It’s 11 PM and you’re snuggled up in bed, trying to think of a relaxing scenario to fall asleep to. All of a sudden, your phone vibrates. Out of curiosity, you open your eyes to see who has texted you at this late hour.
It’s a message from your best friend: “I have to get this off my chest - I committed a terrible crime. You’re the only one I trust.”
Reading this message… maybe you feel a bit flattered that your friend trusted you with this huge secret! Wow, that’s what friends are for, right? But what if, a few days later, you read in the news that someone else has been arrested for your friend’s crime?
Would you…
Betray your friend’s trust, and confess what you know to the police?
Try to convince your friend to confess to the police themselves?
Stay loyal to your friend, and keep their secrets safe?
Perhaps it depends on the severity of the crime. However, how severe would the crime have to be? What if it was accidental?
For example, what if your friend had confessed to an accidental, but extremely serious crime? Maybe they feel incredibly remorseful and guilty about it, to the point where they can’t even close their eyes at night anymore. They felt lonely carrying this heavy burden alone on their shoulders, so they came to the only person they trusted in this situation - you.
Wait… but what would you do if it was a planned crime, and they feel zero remorse about it? Yes, they trusted you with the information, but there may be a chance that they do it again!
Lastly, even if it was actually a very small and accidental crime that your friend feels guilty about, could you live with yourself, knowing that someone else is going to face unjust consequences for something that your friend did? It’s 11 PM and you’re snuggled up in bed, trying to think of a relaxing scenario to fall asleep to. All of a sudden, your phone vibrates. Out of curiosity, you open your eyes to see who has texted you at this late hour.
It’s a message from your best friend: “I have to get this off my chest - I committed a terrible crime. You’re the only one I trust.”
Reading this message… maybe you feel a bit flattered that your friend trusted you with this huge secret! Wow, that’s what friends are for, right? But what if, a few days later, you read in the news that someone else has been arrested for your friend’s crime?
Would you…
Betray your friend’s trust, and confess what you know to the police?
Try to convince your friend to confess to the police themselves?
Stay loyal to your friend, and keep their secrets safe?
Perhaps it depends on the severity of the crime. However, how severe would the crime have to be? What if it was accidental?
For example, what if your friend had confessed to an accidental, but extremely serious crime? Maybe they feel incredibly remorseful and guilty about it, to the point where they can’t even close their eyes at night anymore. They felt lonely carrying this heavy burden alone on their shoulders, so they came to the only person they trusted in this situation - you.
Wait… but what would you do if it was a planned crime, and they feel zero remorse about it? Yes, they trusted you with the information, but there may be a chance that they do it again!
Lastly, even if it was actually a very small and accidental crime that your friend feels guilty about, could you live with yourself, knowing that someone else is going to face unjust consequences for something that your friend did?
It’s 11 PM and you’re snuggled up in bed, trying to think of a relaxing scenario to fall asleep to. All of a sudden, your phone vibrates. Out of curiosity, you open your eyes to see who has texted you at this late hour.
It’s a message from your best friend: “I have to get this off my chest - I committed a terrible crime. You’re the only one I trust.”
Reading this message… maybe you feel a bit flattered that your friend trusted you with this huge secret! Wow, that’s what friends are for, right? But what if, a few days later, you read in the news that someone else has been arrested for your friend’s crime?
Would you…
Betray your friend’s trust, and confess what you know to the police?
Try to convince your friend to confess to the police themselves?
Stay loyal to your friend, and keep their secrets safe?
Perhaps it depends on the severity of the crime. However, how severe would the crime have to be? What if it was accidental?
For example, what if your friend had confessed to an accidental, but extremely serious crime? Maybe they feel incredibly remorseful and guilty about it, to the point where they can’t even close their eyes at night anymore. They felt lonely carrying this heavy burden alone on their shoulders, so they came to the only person they trusted in this situation - you.
Wait… but what would you do if it was a planned crime, and they feel zero remorse about it? Yes, they trusted you with the information, but there may be a chance that they do it again!
Lastly, even if it was actually a very small and accidental crime that your friend feels guilty about, could you live with yourself, knowing that someone else is going to face unjust consequences for something that your friend did?