A Child in McDonalds - WWYD?

I know a lot of us here worry about our empathy. Either because we're narcissists, or because we were raised by narcissists, or because we've been badly bruised by a relationship gone wrong.

I saw this anecdote on another totally unrelated message board I belong to. I was pretty surprised by the responses of the presumably non/normie members there (it's a baby board).

So, this is for everyone here:

You are seated in McDonalds and a small child, age four, all alone, sidles up to your table a few times, each time backing away again. The third time, the child reaches out and takes a couple of fries from your tray.

What would you do?

I would ask the child if he's hungry, then buy him something to eat and try to find out where he comes from and who to notify. I would do so with utmost kindness and I would try to lift the kid's mood. If the child's parents are unavailable, I would care for him as for a son as long as necessary.

Ain't I a monster!

You're a very nice monster, unreal.

You're much nicer, in fact, than the ladies on my baby board. I won't say anymore until there are some more responses.

First off, I'd pretend not noticing it. Then I'd look around to see if a parent is present somewhere, what kind the parent seems to be, and to establish what's the story with the child might be:
1. - just a 'normal' 4 year old fooling around.
- or
2. - alone and hungry / neglected / abandoned etc.
- or
3. - wellfed / overweight and just simply lacking inhibitions/manners (as the result of a different type of parental neglect - see the 'typical kindergarten bully').

- In case 1 I'd 'pretend' not noticing it, thus playing along with his/her game . I's fun, why to spoil it.
- In case 2 I'd also pretend not noticing it, but I'd inconspicuously order a meal for the kid and place it strategically that s/he can "accidentally" find & eat it, thus not to embarrass him. If s/he choses to talk to me, I'd try to find out what's up with them / needs any help etc.
- In case 3 I'd just give him/her a "look".

I wouldn't ask if they're hungry because if they're really hungry the question would just make them self-conscious/scare them away. Most 4 year olds are shy with strangers (rightly so.)

I'd give the child all of my fries, and if he/she is still hungry, buy the child more food.

But that's as far as I would be willing to go, and if I suspected that the child was homeless or starving further, I would probably notify the manager at McDonald's to do something about it. And then I'd leave.

Oh my. I think I have a problem. :/

Or maybe I'd stay, I really don't know. It depends on how busy I am that day?

Thanks for the responses. You're all far more concerned than the normie mom from my other board.

Her thread was based on the fact that she smacked the child's hand away for touching her family's food. She was really angry that the child's mother then appeared "from nowhere" and told her off for doing so (I can see both are at fault, but at the time she smacked the hand, she had no idea if anyone was with the child or what the child's situation was).

One of her points was that the child might be "dirty" and she didn't know where her hands had been. So you could say OCD maybe, but then just about everyone agreed with her (say, 30 normal women).

No one wondered if the child might be hungry and/or alone, but all of us did.

Also she began her thread by saying that it was a Sunday and her family had just been to church.

I'm not religious but I was like WTF.

I'd give the child all of my food, and leave. This isn't really an empathy thing. He obviously wants the fries; I can't imagine being terribly concerned about them myself. Pretty simple. Now, if a kid tried to steal a raw oyster or take a bite out of my tiramisu, different story.

Implying the child would have guts to do that? (not like i eat them on sight - though i look as if i would do that).

As I understood - the child do this couple of times? After the first time i would not react - kids and they actions...

After second I would ask the kid "Why won't you buy yourself some fncking fries?"

And If the little $#%^ would come to me again and try to steal some food i would grab it's hand and ask whose child is that? If noones i would ask the menager to tell me why this little $#%^ is eating my ######6 food? I didn't invite it for dinner.

Sorry that i answered your question - since i am not narcistic or anything, but i found the topic interesting.

No one wondered if the child might be hungry and/or alone, but all of us did.

I'm pretty sure we've all had more experience with ###$ up childhoods than real normies have. I guess that might be a reason.

Also she began her thread by saying that it was a Sunday and her family had just been to church.

I'm not religious but I was like WTF.

Religious hypocrisy <3

fiveintime wrote:Now, if a kid tried to steal a raw oyster or take a bite out of my tiramisu, different story.

I won't ask. But how about a little lick of your gelato, fiveintime? <3

Urd wrote:Implying the child would have guts to do that? (not like i eat them on sight - though i look as if i would do that).

Urd, I'm sure you're not that scary. Aw hell, maybe you are. But thanks for answering, it was a question for everyone.

Unreal - I only barely (barely) refrained from posting WWJD? (What would Jesus do?) on the lady's original thread. Especially since they're a very religious board in general and they use it all the time. Like, "Should we have another baby?" "I don't know, WWJD?"

"We're thinking of homeschooling. I wonder, WWJD?"

"Should I paint my bathroom?" "Hmm... WWJD?"

"Takeout for dinner?" "Nuh-uh, WWJD!"