There’s a riddle that goes:
Two chimney sweepers are working in a chimney when one loses his footing and causes both to fall into the fireplace. One ends up with a black, sooty face, while the other is lucky and stays clean. Both look at each other in astonishment after the surprising fall. The one with the clean face goes to the bathroom to wash his face, while the other continues working with his darkened complexion. Logically explain the actions of the two sweepers.
The answer is simple. The one with the dirty face sees the one with the clean face, and assumes that his face is clean as well. The one with the clean face looks at the one with the dirty face, assumes the opposite, and washes up.
And even though I know the answer to the riddle, sometimes I forget that such confusion exists. For example, if I had a car, I’d be giving people rides to Tremblent. And since I’d be going there myself, I wouldn’t ask people for gas money. Other people, however, see the car ride as part of the cost of going there, and will plan on splitting the cost of gas when organizing the trip. Both ideals are fine, but I prefer to not ask people for money if I’m not going out of my way to do something.
And, being the ignorant idiot that I am, I will sometimes forget that others are not like me, that others assume that gas money will be split. Perhaps it can be said that I’m as much at fault as others who assume the opposite, but that doesn’t really matter to me. The best solution, in such cases, is that an understanding be reached when things are planned.
An example like this, which has been taken from personal experience, can be related so many other things in life. That just means that I need to work harder at being considerate of how others think.
Because some would rather be angry than understanding.
