People Debate Their Discomfort In These 'Am I The Jerk?' Dilemmas

"I went to a Costco, and put a dollar in the water machine. I got my quarters, and a little boy came running up to me and asked, "Can I have one?" I figured he probably wandered off, and asked him where his mom was, and he pointed to one of the food court tables and said, "I forgot the pennies."

The mom was sitting here just watching, and she had this expectant look on her face, as if it was already a foregone conclusion that I would buy him a water. So, I'm pretty sure she put him up to it.

I'd seen that look many times over the years, and as a former doormat it really rubs me the wrong way when people just assume I'll do something.

The kid says, "*No!*" and tries the coin return. It was less 'I refuse' and more 'No, that *can't* be', and I was starting to feel bad when the mom came to retrieve her kid. She didn't say anything to me, just dragged her protesting kid away after giving me a poisonous look.

I could have given the kid a quarter. It would have been a nice thing to do. I might have been TA because normally I don't mind spotting someone, and I've offered a few times. But that *look.* AITJ?"

Another User Comments:

"NTJ. It's important for kids to learn that just because they ask, doesn't mean they'll get a "yes".

Another User Comments:

"NTJ. Mom is teaching her kid to panhandle. If she was short of funds, she could have asked OP herself. If she was having a medical issue of sorts, she should be engaging with an employee who could get her help. Not another customer in the store.

Another User Comments:

"NTJ. She's shaping him to do her begging for her. Yeah, it's just a quarter...........this time. Nope, no thanks, nada. People will stoop to anything it seems. SMH. Just reminds me of the panhandlers who send their kids up to you with chicklets begging for funds." Nurse5736