When is a good deed not a good deed?

Question

This afternoon I went to my local supermarket, and walking across the car park, I watched a woman in a brand-new Audi A6 pull into a disabled bay, get out and walk perfectly easily into the store. I checked the car - no disc.

Inside the store I spoke to the customer service desk, but they said there was nothing they could do - they don't have any powers to enforce disabled parking. So I suggested could make an announcement over the public address. They seemed doubtful, but I offered to give £5 to Comic Relief, and they did it - asked her to come to customer service, and when she came, explained to her that the disabled bays were for DISABLED people, STOOPID (okay, they were more polite, but still).

So Comic Relief got its fiver. But my question is: was it a good deed, because I gave money to charity? Or was it a bad deed, because I took such malicious joy in seeing this woman squirm? Or was it a good deed, because arrogant, selfish people need to be confronted?

You decide.

To Tunsa: I'm quite sure she wasn't disabled at all. In fact, I spoke to the man on the desk afterwards, and apparently the excuse she used was that "when the disabled bays are full, disabled people park in the parent & toddler spaces. The parent & toddler spaces were full, so I used the disabled bay".

Now, I know that wasn't entirely untrue - I was parked in the parent & toddler spaces (with my 2-year-old, I hasten to add!) and saw her cruise past, looking for a space.

However, the weak part of her argument was that although she had a child seat in the car SHE DIDN'T HAVE A CHILD WITH HER!

Answer 1

No you overstepped your boundaries. A good deed is when you do something without bad or malicious motives or no personal gain you said it your self you enjoyed seeing her squirm

Answer 2

You did the "right" thing, & the "responsible" thing, & giving to Comic Relief wasn't a bribe, it was the only way to deal with this arrogant, thoughtless person. If this made you feel good, it should! Too many people don't want to be bothered when they see someone doing something wrong. Most people don't even consider what it's like for a disabled person, & how important those spaces are. (No skin off my nose attitude.) I saw a woman do this in a shopping mall, & when I pointed out that she had no temporary placard, or permanent symbol on her bumper, she used a lovely expletive. I was lucky; I just drove a little further & found a security car. They got her before she got in the store, & believe me, there's a HEFTY fine for what she did. Getting hit in the pocketbook "may" deter her in the future, but I got GREAT satisfaction to see her zapped. Anyone who doesn't believe you did a good "deed" just doesn't CARE. When they get old and/or disabled, they'll feel differently. Good on'ya!!!!

EDIT: In California, it can take only one day to get a disabled placard. Plus, if someone who is disabled & hasn't got one--they shouldn't be driving in the first place.

Answer 3

Well I don't think deeds really come into it. You did the right thing in this case because Disabled parking is for people with disability. The only time it falls down is when parents of children with disability that have not yet been able to get their badge because of the child being to young. Then you must be careful not just report them for no badge.

That lady was wrong to park there and I plead with people reading this that you wont take on the JUST ME view of the world where you think it doesn't matter if it's just you who uses disabled places up so people with disability find it hard to access their needs.

Well done for the stand you took. A good deed I think though is done in private without others knowledge.

Answer 4

Evil should be confronted in every circumstance, but are you sure that this woman was doing something wrong?

I hate to see people abuse the Handicapped Parking spaces, but disabilities are not always apparrent. My father had heart trouble, and though he could get around well enough, he couldn't walk long distances - hence, the handicapped parking space. My brother has MS and has some good days and some bad days. He's not always able to walk long distances or carry groceries across the parking lot, but it's not always obvious that he is having trouble walking.

It can take a few weeks to get a parking placard, and it is very embarrasing and frustrating to somebody who is disabled when other people question their disability.

If she truly was just being ignorant, more power to you, but you might consider being a little more subtle in case you're interpretation of the situation isn't the reality.

Answer 5

It was a good deed but you could have made a better point by writing a cheque for £1000 for comic relief. Also if a disabled motorist arrived and the driver was really disabled and looking somewhere to park. Once in my lifetime I witnessed something like that and there was a car park attendant who TOLD the driver to move his car.

Answer 6

That is a double good deed, the donation and confronting that lady for being such a jerk. You did a service to your community. I am guessing from you speech, that you are in the UK, here in the USA, the store staff do have the authority to call the Police, (it is private property) and report someone for parking in a disabled space, they would then get a ticket and have to pay a fine.

Answer 7

I always belief you should do a good deed because you want to. Not because you feel a need to get some kind of reward or to try and look like a "good samaritan". That said though I do despise when perfectly healthy people park in the disabled spots. My late mother was in a wheelchair as the result of a stroke and even then she still refused to use the handicap spot. There are people who need it.

Answer 8

Hi, You did the right thing, i deal with this everyday at work, able bodied people parking in disabled parking places. A lot of people come to me and complain about parking, i do as you did checked to see if they have a disabled badge or 00 on their tax disc. You offered money to a good cause, because someone who was thoughtless did wrong. More people should be like you.

Answer 9

a good deed is not a good deed when it has underlying malicious motives.

A 'for instance'. A wealthy person may know someone in dire straits who needs money immediately or lose their home etc. They loan them as much money as they need but puts a very high interest rate on it. The people have the momney they need to save them but they will never stop paying the debt back.

Answer 10

Good for you !!!

I love you!!!

I am disabled and use a wheelchair. It drives me crazy to see people park in handicapped spaces as if nothing. Sometimes I have confronted them, but it had never occurred to me to call them over the speaker. You did a very good deed. The $5 ( I don't know how to make the pound simbol)were not necessary, but I will give another $5 to charity in your name (you made me cry, really).

Pay it forward!. Thank you !

Answer 11

This is funny!!! Good for you for having the nerve to do this.

It hopefully will teach the woman a lesson. My vote is that it is a good deed. You will free up future parking spaces for the truly disabled.

Bravo.