Some days ago I wrote in favor of being lenient with the young lady who took it upon herself to lick some Blue Bell ice cream at a Walmart. I viewed that as a “young and dumb” moment by a kid. I suggested that she should face community service, a fine, and probation. But I did not support destroying her life or making her a felon over a foolish prank.
However, since that video went viral, we are now seeing more people copying her and doing similar food tampering. My patience only goes so far.
In the featured image above, you see a person taking some Listerine, gargling, and then putting it back on the shelf. That one is particularly concerning. Listerine is associated with cleanliness, health, germs, and bacteria. This behavior is unacceptable. I hope those responsible are held accountable.
In another instance, there is an adult licking a Blue Bell ice cream similar to the original one. This is no child, and they should definitely know better. This type of behavior is unacceptable and should be addressed seriously.
I previously stated that the original ice cream licker deserved some leniency given her age and apparent lack of judgment. But now, with these copycat incidents emerging, that same level of leniency does not apply. These individuals appear to be acting with full awareness, motivated by the attention the original incident received, and operating under the assumption that consequences will be minimal.
This is one of the challenges that comes with extending grace in situations like these. When consequences are light, others may interpret that as an opening to repeat the same behavior. These copycat incidents need to be addressed firmly in order to discourage others from following the same path. The original situation called for understanding given the circumstances, but going forward, a clear standard needs to be established. Anyone caught engaging in this type of food tampering should expect to face appropriate and meaningful consequences.
What are your thoughts?
Jesus, I don’t even want to live on this planet anymore. WTF is wrong with people?! I’m with you, throw these idiots in jail and set an example so no one else is compelled to copycat.