Let them eat cake

As of now, Robert, no. We aren’t planning any sequels to any of our films. But hey, you never know:)

The Responsibility Project | 2 years, 1 month ago
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Boston

True – it’s possible that the witness did nothing responsible but the cliffhanger ending leaves the decision in your hands. Its up to you to decide whether he hands the crook his cupcakes or actually confronts him for the crime he committed.

Alexis | 2 years, 1 month ago
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Responsibility isn't always black or white.

It’s a cliffhanger ending alright, Brad. But we did that for a reason. Does the guy actually confront the thief? Maybe. Maybe not. If he does, is that really the responsible thing to do? One would think so. But hold on a second. What if the thief has a gun in his jacket? If our hero gets himself shot because he tried to do right by a total stranger, how responsible is that to his family? By ending the film where she does, Steph is saying, I’m not going to decide this for you. You decide for yourself.

The Responsibility Project | 2 years, 1 month ago
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The worst moral failing

We hear you, Geoff. But like we asked in our response to Brad’s similar comment— see above— if you knew the thief had a gun, and wouldn’t hesitate to use it, what is the greater moral failure, letting a total stranger down or letting your family down? Not saying one is more right than the other. But it’s worth asking the question, we think.

The Responsibility Project | 2 years, 1 month ago
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Point Missed

Many philosophers have written we should always do the right thing (it’s called the “moral imperative”). But, the reason this philosophy fails is that it’s subjective… ask 5 people and get five different answers about the “right thing.” I’m sure even Hitler thought he was right. THAT is why this short film is important— it gets us thinking about our priorities and our decision-making processes.

Each course of action has the potential for a different consequence for donut guy (and possibly others): Should donut guy have called 9-1-1? Maybe the police would not have responded in time. Or, maybe the robber would have heard him and attacked him. Does he have a greater duty to preserve himself for his family? Does he even have a family? Is the right thing to do different depending on whether or not donut guy has a family? Is it worth risking his life over property? Should he have politely asked the robber for the purse? Or, should he have angrily confronted the robber? Maybe the robber would have shot everyone on the bus. Was the donut guy wrong to hesitate while he thought about the “right” thing to do? Is someone more likely to make the “right” decision by thinking about it longer? When is an opportunity lost? Should we have invaded Iraq? Should we have thought about it longer? Would we have come to a different conclusion? Lots of questions… usually no super clear and easy answers. In fact, often decisions that seem obvious at the time turn out to be wrong when viewed with the benefit of hindsight.

The initial reaction from most of us is that the donut guy should have done what he needed to in order to get the purse back, but maybe we watch too many movies. Most would agree that the confrontation was stupid if donut guy was killed over a purse with $70.00 and a phone. In the movies, the hero would have been able to get the purse back either through force or persuasion… but this little film is meant to portray the real struggle to know and do the right thing. It is not a “moral failing” that the writer did not make a judgment call. It’s real life because to make a call is to oversimplify and romanticize and the important thing is that we think individually about our priorities. The scenario is just meant to highlight the fact that life has hard decisions and sometimes what constitutes the “right thing” is not instantaneously clear. At least Liberty Mutual is dedicating a site to just that conversation.

William | 2 years, 1 month ago
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