Boy howdy, those farm stands really have everything nowadays! Tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, chard, lettuce, onions, carrots, blueberries, raspberries, video cameras....
Ooops! The man you see here heaping fruits and veggies into a tote sack did not know about that last thing, or he would not have tried to rip the farmer off by loading up with produce and hitting the road.
The cameras worked great, and so did the shaming, because the farmer showed the videos on Facebook and asked if anyone knew this man, wearing Fire Department hat and shirt, and by the next morning, the farmer was able to report that the guy showed up and paid his debt.
It was interesting to follow along on Facebook. Most people said it was shameful, and represented that certain sense of entitlement to which no one is entitled, be they firefighter, police, teacher, whatever. You don't get to steal food.
But some people were saying that maybe the man was confused and thought the stuff was out there for free. This is the new style of bending over backward to adjust our moral compasses that many are employing.
"It's ok to steal from where I work because it's part of my pay, or should be."
"Everyone is cheating on their taxes/vehicle registration/final exams/spouse, so why should I be the only one not doing it?"
"It's only a crime if you get caught."
"It's a victimless crime anyway; no one gets hurt."
"They expect a certain amount of shrinkage or pilferage anyway and they adjust the prices up, so I'm already paying for it."
"I give them plenty of business all year; time for a freebie."
To which I say, no, no, no, no, no, and no. I hope this guy, even though he finally paid up, is being shunned by his friends who work and pay for what they get.
I'd be ashamed to know him.
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