From NPR · · 1m 40s
A foul ball, a child, and an ethics question
A Dodgers fan caught a foul ball at the playoffs and refused to give it to a nearby child. The moment went viral, raising questions about what we owe each other at a game.
In brief
A Dodgers fan caught a foul ball at the playoffs and refused to give it to a nearby child. The moment went viral, raising questions about what we owe each other at a game. A Dodgers fan's refusal to give a caught foul ball to a nearby child sparked online debate about ethics and public shaming at sporting events…
Quick answers
- What would you do?
- A foul ball could be a nice souvenir. But if it were hit by Shohei Ohtani, it could be worth as much as a Picasso. What would you do if you caught one?
- What is the key takeaway from A foul ball, a child, and an ethics question?
- A Dodgers fan's refusal to give a caught foul ball to a nearby child sparked online debate about ethics and public shaming at sporting events.
A catch at the playoffs
Tuesday night at the Dodgers versus Braves game in Atlanta, a young man in a Dodgers jersey caught a foul ball in the stands. Someone nearby filmed it and posted it online.
Give it to the kid
The person filming told the fan to give the ball to a small boy nearby wearing a Braves jersey. The boy was a few rows back, maybe preschool-aged.
He said no
The Dodgers fan looked at the camera and told millions of viewers on social media, "I'm sorry, I can't!I'm not giving it to the kid!I feel bad, but I'm not giving it to the kid!"
“I'm sorry, I can't! I'm not giving it to the kid! I feel bad, but I'm not giving it to the kid!”
The online reaction
Some commenters denounced the man for keeping the ball. Others criticised the little boy for looking disappointed. The moment became a moral debate on social media.
What would you do?
A foul ball could be a nice souvenir. But if it were hit by Shohei Ohtani, it could be worth as much as a Picasso. What would you do if you caught one?
The real problem is shaming
Nancy Sherman, a Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University, said the public shaming of both man and boy was the real issue. "Manners are not morals," she said. The fan's honest response was healthy.
“Manners are not morals.”
The key point
A Dodgers fan's refusal to give a caught foul ball to a nearby child sparked online debate about ethics and public shaming at sporting events.
