Had a woman come in who was an ex-employee of our youth center. She said she wanted to say hi to the kids. A couple minutes in, she started soliciting signatures to the older youth for a petition. I asked her to please not do that. She stated she would call our executive director (naming him) for not letting her do her job. I told her to go ahead, but now she would have to leave. She said she would talk to our board president (also naming him). I told her she was more than welcome to do so, but she still had to leave. I even gave her the number.

I was so incensed that she thought her name-dropping would get around our no-solicitation policy of our youths. I, of course, spoke to the supervisor of the company she works for and will be sending a formal complaint to her supervisor and the main office in the state capital.

Bravo once again, Mr. Josephson. Why can't people understand that if everyone paid attention to the small things that make up our individual little worlds, then the big stuff would take care of itself? I get extra aggravated when I see adults exhibiting these behaviors while accompanied by their children. How about those who open a bag of chips, finish the bag while shopping, and then put the empty bag on a shelf. "It's empty; why would I pay for it now?" Sheese. It's a very plausible path from taking a bag of chips as a child to cheating on college exams as a teen to fraudulent behavior as a banking executive as an adult.

There is also the conduct in line, like making a little room at the end of the conveyor belt so the next person can start putting their stuff down. Also, it is polite and not too hard to get the rubber divider bar and set it down for the person behind you instead of making them reach for it. Courtesy and kindness in the grocery store may pass a little something on that can be carried out to the car and beyond!

I regularly read your writing. It changed me a lot, gives me direction, and changes my mindset and most especially my behavior, attitude and character. Your writings really tackled the reality of life and your point of view really applies in our life. You have an incredible wisdom that makes you have the right judgment for all things. Please continue writing it. It's understandable that other people would disagree with you, but I believe God gave this talent, wisdom, and opportunity to change people through what you are doing. We know we are pleasing God, not people. You are changing people globally.

I never understand why people feel that a name will change anything. All people from the President to the guy next door put their shoes and socks on one foot at a time. We give respect and reverence to people because they have come to earn it. That respect should not be tarnished by a name dropper. I think if people see it in that light, they would not take these complaints so seriously. Especially when a person is in the wrong.

I work in a grocery store,and see your example of ethical misdimeaners all of the time. Nothing irritates me more than someone just putting things wherever they please. They also spill things and walk away. I was in WalMart one day with my husband. A child broke a bottle of chardonnay and the paren grabbed the child by the arm and pulled him away. They never said a word to anyone. I stood over the spill and told my husband to get an employee. After the second attempt, an employee finally showed up. She accused me 0f breaking the bottle! When I explained what happened, she just shrugged. Obviously she is used to these occurances. It is so sad that humans have lost the common courtesy factor when shopping. I often wonder if they behave like this at home.

How about the people with only one or two items, that think you should let them go ahead of you in line, when the 10items or less is backed up. And they are rude about it also. Please !!!!!!!!!!!!!

It would also be refreshing to be applauded for returning to a story where they forgot to charge me for an item instead of being glared at by a clerk for creating extra work by ringing up the missed item.
It's not a 'freebie' or a 'bonus' if I don't pay for something. It's wrong.

While we are discussing grocery store behavior, what about the person who is pleased that the cashier forgot to ring up an item, or an item that was obviously mispriced (underpriced of course). If we are quick to let the store know about an overcharge, shouldn't we be quick to let the store know about an undercharge? I have always said that leaving a store with a cucumber you knowingly did not pay for is no less of a sin that the person who "shoplifts". What really is the difference?

Your terrific commentaries just reinforce my belief that ethics are ultra-important in life.

I had a virtual store experience in that I ordered an electronics item that was supposed to come with a couple of free items. Upon superficially inspecting the package, I didn't see the extras, so I called up the online store and asked for a credit. They promptly credited me $40. I actually unpacked the product and THEN found the free items, so I called the store back and asked them to re-charge me the $40. The woman in customer service was shocked that someone would be so honest. In truth, I was mad at myself for not taking a close look at the package to begin with. The store charged me the $40, and I felt better.

I was waiting in line at the store, bought everything I was supposed to, and may have gotten myself a treat. Fortunately I notice what is going on around me.

The elderly lady ahead of me did not have enough money and was trying to figure out what to put back. She didn't have that many items, and the bill wasn't very much.

I got the clerk's attention and paid for her bill. I also gently refused to take her money, telling her that was the way my grandmother brought me up.

My 7-year-old daughter accompanies me to the store most times. It is such an opportunity to model character and at times test it. We recently went into the store with two flats of flowers. The cashier only rang up 6 flowers while there were 12 total. I knew immediately my total was too low. I am ashamed to say I hesitated, thinking what a good deal it would be to get half-price flowers. But before I swiped my credit card, I told her of the mistake and left paying for all 12 plants. On the way out, I explained to my daughter what happened and that saving money is nice, but not as important as doing the right thing. She is familiar with the Six Pillars so I added that it would not be trustworthy to not pay for all the plants.

Parking Lot Civility: Why is it that people are often at their worst when behind the wheel? Another area where I see people behaving as though they are ignorant of (or fail to consider) the effects of their choices on others is when I drop-off/pick-up my teenage daughters from school. In this crowded, busy parking lot, people routinely: 1) block other drivers by waiting in no-parking zones (both sides of this two-way street are clearly posted as no parking zones, 2) block two lanes of parking lot traffic by stopping with wheels in both lanes, 3) back up without looking behind them, 4) park straddllng two marked parking spots, 5) pull into the lot through the posted do-not-enter exit (and vice versa), and 6) parking/waiting in the posted school bus loading zone. I have even seen the truancy officer's police vehicle parked outside the marked parking area (blocking others from driving through the open area between the parking spaces and the school bus loading zone). Of course, I see similar (and worse) behaviors in other parking areas, too. But this is especially annoying because of the example it sets for young people, many of whom are just learning to drive. When I think of living the 6 Pillars, I think of how civility is the lubricant that reduces friction in our everyday social interactions and makes life a little easier for ourselves and others.

Grocery stores also have customers who think it's OK to sample a grape, bulk candy, or eating pistachios from the bin. Don't they realize this is stealing? Imagine if every customer did this. This blatant disregard could be the start of shoplifting. Parents should be ethically aware and not give food items to children unless it is specifically designated as "Free" (i.e., a cookie at the bakery dept. or samples in the aisles).

I try to be ethical, but I have been guilty of some of the indiscretions mentioned. Will definitely be more intentional about monitoring my behavior in that area. My husband and I were given $1000 more from a bank. After the withdrawal, he decided to stop the car and count the money to be certain we got what we had withdrawn. He counted the money twice to make sure he had counted it correctly, then asked me to do the same. Each time we came up with an overdraft. We returned to the bank and went to the same cashier and had him recount the money. He was shocked to know he had given us too much money and was grateful that we had returned it. Two weeks later, we received a thank-you card from him. Now that is being ethical.