What Would You Really Do?

Primetime, the ABC News magazine-style show, has been airing a series called, What Would You Do? It places unsuspecting people in ethical situations and examines how they react. Primetime creates the scenarios using actors and sometimes, enlists the help of the unsuspected target's friends. Some of the ethical situations they encounter include a homeless man being attacked by a gang of thugs, and a healthy person parking in a disabled parking spot.

It's a fascinating series not only to see how these people react, but also, you can't help but place yourself in the same situations wondering how you would react.

Here are some scenarios Primetime has not covered as of yet. What would YOU really do in these situations?

Parking Lot Man
A man leaves an electronics store, and he is headed to the parking lot. He wanders seemingly aimlessly up, down and across the parking lot aisles. As he walks, he looks around, and he appears to be glancing in some of the cars he passes.You witness this as you sit outside the store waiting for your spouse.

Do you...
a. Calmly approach the man and ask if he needs help locating his car?
b. Inform the electronic store's security of the wandering man in their parking lot?
c. Call 911 to report suspicious activity?
d. Do nothing and leave?

Other Questions:
Would you react differently if the man were elderly?
Would you react differently if it were a woman?
Would you react differently if it were a teenage boy?

Demanding Patient
You are in your doctor's very busy waiting room. You have been waiting 45 minutes past your scheduled appointment time. A patient who just arrives approaches the receptionist and demands she be seen immediately. The receptionist honors the patient's request, and the woman is whisked to examining room.

Do you?
a. Approach the receptionist and calmly demand answers to the woman being immediately seen by the doctor?
b. Engage the other waiting patients and demand answers as a group?
c. Demand to be the next to see the doctor?
d. Sit patiently until the receptionist calls you?
e. Leave the office and find a new doctor?

Other Questions:
Would you react differently if you knew the demanding woman had a true medical emergency?
Would you react differently if the woman were demanding the doctor immediately see her child?
Would react differently if it were a man demanding care?

Bad Boss
You seem to have good relationship with your boss. He hasn't given you any reason to think otherwise. He personally praises your work, and says you are a great employee. A few days later, your coworkers begin acting differently towards you. They are not as friendly as they were, and they try to avoid you at all costs. You cautiously confront your coworkers questioning why their attitude towards you has changed? They relay stories the boss has been telling about you. Of course, the stories are false and personally detrimental to your reputation.

Do you...
a. Quit your job?
b. Confront your boss demanding answers to his deplorable actions?
c. Ignore the situation?

Other Questions:
Would you react differently if your boss were female?
Would you react differently if your boss were a family member or personal friend?

We encounter ethical situations everyday, but how many of us are truly aware of them? Maybe we should make ourselves more aware of them and take action. What that action may be is up to you. Hopefully, it will be morally and ethically correct. Our world needs more good.