what if

[rockriver]

time for another what if...

a big disaster hit... think Katrina, the big trucks aren't running any more.
you are prepared. you have a years worth of food for you and your family/group of 10 folks.
your 500 gallon gas tank is half full.
your place is 100 miles from any large city.
a few folks haven't gotten there yet... you've loaded up a crew to go get them and their stuff... taking 2 tractors with 2 trailers. the tractors should be able to get there and are common in your rural area. the folks you are going after have already contributed to the groups food supplies

2 that have arrived are kind hearted hard working folks, but new members to the group. your sister and bro in law.
they had provided no provisions ahead of time. they have desirable skills.

refugees are beginning to show up, looking for food and someone to care for them.

sister and hubbie are preparing land near the gate...
a van pulls in the drive real slow. full of folks 50/50 male/female... on the side of the van is written "big city missionary union. pastor jones, we care for the downtrodden."
they are hungry and about out of gas. their story is pitiful.. they are headed for the church camp. their 35 gallon tank is on empty.
there is no food at the camp. it's 200 miles away. their plea is full of "Church talk" and how they are going to help the refugees once they get to the camp.

sister says "we can help" and tells van to fill up at the fuel tank. and she sends hubbie with a wagon to get food... there is so much in the storage shed.. she loads down the van with storage food. giving up 10% of groups food.

you return home with the rest of your group and a family whose house was burnt... you've known the family for years. quality folks in all regards... 10 of them..
and sister walks up, bragging. she is so proud of how she helped the the downtrodden...

[justanothergunnut]

As tempting as it may be to give until it hurts your first obligation is to YOUR group. The sister and BIL had no right to give away supplies that did not belong to them. I believe in Christian charity but I can't save them all. Also, how do you know they are who they say they are?? I'm generally Leary of stories with huge holes in them. How are they planning to help refugees once they get to their camp if they have no food there.?

[Lowdown3]

Sister and brother are permanently hitched to a plow with a gag in their mouths from here on out.

That's the nicest course of action.

You don't speak for nor give away other people's goods.

[jimmycthemd]

An ounce of prevention is needed here.

Edited and added this:

Whoever had the bright idea to leave the newbies unsupported and in charge are just as much at fault as the sister and BIL. If there isn't enough people power to leave a more seasoned member of the group with the newbies, then they should have been split up and one taken on the rescue mission and another experienced member left with the other newbie...or some variation of that.

end edit.

Before leaving with group to go rescue the other members, SOP should have been reviewed beforehand.

If that's not the case, has anyone given sister and BIL any information on how the group operates? We can't assume (you know what that gets you) that they have the same dicision making process as the rest of the group. If the collective 'common sense' hasn't been shared then there is some wiggle room there for them making the decision.

Now, that being said, I still believe some 'reinforcement' should be present. Maybe 1/2 or 2/3 rations for awhile along with some extra chores (if they're healthy enough).

I think what this 'what if' points out is that we cannot assume that everyone thinks the way we do, even in a small group. The first thing that needs to happen is ground rules need to be decided/agreed upon and communicated.

my $.02

BTW...I totally agree that they had no right to give away food/supplies that didn't belong to them. The real questions are how handle it once it's done or, better yet, avoid the situation altogether. Good scenario to think about RR

[tech]

Sister needs to just go with the group. They have her "share" of food.

She is not ever welcome back. Period.

[rockriver]

great comments...
she gave away 35 gallons of their 250 gallons of gasoline... that's about ?14%? of the stored gas!

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

An ounce of prevention is needed here.

Edited and added this:

Whoever had the bright idea to leave the newbies unsupported and in charge are just as much at fault as the sister and BIL. If there isn't enough people power to leave a more seasoned member of the group with the newbies, then they should have been split up and one taken on the rescue mission and another experienced member left with the other newbie...or some variation of that.

end edit.

Before leaving with group to go rescue the other members, SOP should have been reviewed beforehand.

If that's not the case, has anyone given sister and BIL any information on how the group operates? We can't assume (you know what that gets you) that they have the same dicision making process as the rest of the group. If the collective 'common sense' hasn't been shared then there is some wiggle room there for them making the decision.

Now, that being said, I still believe some 'reinforcement' should be present. Maybe 1/2 or 2/3 rations for awhile along with some extra chores (if they're healthy enough).

I think what this 'what if' points out is that we cannot assume that everyone thinks the way we do, even in a small group. The first thing that needs to happen is ground rules need to be decided/agreed upon and communicated.

my $.02

BTW...I totally agree that they had no right to give away food/supplies that didn't belong to them. The real questions are how handle it once it's done or, better yet, avoid the situation altogether. Good scenario to think about RR

What jimmy says ^^^^^^