# What would it take for you to publically embarass a stranger for no reason? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465 "2007-01-18T16:53:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/1 "2007-01-18T16:53:07Z")
Just an informal poll. Also, as a part of the made up rules, you could never find the person and explain why you did it, and could never give them any sort of compensation. That being said, what would it take for you to publicly embarass, say, a waitress, by yelling at her for five or so minutes over some non-existent mistake, until she cries? Would it take millions of dollars? Eternal life? A free cup of coffee? I don’t think I could do it all, because I personally hate being pubically embarassed, so I could not see doing it to someone else. Hell, I couldn’t do it if I had a good reason. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/2 "2007-01-18T16:55:31Z")
“You did WHAT??? Posted an IMHO thread in GD??? JESUS CHRIST I’ve never seen anything so stupid in my LIFE!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/3 "2007-01-18T17:00:58Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] …I personally hate being pubically embarassed [/QUOTE] Yeah, I wouldn’t do _that_ to anybody. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/4 "2007-01-18T17:01:49Z")
oops…could a kindly mod please move this, without yelling 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/5 "2007-01-18T18:10:54Z")
I couldn’t have done this in my 20s. Possibly my 30s, but didn’t. In my 40s now it’s entirely possible if the right occasion presented itself. I figure in my 50s I’ll be a cranky old prick and think nothing of pointing out utter incompetence in a public place. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/6 "2007-01-18T18:14:04Z")
Well, by definition, if someone’s offering me money or something else of value to do this, it’s no longer “for no reason,” is it? I’d do it for enough money so that I was reaosnably sure i could give half to the victim afterwards and get the reaction, “You know, that was SO worth it.” I’m pretty sure, for example, that if, after I finished berating that waitress into tears, I handed her a check for $50,000, she’d be inclined to forgive me. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/7 "2007-01-18T18:15:27Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] Just an informal poll. Also, as a part of the made up rules, you could never find the person and explain why you did it, and could never give them any sort of compensation. That being said, what would it take for you to publicly embarass, say, a waitress, by **yelling at her for five or so minutes over some non-existent mistake, until she cries?** Would it take millions of dollars? Eternal life? A free cup of coffee? I don’t think I could do it all, because I personally hate being pubically embarassed, so I could not see doing it to someone else. Hell, I couldn’t do it if I had a good reason. [/QUOTE] (the bolding above is mine) Over a non-existant mistake? I couldn’t see myself embarrassing someone that way for anything. For an actual mistake, I’d do it for very little personal compensation other than the satisfaction that someone did something stupid and I got to publically call them out on it. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/8 "2007-01-18T18:18:33Z")
Shhh… Does anyone else hear John McEnroe? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/9 "2007-01-18T18:49:26Z")
**Moderator’s Note:** Moving from GD to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/10 "2007-01-18T18:56:29Z")
Sorry, my English is, how you say, inelegant. In other words, its Homer’s day off, and Mr. Burns choses you to be his prank monkey. You are sitting is a restaurant and he tells you “I will give you X if you berate that waitress for five or so minutes, until she is sobbing, for some non-existent infraction, like you asked for tea, she brought you tea, but you start going off, saying you ordered a coke, etc.”- what would X have to be? And Bricker, no reward or apology can be made, as part of my made up criteria. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/11 "2007-01-18T19:04:14Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] …what would it take for you to publicly embarass, say, a waitress, by yelling at her for five or so minutes over some non-existent mistake, until she cries? [/QUOTE] “Hey msmith537. Wouldn’t it be funny to go embarass that stranger over there?” ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/12 "2007-01-18T19:19:42Z")
Humm - I suppose embarasing people who are being assholes to store clerks or waitrons doesn’t fit the OP. Cus I do that all the time, because if you’re an asshole you deserve some public embarasment. However, I can’t really imagine too much that would motivate me. I was gonna say my dad’s health, but probably not even that because he wouldn’t like that. He HAS actually made clerks and waitresses cry for REAL mistakes, and he always feels awful about it. I don’t think he would appreciate my gesture. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/13 "2007-01-18T19:23:33Z")
A klondike bar? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/14 "2007-01-18T19:24:28Z")
A couple of people said they would never do it…I find that hard to believe. You wouldn’t just yell at a stranger for five minutes for a billion dollars? :dubious: You could just fork it all over to AIDS research after if it made you that guilty. Me? I would do it for probably just in the hundreds of dollars, cause I couldn’t care less. I’ve been embarrassed by other people in the past, I will in the future, and I have embarrassed others and will do so again, I’m sure. People get over it. It’s not the end of the world. ---
**Author:** ![samm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@samm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/15 "2007-01-18T19:51:05Z")
As a part-time waitress, I am curious about this scenario. If someone is yelling about a non-existant mistake I would roll my eyes at them and if they kept it up I would tell them to get the hell out of the restaurant. What kind of spineless person would put up with that, and worse still, would start crying over it? Giminy Christmas. Maybe I am just an overly confident and competent waitress? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/16 "2007-01-18T20:01:54Z")
**samm** , in my scenario, it would have to be the the type of person who cries when yelled at or embarrassed- there are many of us who would respond with expletives, not tears 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/17 "2007-01-18T20:05:25Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] Well, by definition, if someone’s offering me money or something else of value to do this, it’s no longer “for no reason,” is it? [/QUOTE] Right! 🆒 But I see out OP has clarified this, so it’d take- for me- a considerable sum of cash or equivilant, say $1000. Enough so that I could do some decent Good for others to balance out the bad Karma. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/18 "2007-01-18T20:07:25Z")
[QUOTE=samm] As a part-time waitress, I am curious about this scenario. If someone is yelling about a non-existant mistake I would roll my eyes at them and if they kept it up I would tell them to get the hell out of the restaurant. What kind of spineless person would put up with that, and worse still, would start crying over it? Giminy Christmas. Maybe I am just an overly confident and competent waitress? [/QUOTE] You are very confident. I can tell you that this kind of confidence did not come to me until I was in my late 20’s and even now I sometimes feel the urge to cry - but now it would be very hard to make me cry in public. I had lousy self-esteem for a long time so I felt deep inside that maybe, just maybe, they were right. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/19 "2007-01-18T20:21:01Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] A couple of people said they would never do it…I find that hard to believe. You wouldn’t just yell at a stranger for five minutes for a billion dollars? :dubious: [/QUOTE] Would I publicly humiliate someone for no reason for five minutes so I could get money? Uh, no. That would make me an asshole. I mean, there are all sorts of scenarios that you can cook up that somehow make it ok in your head - “The money goes to starving children!” “The person was kind of a drip anyway!” but really, no thanks. It still amounts to being an asshole to someone for no particular reason, and I just don’t find that sort of thing very funny. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465/20 "2007-01-18T20:22:59Z")
Oh, as for the rest of it. Yeah, everyone has their price, I believe, and while I’m not starving for my next meal I sure could use a new car instead of my old clunker and I want to go back to school and I have a new niece who deserves the best in the world… But it would be a high price. I find people who humiliate others in public even with reason to be assholes themselves, most of the time. And I’d feel like a shit about it, I would. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-it-take-for-you-to-publically-embarass-a-stranger-for-no-reason/388465.md?page=2)