Also, a lazy mind, or one effectively socialized in very particular areas--especially the ones which allow convenience. I'd say not all who follow are dumb (but would like to remain blind)--even though some of us are wondering why more aren't shouting out? It becomes very easy to look good, tell yourself that you're better than so and so and all of the great many that are "bad" and on the bandwagon, and not really do all that you can, or your best in going against or solving problems because that means being uncomfortable in some way.
Years ago, as a young teen I worked for the forest service. We had to hike 10-12 miles a day and once at the top maintain some trails and a wilderness outpost. There were several youth, a few who ran up the trail, those in the middle and one very overweight boy who took up the rear. He rarely even made it to the top and when he did not much work. Perhaps, with some shame now, but not then for I thought myself smart, I would just make sure to be a few switchbacks ahead of R, the slow teen, and nobody bothered me at all, singing, stopping to write, enjoying the scenery and avoiding the work while still collecting a paycheck. Nobody ever hassled me, only him, the worst one. Anyway, maybe that's not the best analogy? But, here reading and I'm always fascinated by the socialization of the masses.
An interesting example, Kimberly. If it's taken out of your life context, one might say you haven't been particularly ethical. One could say that the group as a whole balanced out the conduct and misconduct of all participants. As long as the necessary work was done, everyone was paid. As long as no one in your group was offended by the fact that instead of working, you enjoyed your time and pretended to work, one could say that everything was fine. It must be okay for you and you must be able to look at yourself in the mirror. If it is a shameful act for you in hindsight and you would not repeat it, you are your only judge of it and you have made a sentence.
Of course, we have all done or refrained from doing similar things and no one can present himself as a blank slate in this. I suppose this is part of your statement, isn't it?
It is more difficult to find the reasons for your ease in dealing with this work situation at that time. Was it laziness, was it ignorance, was it that you had done a lot of work before and you took the opportunity to work less hard this time because you had a lot of responsibility at home with your siblings?
Reasons can always be found and they are plausible, understandable and human. As far as you find that you have behaved unethically and only didn't stand out because another person was more noticeable than you, the question would be whether you think the other group members would have thought the same, in particular that boy? Within groups that know each other, such as in families, other family members are sometimes allowed to work less because you know their current history well. Tolerance is greater. In principle, at least.
Applied to a city and a nation, one can always ask oneself whether the division into two classes, as we recognize it, is really so absolute ... I ask myself where one has to stand in order to understand oneself as a slave, sold for stupid and abused ... I don't have a really fitting answer to this question, but only deeper considerations, which would go beyond the scope of this comment :)
I'm glad that I ran into you here by chance and greet you warmly!
Yes, nice to run into you :)
Well, I'm sure I had enough to do at home and I had to use my money to buy school clothes while the others bought ice cream and burgers on our stop down the canyon, so that is another aspect. I thought, let them run up the mountain trying to be number one, stupid people rushing to work.
And, I agree, much here to consider.