Whose Fault?

@zhihao12 (363)
Singapore
May 13, 2012 5:52am CST
I have wondered about this question for some time now and it seems this question can be seen in real life many a time. Take for example, there is a glass accessory placed too near the edge of the table and because of that, a blur person walking towards the table accidentally knock onto the table and broke the accessory. My question is : In this case whose fault is it? Is it the person who placed it at the wrong place or is it the person who didn't take notice of it and knock onto the table? If this is not enough, what about a scenario whereby a person is charging his hand phone and the cable is hanging across a route / pathway. Then another person walk towards that path and accidentally trips over the cable resulting in both cable and hand phone broken while the person nearly fell down. Whose fault is it again? Is it the fault of the person who nearly fell because he was not careful? Or is it the inconsiderate person who left his cable at the incorrect place? Like to hear some different perspectives since there is technically no right or wrong
1 person likes this
10 responses
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
13 May 12
well I have an opinion about the broken item...its the fault of the person who knocked it off and broke it...I think in my house I should be able to place things any where I want to...how can anyone come into someones elses house and tell them where they should place their items.... an accident is an accident but someone has to be responsible..... just my opinion!!!!!
@bjc66bjc (6730)
• United States
14 May 12
I am not a go with the flow person, I believe that speaking the truth as to how I feel is a must, even if I an going and everyone else is coming...if you know what I mean.... thanks for noticing that.....lol
@zhihao12 (363)
• Singapore
14 May 12
Among all the responses, this seems to be the only one that directed the blame towards the 'unpopular' guy. I like that sentence about how someone has to be responsible in the end. That's right and i totally agree. Usually the situation will not be completely resolved until one side takes the blame. Just my opinion too.
@else22 (4317)
• India
13 May 12
Clearly in such cases both should be held responsible.Both have committed fault.First of all,why should a glass be kept at the edge of a table when there is a lot of space left on the surface.Secondly,why should a person be so careless so as to walk without noticing that the glass is put on the wrong place.Both are responsible.
@zhihao12 (363)
• Singapore
13 May 12
But if you were to only choose one person to blame, who will it be? Based on reasoning and weighing both sides
@else22 (4317)
• India
13 May 12
I would blame the person who put the glass at the wrong place,at the edge of the table.Had the glass been put at the middle of the table or somewhere else,carelessness of the person who entered the room would not have made any difference.The glass would not have been broken.
@bird123 (10632)
• United States
19 May 12
Isn't Blame such a petty thing?? The important thing is that everyone learns from the experience then it will never happen again. Now, since everyone learns and the accident never happens again, doesn't that make the first accident a good thing?? Education is always a good thing even if it gets a little bumpy.
@zhihao12 (363)
• Singapore
25 May 12
Yes thats the ideal scenario but usually people will turn their attention to blaming. I guess this is just human nature and there is no way to prevent it
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
13 May 12
Ah this really is an interesting situation, as when you put something at the edge of something where it can easily fly it off or get damaged, then you really are asking for disaster. Something can really just fall off without any human involvement either. There have been times where there had been a particularly heavy truck that went by my house as such that it jostled things and I swear it moved. Of course, one could really argue that people should watch where they are going when they are walking around. However, at the same time, people should watch where they put their things down and around. Blame can often be charted in this situation as a two way street. There are just no right answers, all wrong answers, and everything just fell right in a problematic way right here. People need to be careful on all fronts.
@zhihao12 (363)
• Singapore
14 May 12
Detailed and precise response here. I agree that there is actually no right and wrong in ANY situation and there will always be something to back whichever your stand is. But the person who so called 'won' their stand in the end will become the right and the 'loser' will become the wrong. I guess this is just how the system of the world works
13 May 12
Fifty fifty, both are at fault.Each of them need to take the responsible of himself.For example. the one who place the accessory in wrong placd and the other who broke it should paid for the broken accessory together.
@zhihao12 (363)
• Singapore
14 May 12
Technically to outsiders this will be 50-50 but i guess in the eyes of those involved, there will only be one person 100 percent in the wrong
• United States
14 May 12
Both scenarios sound like ACCIDENTS---and an accident has no guilty part why should you have someone as guilty? isn't it enough no one got hurt things can be replaced,people can't
@zhihao12 (363)
• Singapore
15 May 12
True, i also agree that the relationship and the well being of the people are more important :)
@roberten (3128)
• United States
16 May 12
Both scenarios are accidents waiting to happen; the carelessness of both parties contributed to its final outcome. Without the careless actions of either party the accident would not have occurred, so they both are joinly responsible.
@tiffnkeat (1673)
• Singapore
13 May 12
It's more important that no one was seriously hurt than to look for who to point the accusing finger at. Both parties will of course be angry, but who's the wiser if it is only looking for someone to blame. Both should learn from the situation and make sure they (each) don't make the same mistake, blur or otherwise.
@Ollanna11 (371)
• United States
15 May 12
Something so fragile should be put away. When glass breaks someone gets cut. Maybe place the glass accesory on a fireplace. People are clumsy and might not notice the glass. The decorator should think twice about where they place things. Especially if you have a family. If you live alone and don't expect guess then feel free. Onto the next scenario. The person that place the charger in the pathway is at fault. He is not thinking about anyone safety or protecting his phone. Kind of like leaving a tire on the road. Everyone must dodge it or get hurt. The person walking should also pay attention to where they are going. Can't blame anyone if you are not looking.
@videnom (98)
• Romania
13 May 12
The person that placed the glass too near the edge of the table would be guilty. If it wasn't for him, the glass wouldn't be broken even if the person accidentally knocked onto the table.