fandomhigh | Ethics [Tuesday, September 10, 2013]

Today the students found themselves in the Danger Shop that had been configured to look like a busy sidewalk in the heart of a major city. "Today we're going to talk about charity," Anakin said when everyone had gathered around. "Some people donate money or time to charitable organizations. Some people give a dollar or two to people who ask for it on the street. Some people figure they've worked very hard for their money and don't owe it to anyone else. There are arguments to be made for either of them, and as I said last week, I'm not here to tell you that you're a terrible person because you don't give ten percent of what you make to the Red Cross or Bruce Wayne's orphanage charity or something.

"What I will tell you is that along this street are panhandlers you can give money to, as well as a food bank where you can either give a donation of money or of time. There's also a coffee shop if you choose not to do any of those activities. Students, feel free to ask each other about the choices you're making--I certainly will--but please don't harague each other if someone makes a choice that isn't yours."

He smiled. "When you're finished with class, I will also give you a list of charities that are across the causeway if helping fake people today inspires you to help real people throughout the next week."

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Yep. Flick was going to be that guy. He was going to be that guy that bypassed those that needed help and went to the coffee shop.

The charity thing, that was more Joi's area of expertise and not his. She'd been the one to take care of his stupid ass on more than one occasion. He was thankful for that but he'd never been one to be her right hand man when it came to handouts and being helpful.

He took a seat in the coffee shop and rubbed a hand over his face. Jude was no doubt frowning his ass off somewhere out there but Flick wasn't thinking of that right now. He had bigger things to deal with.

Anakin pulled up a chair. "Why here?" he asked, honestly interested.

Flick shrugged in lieu of saying something immediately. He wasn't going to ignore the question, though. Just gave him some time to formulate his thoughts.

"I don't know them," he finally said. "Whose to say what I do is gonna be wanted? Or that they won't take what I give them and use it on crap that doesn't help them? Dunno about you but when people offer me help and I haven't asked, I get pissed."

"I can understand that," Anakin said, nodding. "Would you help out if you were given a list and allowed to do your own research on the charity?"

"Possibly," Flick allowed. It'd make Joi happy if he did something like that and he always did like making her smile. "Guess it'd depend on what they did and if I believed in the cause. I wouldn't give time and money to something I think is futile."

"What sort of charities appeal to you most?" Anakin asked.

"Not something I've ever really given thought to," Flick admitted, shrugging. "I'd have to make a decision once I did some research. Safe to say, non corrupt ones would be nice."

"Lucky for you, there are laws that require charities to disclose how much of their money goes the charity they say they're helping and not to, say, administrative costs. I'm sure Mr. Wayne, for one, would have impeccably kept books if you're interested in helping children without parents."

"Maybe."

A charity like that would be right up Jude's alley. Maybe Flick would check into it for his dead brother. Maybe something like that would be some signal for Jude to show up again.

"I've never been a real charitable person to be honest," he told Professor Skywalker. "Kind of had it beaten out of me when I was a kid."

Anakin understood that. "Literal or figurative beating?" he asked softly.

"Does it matter?" Flick deflected. "It happened."

That was a way of saying he didn't really want to get into all that right now.

Anakin nodded and shifted the subject slightly. "There's no requirement to give to other people," he said. "You don't have to. Plenty don't."

"Yeah, thanks," he mumbled, shaking his head. "Maybe one day. We can always hope."

Ethics [Tuesday, September 10, 2013]

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