For myself, personally, I would proceed with the transaction and sell the razor blades to him. It is not reassuring, but at least by using fresh razor blades that are unpackaged, brand new, and pretty clean, he is minimizing his risk of infectious disease. Not saying he could not get an infection via some other contaminant, but this is at least somewhat less risky
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You can't legally sell blades to a child under the age of 18 or maybe 16, can't remember (at least in the UK) so I don't think it would be an issue in that respect - it wouldn't be your decision to make.
Oh, okay. I thought there might be laws in regard to that. I am not sure if a box cutter or other knife would count. Probably. I've never worked in a store that sells these kind of items, so I have no clue what policies there are about knives/potential weapons.
I used to work in Tesco and you were meant to ID people for buying like...cutlery. Even disposable plastic cutlery. It was so stupid. Anything remotely 'sharp' would come up on the till with an alert.
I'm not sure if this is appropriate to include, but I was thinking of the whole pharmacist/Plan B debacle. It is not anyone's business to decide whether or not a product is appropriate for a customer, and definitely is not to be left in the hands of a cashier at a CVS/Walgreens/etc.
Well, I mean Plan B could be considered a good option for a young person or a person incapable of handling a child. It does the person some good to help prevent pregnancy, thus avoiding abortion or raising a child. However, cutting oneself because you feel tortured and are mentally unwell is not a good thing, most people might say.
I would sell it to him. I'd probably feel bad for it later on, but who am I to say anything to him? In the end it's his life and his choice and I have no say in it.
Just out of curiosity, and I am not suggesting this is your personal opinion, but when does it stop becoming his "choice"? Why do we feel justified in saying that sure, we'd sell some guy blades when we suspect he is harming himself, but society steps in when people are going to jump off bridges and put bullets thru their heads. Why is that not their choice, too?
I find there is gray area here, and I can't really define when I feel it is no longer that person's choice. Something to think about.
I completely understand what you're saying. I hadn't thought of it before, but that is a good point. I'm not sure I can say where it's no longer a person's choice either. :/
Just out of curiosity, and I am not suggesting this is your personal opinion, but when does it stop becoming his "choice"?
In my opinion? Never.
Why do we feel justified in saying that sure, we'd sell some guy blades when we suspect he is harming himself, but society steps in when people are going to jump off bridges and put bullets thru their heads. Why is that not their choice, too?
Someone jumping off of a bridge could endanger others (particularly if it is onto a road, train tracks, or if emergency services have to go somewhere potentially dangerous to retrieve the body). Also, suicide is illegal in a lot of (if not most) places, so there's that. You are comparing apples to oranges with these analogies.
This is so odd because where I live several shops have to ask you outright weather you're going to use whatever sharpe bject you've bought (pins, knives, razor, etc.) to harm yourself.
What is the point of that? If they asked me, I would simply say "no! Of course not" and go home and harm anyway. My SI isn't visible unless I'm naked. I think that is a silly procedure that will only get people lying to them. And if someone says "yes"? Then do they give them a psychiatric referral or something?
I imagine it has to do with legal issues. If they ask and you say no, they have done their duty of care and cannot be held responsible should someone seek restitution or to lay blame at a later date.
1. I'm not going to be callous and say "It's not my job to police other people's actions" here, but I will definitely say that it's not my right to deny this young man his purchase. I may not like it, but my hands are tied. I'd sell him the blades
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However, cutting oneself because you feel tortured and are mentally unwell is not a good thing, most people might say.
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How do we know that the customer is going to use them for self-harm? Are we psychic?
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I find there is gray area here, and I can't really define when I feel it is no longer that person's choice. Something to think about.
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In my opinion? Never.
Why do we feel justified in saying that sure, we'd sell some guy blades when we suspect he is harming himself, but society steps in when people are going to jump off bridges and put bullets thru their heads. Why is that not their choice, too?
Someone jumping off of a bridge could endanger others (particularly if it is onto a road, train tracks, or if emergency services have to go somewhere potentially dangerous to retrieve the body). Also, suicide is illegal in a lot of (if not most) places, so there's that. You are comparing apples to oranges with these analogies.
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It ain't rocket surgery. :D
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