As we become busy with our day-to-day lives, it's easy to take the little things for granted. Because we expect everything to run smoothly all of the time, when things do develop differently than we expect them to, it can certainly have a huge impact upon us.
This is certainly what happened in China last summer with the 60-mile traffic jam that lasted for two weeks. It didn't take the locals long to determine that a little bit of money could be made from the situation. When situations like these arise, what do they mean for the rest of us? Have we lost a little empathy for others? Are we prone to take advantage when the opportunity presents itself?
People today do take advantage of other people. It is unfair, rude, and arrogant. I admit, I have done this myself to my siblings. In society we are so focused on money. I think it's wrong. Is it not important that we are all safe? One minute your best friend, mom, or dad could be there, the next minute poof, gone. What do you say?
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Alyssa on this on. People tend to take advantage of people for their personal gain. Either it's friendship, money, or items, someone always takes advantage. When the opportunity arises for people to take the advantage, they take it cause it's an opportunity. People can't say they've never done it, most of us have. Am I right?
ReplyDeletePeople take advantage of each other, because that is the law of nature. The gaining of profits through the misfortune that happened to these people, is the way business works. And yes, We have lost empathy for others, for the betterment of the human race
ReplyDeleteSelling something to someone you don't know is not taking advantage of them. However if you are using friendship to pressure someone into buying something than it is taking advantage of them. If an opportunity arrives that provides a chance for you to gain something than wouldn't you take it?
ReplyDeleteI think it is smart that people did this. They saw an opportunity that could be profitable and seized it. It's not stealing money from anyone, we all need to make a profit. Just the same we could call employees at McDonald's thieves and greedy people just because they sell us food at a price that might be more than we want. It is simply a business, and I don't think anyone is taking advantage of anyone else. Although if it weren't for the people selling them all these supplies they possibly wouldn't have any supplies at all.
ReplyDeleteMen will naturally take an opportunity if they see one. It isn't necessarily a bad cause, unless, of course, you feel that supporting your family by trade is bad.
ReplyDeleteEven if they were upping the price by that much, how do we know we haven't been taken advantage of daily when we go to the store?
It's true. We take advantage of innocent people for money, friends, and other reasons. I don't agree with it. Though, I have taken advantage of people before. Every one has at least once in there life time. They don't think of any one but themselves in the situation. They are selfish at the time, and feel okay about their decision because they will get ahead in their life, but it's not the right way to get ahead. If you ask me, it's about time we stop and take a look around us, and try to stop.
ReplyDeletePeople are full of greed, all they care about is themselves. If you put someone in a life or death situation, then go sell stuff they really need for ridiculous amounts it's kinda like stealing. They are just taking advantage of peoples needs. They are gaining profits from the misfortune of others.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely people take advantage of each other. I absolutely do not think this is alright to do. I know that I would've never done that to people in such a situation. I don't understand why vendors would exploit people like that, but I do understand that it does happen. Shouldn't we be helping them get out of the situation rather than using the situation for our own personal gain?
ReplyDeleteUnless your using propaganda or blackmail I don't think its taking advantage of them. They don't have to buy the product. Also its not like your going to starve in the traffic jam, you have no need to buy any of the products.
ReplyDeleteMost people would take this situation for granted but it's like running a business, you have good days and bad ones. This just happened to be a good one. With this comes money and what does money do? Yeah, you know. Although most of us are commenting about how people take things for granted but really, from the deepness of your heart, would you have not done the same? I know, honestly, I probably wouldn't have even thought about it other then a good business week. Sure this isn't very neighborly and really we should stop thinking about ourselves. But maybe in these situations, you aren't necessarily thinking about yourself. Maybe your thinking about a problem you could help or fix. Maybe some children in Africa, but what about the problem at hand?
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why you would call it taking advantage of another. The consumer would know full well it was overpriced, and it was their choice to buy it. There was no forcing, and if they really wanted a better price, they could get out their car, and head to Hetaocun themselves, instead of relying on residents for their needs.
ReplyDeleteIn a sense, they were catered for, much like room service. They pay for that service, too, not just the food.
Wow a 60 mile traffic jam and all they can think about is how to MONEY of the situation?! What is this world coming to? I say we really have lost our empathy for each other. I guess you could call it taking advantage of another.
ReplyDeleteI think people like to be able to take things for granted.
I know there are several of you who don't really think it's a big deal that people were overcharged for water or food. Would it change your mind if you knew that it's safe to say that the average person in China makes less than $200 per month? Does that make that $30 bottle of water look differently now?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.worldsalaries.org/china.shtml
This is something that is becoming a big problem now, though not many people know about this because most people don't want to deal with this kinda stuff because they still want money off these people. We need to realize that people are taking advantage of people and probably as long there are humans on Earth there will always be this problem.
ReplyDeleteTesting...this is Lewman
ReplyDeleteWhat I got from this is people take advantage of people all the time for personal gain because they know when someone is at a disadvantage; Such as the 60 Mile traffic jam, they know they can make a lot of money off of that. As long as there are "Salesman" type people there will always be someone trying to take advantage of anyone or anything.
ReplyDeletePeople are always gonna take advantage of other people. I agree with peteh no one was forcing them to buy things from those who were selling.
ReplyDeleteit is just human nature to squeeze as much as we can out of every situation/opportunity. we are born opportunists we try to get as much good out of anything we have the ability to for example the lottery and raffle tickets or just about any time we have the opportunity to gain something we are going to take it. That is just how we survive so you can think what you want but you know it's true and there is nothing you or I can do about it.
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