The moral dilemma

Hi I am going to tell you a true story.

As in, I'm really going to tell you a true story. The true story of what happened to me today - there's no moral of the story as it isn't really a complete story, I'm leaving it hanging so you can round it up for me. Perhaps give me some advice on what I should do the next time the same thing happens (though I hope not). But well, whatever it is, just read the damn thing la.

I was walking home today after another of my brain-taxing French lesson, when I decided to enjoy life a little bit. So I popped by the bubble tea shop to buy err.. bubble tea (duh!!). Then I realised I had a chocolate bar in my bag that was soon going to melt if I didn't eat it. Being a lazy and stupid boy, I didn't want to eat my chocolate in one hand and hold the bubble tea in the other, for I felt that things would get kind of messy. Thus, I just stuffed the bubble tea cup into one of my side pockets and started eating my chocolate.

Very cleverly, I walked towards the traffic light.. but stopped just 51m away from it so I could cross the road legally. The sign telling me to use the traffic light was just next to me, which meant that I was outside the 50m-radius of the traffic light and was eligible to jay, I mean walk across. Seeing a car come by, I decided to just take my chances and dash across before it knocked me down. Made it halfway across. Then as I crossed the second half, I heard a splat but kept running. I think there is no need to elaborate.

Now here's the dilemma, what the heck should I have done?

Choice 1 (Angel): Be a good citizen, go and pick up the bubble tea cup (empty). Then I should go into one of the HDB flats nearby, get a mop and clean up the road. After all, it is inconsiderate to let the drivers' wheels squash the icky pearls and dirty the road. Singapore is clean and green, and as a Singaporean I should do my part.

Why it's bad: Crazy ah! So many cars around, don't feel like living is it!

Choice 2 (50% Angel): Pick up the bubble tea cup so as to prevent cars from running over it. It's a potential hazard, much more than anything else. That is the most you can do, really.

Why it's bad: Want to do something, must go all the way. Picking up the cup but not the pearls is like making a girl pregnant and then taking care of her during pregnancy.. but after the baby is born you disappear. No point in being half-good.

Choice 3 (Philosopher): The cup would serve as interesting decoration for the road - for we should all embrace and welcome change. The sweet liquid would feed the ants well. The pearls could serve as lubricants should there be nothing left to oil the engines of the car. Either way, there is pragmatism in leaving the "resources" behind.

Why it's bad: Philosophers are seldom (or never) right. Socrates is an idiot and they say he's a genius. Which is like.. what the heck.

Choice 4 (Rationalist/Devil): Leave all the shit behind. What's the point of endangering your life just for the sake of having cleaner roads? What do you think cleaners are paid for? Anyway it would be kind of fun to see the pearls sticking to some cocked-up bastard's car wheels (you know, that STINKING Econs lecturer.. never mind). Oh that would so make my day!! Oops, I mean night.

Why it's bad: It's bloody inconsiderate. How can we be such irresponsible citizens?

Of course, I'm not going to disclose what choice I made. You are going to make the decision for me, and I am just going to sit back and take it all in. If you'd like to know, I really don't learn from my mistakes so there is a 99.9% (3 sf) chance that I might make the same mistake again the next time I walk back from French lesson, which is on Wednesday. Although to 明哲保身 (having one's safety as the paramount importance/protect oneself) is important, is it more important to have 公德心 (civic consciousness)？

I don't know. Which is why you are going to decide for me. =)

Such, indeed, is a moral dilemma.