they are, you still help somebody. I'm willing to help the nine that you know... sincere, for the one that might get me."

He's awesome.

I agree that the world is not black and white. There are people who intend bad. Maybe there are people who will take advantage of other people for their own purpose. Sometimes it's needed to be more suspicious. There are really no one wrong in this social experiment. Everybody was doing their part. Both sides are needed in the society. Not helping the mother doesn't mean they're not kind people. Maybe those people had been giving a lot to charity, maybe they'd been actively helping others. We have no rights to judge them based on just one single act.

But that man's word is truly something to live by. Maybe it's not for us to judge one's intention. If I may put it in some anonymous' words: "If there has to be the nine to reach the one. It's still okay.".