Do You Ever Wonder if Life is a Reality-Show?

[lydamorehouse]

Okay, I'm going to admit something here that I probably shouldn't. If I'm flipping past it, I'll watch "Inner Beauty," which is a reality show wherein the contestants think they're being judged for their outward appearance, but in reality are being rated for qualities that make one a good, "beautiful" soul. Shawn and I will get stuck on this because, inevitably, there's a moment on the show where I think to myself, "Huh, would I be nice? Would *I* do the right thing?"

For instance, Shawn and I both admitted that there was one episode we'd have failed. The test was to see if the contestants would be sympathetic to a costumer who was having boyfriend problems. Supposed calls from this guy kept interrupting her work, and eventually she ran from the room in tears. Shawn and I both HATE bad customer service. In our opinion, the costumer's behavior was rude and unprofessional. Would we have been sympathetic? Would we have told the woman we were sorry she was having a bad day? It's hard to say. I suspect I may have done what one constestant did, which was simply say, "I'm sorry your day is so crappy." But no WAY would I have comforted the woman when she went outside to cry. I probably would have made some rude comment about her unprofessionalism like so many of the other contestants did.

So today, Mason and I stopped at home after dropping Shawn off at work which is our wont now that we're basically out of latte money... and I see a whole bunch of garbage strewn on our side of the street. This is one of those things that makes me crazy. I pick up other people's garbage constantly, but I often feel personally tormented by the "garbage fairies"* that I swear live in in our neighborhood (* from an as-yet unpublished novel by Kelly McCullough). At any rate, grumbling the whole time, I went over and picked up this huge Wendy's box someone had tossed in our street.

What did I find underneath it?

A twenty dollar bill.

Talk about a moral decision. Mason is standing there watching me pick up the garbage (a good act) and then, almost at the same time as me, sees the money (taking it? bad?). What do we do? Well, I picked the money up. Thing is, though this twenty was not EXACTLY in front of my house,but neither was the garbage which had been sitting there all morning. I said to Mason, "Wow, it's like I finally got rewarded for all those years of picking up garbage!" But then I started thinking... what if there was a hidden camera? Would this be one those "FAIL" moments, like on "Inner Beauty" or not?

Mason and I talked a lot about what to do with our sudden windfall. Mason, of course, wanted to spend the whole thing on LEGOs. I reminded him that, technically it was *my* money (though was it?) and we did have bills and groceries it could help pay for. When I called Shawn she suggested we could split the money and each take five, and give five to the "house" for those essentials. We haven't decided. The twenty is drying on my windowsill waiting a verdict.

I feel like I did the right thing, but there's always something funky about finding SO MUCH money. I mean, I always think, "How would I feel if I was the one that LOST it, rather than the one that found it?"

Anyway, there's still more garbage on my street. I wonder how much money is hiding under it??

Comments

[ladylahatiel.livejournal.com]

For what it's worth, I think Shawn's suggestion is a really good one. $20 is a hard amount to decide what to do with, because for some people that's a lot and for others it would hardly be noticed missing. (In addition, if you went to the house and said "I found this money, is it yours?" they're...probably going to say yes. Even if it isn't.)
I'd say leave it for the rest of today, but I like Shawn's idea.

/twocents

[alirose.livejournal.com]

I think the cashier thing is one of those moments that doesn't test our character, but life experience. I am harsh as hell on cashiers, but that's because I was one and know what to expect. but I've been in the situation of having *just* had a break-up seconds before the start of a shift. Other specific examples I would not have been so forgiving, me thinks. So whoever won that challenge on the show, I'd put money on them having been in a similar situation before, or being the queen of sympathy.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Interesting post. I might very well fail that "beautiful soul" test, since I, too, get impatient with salespeople who are more preoccupied with personal problems than serving the customer. I've noticed, though, that some of the way I look at the world has already changed a lot since the beginning of the year, due to my "Decrease worldsuck project."

Don't know if you've been reading about it over at my journal (read about it here and here, and tagged entries here. The running report is here). Picking up garbage would definitely be one of those "decrease worldsuck" things.

[maggiedr.livejournal.com]

Woohoo! Someone else watches "True Beauty"!!!

I felt the same way about the crying costume lady. I think I'm a good person but I have little patience with listening to relationship drama from strangers. My life experience has taught me that most people get through their jobs without personal life spilling into it. Those who do tend to have it happen repeatedly. Had they had the costumer crying because someone close had landed in the hospital, I'd have felt entirely differently. Or even had her cat die, I'd be incredibly sympathetic.

I think they kicked off the one guy there that did have a soul, so it will be hard to watch from here on in. I love to watch "24" and just fill in the hour before news with "True Beauty". My other reality show weaknesses are "Clean House" and any show with dancers competing (and American Idol, I admit that too.)

[lydamorehouse]

"True Beauty"!! Yes, that's what it's called, thanks!

Anyway, I agree that I can't believe they kicked of CJ, though I thought that episode I would have passed (and interestingly most of the women *did*) You JUST give your seat to the older person. But, given how annoying everyone else is, it's hard to believe they're going to find anyone with inner beauty now. Personally, I rooting for the guy who likes to drop his pants.

My other reality TV addiction is just EMBARASSING. I, ehm, like to watch "Wipe Out." (Have you seen it? I should be ashamed. Entertainment Weekly called it the most exploitive reality show on, and I think they're absolutely right. Still, watching people bounce off huge rubber balls makes me laugh. I am SO going to hell.)

[fullygoldy.livejournal.com]

I think you shouldn't worry so much about the $20. Someone who is rude enough to throw their trash in the road deserves to pay you to pick it up. Spend it or save it or pass it on, but don't worry about it's "rightful owner." It's not like the $20 is in a wallet with an ID or in even an envelope with a name on it. If you had a reasonable chance of discovering the owner and returning it, then yeah, return it. In this case, you don't. If it were a big wad of money, then you'd want to turn it in to the police and let them identify the owner, but I doubt they'd be thrilled to see you turn in $20. Smile and thank the goddess for her largesse today :)