Earlier today, I was having lunch at Cosi in Dupont Circle, sitting at an outside table, when a man seated at a table next to me got up and asked if I could watch his stuff. "Sure," I replied, without hesitation.
"Thank you kindly," he replied.
I've been asked to do this many times before- I practically live in coffeeshops. But this time, maybe because he seemed so appreciative, or perhaps because we were outside, in DC, where it was quite likely that a bag left unattended could be stolen, something about the request got me thinking.
First of all, the nature of the relationship between requester and requestee. The man didn't know a thing about me, and yet he was totally comfortable leaving me in charge of his belongings. Not entirely outlandish, since nothing about me really screams criminal, but questionable, nonetheless.
Secondly, does me watching his stuff-- cell phone and knapsack, and Sports section of the Washington Post-- in any way prevent it from getting stolen? Me, sitting a table away, staring blankly at his table. Of course it's true that when witnesses are around, thievery is less likely to occur, but the object under scrutiny wasn't something that could likely be traced back to a suspect, i.e., the cops wouldn't really care that a backpack had been lifted, even if I did have a perfect description of the guy who'd lifted it. It's not a car he'd be stealing, but a wallet, at best.
Thirdly, if someone were in fact to take the goods and run, would I be expected to chase after him? By honoring the request to "watch" the stuff, what else is implied? Surely some form of follow-up if something were to occur, otherwise what would be the point of the request?
And lastly, I wonder, how much actual watching versus just remaining seated near the stuff am I supposed to be doing? I was in the middle of lunch when the favor was asked of me, was I supposed to put down my fork and focus all my attention on the guy's table? When what's at stake is unattended and expensive-looking in the heart of Dupont, right near a Metro stop, it would seems to require one's undivided attention.
After no more than five minutes, the guy returned, and thanked me kindly once again. But for what exactly, I'm still not sure.
"Thank you kindly," he replied.
I've been asked to do this many times before- I practically live in coffeeshops. But this time, maybe because he seemed so appreciative, or perhaps because we were outside, in DC, where it was quite likely that a bag left unattended could be stolen, something about the request got me thinking.
First of all, the nature of the relationship between requester and requestee. The man didn't know a thing about me, and yet he was totally comfortable leaving me in charge of his belongings. Not entirely outlandish, since nothing about me really screams criminal, but questionable, nonetheless.
Secondly, does me watching his stuff-- cell phone and knapsack, and Sports section of the Washington Post-- in any way prevent it from getting stolen? Me, sitting a table away, staring blankly at his table. Of course it's true that when witnesses are around, thievery is less likely to occur, but the object under scrutiny wasn't something that could likely be traced back to a suspect, i.e., the cops wouldn't really care that a backpack had been lifted, even if I did have a perfect description of the guy who'd lifted it. It's not a car he'd be stealing, but a wallet, at best.
Thirdly, if someone were in fact to take the goods and run, would I be expected to chase after him? By honoring the request to "watch" the stuff, what else is implied? Surely some form of follow-up if something were to occur, otherwise what would be the point of the request?
And lastly, I wonder, how much actual watching versus just remaining seated near the stuff am I supposed to be doing? I was in the middle of lunch when the favor was asked of me, was I supposed to put down my fork and focus all my attention on the guy's table? When what's at stake is unattended and expensive-looking in the heart of Dupont, right near a Metro stop, it would seems to require one's undivided attention.
After no more than five minutes, the guy returned, and thanked me kindly once again. But for what exactly, I'm still not sure.
