Audience Participation Weekend
I thought last week’s project went well.
Today’s endeavor is a puzzle of sorts that I got from Karol a few years ago. I found it in my draft folder and figured I’d dust it off and publish it in these times of blogging famine. Comment your answers in the comment section.
A man (M) and a lady (L) who are very much in love and devoted to one another, are separated by a river with no way of getting across to the other side. On L’s side of the river, there is a boatman (B) who is able to take her over to the other side of the river but refuses to do so unless she pays him $20, twice his normal fare. L has no money. Another man (S) then tells L that he will giver her $20 if she sleeps with him. L agrees to do so and on receiving the $20, pays B who takes her over to the other side of the river. She is reunited with M and they are very happy together. However, a friend of M (F) finds out what L did with S and immediately tells M. On learning the news, M finds L and ends things with her, stating that he wants nothing more to do with her. Your task is to rank these five people, M, L, B, S, and F, from best person to worst person.
UPDATE:
WHAT IT ALL MEANS:
The story features five characters each representing certain traits. How you ranked their goodness from 1 to 5 reflects how much importance you place on these things in your life. For instance, my ranking B, F, M, L, S. Says that I place most emphasis on Business (or money), then Friendship, then Morality, then Love and lastly Sex. Which, if I say so myself, is pretty much exactly me. Likely due to my being an only child raised Catholic and living in the ghetto.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Everyone will have their own opinion of course, but here’s mine (ranked worst to best):
F - who shouldn’t have told M about L. What happens between M & F is their own business. It is up to L to confess to M. The only reason F tells M is to feel morally superior.
S - (actually, it’s a bit of a tie between F & S). S is a sleazeball who took advantage of L’s situation. He’s just plain slimey.
B - another cad who took advantage but less severly. He’s a greedy businessman.
M - he’s just too holier-than-thou. He instantly believes F and turns his back on L without getting her side of the story.
L - Her fault is that she’s stupid. Why didn’t she send a note to M asking for him to pay B? If he refused, then he’s not worthy of her love. If he paid, then there are no problems. Why would she sleep with S to get the $20? If her love was so strong, surely meeting up with M could wait until she had earned the money in way that wouldn’t compromise her relationship with M.
So, what does my ranking say about me?
April 12th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
I said S was the worst, he made a sad situation unecessarily bad.
L came second because, yes, she’s a retard, I mean honestly.
M came third, for most of the reasons you listed. Though…dude, L slept with another dude for money, I’m leaving her ass too.
F was next because I think he did the right thing. Friends can’t keep secrets like that from each other…I mean, they can, but it makes the friendship worthless.
And best was the boatman for me. I mean simple supply and demand. He gots the boat and the boat billz, he can charge whatever he wants for using it. And especially when dealing with a stupid chick…yeah charge her double!
But that’s just me.
I say what it all means at the end of the weekend, so if you know, don’t ruin it.
April 12th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
“…a mention in this post.” What kind of fucking prize is that? When Annika was but a lowly law school student she sent coffeemugs and other stuff with her image on it. On second thought, nevermind.
As for the puzzle, who gives a fuck? If she wasn’t a nasty, stupid (Who sells ass for $20?) little whore, none of the events would have transpired.
April 12th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Just do it, casca. You’ll learn something fun and interesting about yourself.
April 12th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I already know too much.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Best
M - Did nothing wrong
F - Good loyal friend
B - Good business sense (supply/demand)
S - Took advantage of L
L - Tramp
Worst
April 13th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Best to Worst:
F — blameless, did duty as friend.
M — could have been more loyal and understanding, but is ok to dump prostitute girlfriend.
L — poor judgment, but more stupid than knowingly hurtful.
B — greedy and mean, but not the worst, because he was just doing business.
S — mean, selfish, mean, mean.
April 13th, 2008 at 3:01 am
Forced into a decision, I’ll second Pear’s view.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I will add that my opinion of S is based on the assumption that S knows about L’s position. If he doesn’t, then I place him between M and L — creepy, but basically just trying to conduct a business transaction.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
So . . . it’s the end of the weekend. What does it mean?
April 13th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
It means another trip into the five day shitstorm.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
L - The Lady is the best. She did what she had to do to be with her man. Her hierarchy of values is clear - and meaningless sex served to accomplish what she truly values, the Man.
B - The boatman isn’t really at any fault here, he’s just getting what the market will bear.
F - The friend was loyal, which I think is important, but it may be that the firend did this out of malice to hurt M, because the only person served here is L, who is better off now without M.
S - Not at any real fault, but fairly base behavior.
M - This guy is a tool who was obviously never really in love with L. He should understand why L did what she did, and at worst, maybe ask for some kinda L + F of L 3-way to even the score.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
BTW Dawn - the more I read you, the more I believe you are just one economics class away from being a Republican.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
HAHAHHA, I’ve been told similar things before.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
VN, she can’t do basic math.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
“The only reason F tells M is to feel morally superior.”
Negative. What F happens to know, is that S is a slimy venereal disease grab-bag, having previously worked as a male “model” for the Empresses’ Club in New York. F cares enough for friend M to warn him away from such a clearly vapid (and now likely infected) woman who does the nasty with total strangers for 20$.
“L - The Lady is the best. She did what she had to do to be with her man. Her hierarchy of values is clear - and meaningless sex served to accomplish what she truly values, the Man.”
A Machevelian, eh? Her ends justify the means, huh? And sex is meaningless, too? Show me the women who think sex is meaningless when their men sleep around (Silda Spitzer notwithstanding).