This hypothetical situation is
about a conflict between 2 people regarding the use of money. Jack and Jill
were two working class adults who were dating each other. Both of them earned a
comfortable living as they were doing very well in the careers. Jack preferred
the ‘simple life’-he did not crave expensive branded goods nor did he see a
need for them. On the other hand, Jill preferred the ‘high life’-keeping up
with fashion trends and craving expensive branded goods. One would think that
their individual love for different lifestyles was the root of the problem-but
that was not the case. In fact, their relationship worked out very well, (as a
give and take system), as Jack loved to buy expensive goods for Jill, as what
made Jill happy also made Jack happy. And although Jill knew that Jack did not
like branded things, Jill would occasionally buy branded goods for Jack. Up to
this point there was no conflict with regards to money.
One day, both of them were taking
a stroll a when a man approached. The man was old and was wearing dirty
clothes. He asked Jack and Jill if they could spare him some change as he had
not eaten anything for a few days as he had no money. Jack felt pity for the
man, took out five dollars and gave it to him and the man went away thanking
Jack. This was when the problem started. Jill was shocked that Jack actually
gave the man money. So Jill confronted Jack, asking him why he did what did. Jack
said that he felt pity and that something had pinched at his conscience. Jill
said that the man could have been lying and that giving the man money was a wasted
of money. Jack said that he understood that the man could have been lying, but said
that he did what he did in order to have a clear conscience in the event the man
was telling the truth. He told Jill that it was weighing between ‘the man
telling the truth but not helping him’ verses, ‘the man telling a lie and helping
him’. Jack felt that he rather been cheated of five dollars then to not help a
person who truly is in need. Jill did not understand Jack and felt that what
Jack did was very stupid. The argument carried on until Jack and Jill was so
frustrated with each other that Jack called Jill a ‘woman with no conscience’
and Jill called Jack ‘a stupid man’. The name calling caused emotional hurt,
and this conflict took a toll on their relationship. So what would have been
the best way to avoid the conflict?
I empathize with both of them as I
understand where they are coming from. In my opinion, one possible way to avoid
this conflict would be that instead of giving the man five dollars, which is actually
quite a bit, Jack could have given a lesser amount, maybe like a dollar. This might
have seemed ‘less wasteful’ to Jill, and Jack would still feel that he helped someone,
(in a way they reach a compromise). Hopefully this would avoid the conflict in
the first place.
What are the other possible ways
to avoid this conflict totally?
