Q: Another college professor and I wanted a student to work on a project of ours, but she is a Mac user and the project required a program written for the PC. My colleague’s husband, a Ph.D. in computer science, suggested an alternative program the student could download. She did; her computer froze and would not restart. The husband refused to assist her further. Isn’t he obligated to help? — Boston
A: He is not ethically obligated to help. To do a little now does not oblige you to do more later. But a situation can entail something softer than an obligation yet harder than utter indifference.
Having voluntarily (and generously) entered into a particular sort of relationship with this hapless student he should be mindful of the attendant expectations and not abruptly abandon her. And having (albeit with good intentions) helped make this mess, he should help clean it up. Repairing her computer need not become his life’s work, but he should do one more telephone consultation, perhaps, or refer her to a skilled technician.
Q: I regularly read an online message board on which a participant complained about New York bus behavior: “Someone recently asked me to have my 3-year-old child sit on my lap, because they wanted his seat.” The child’s seat was not paid for — an important point? — Mary, New York
A: No. When assigning seats, we don’t distinguish among those who pay full fare, those who use a monthly pass and so pay less, seniors who may ride for a discount and students who, depending on where they live, may pay nothing. Once allowed on the bus, a child should be treated like anyone else.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority sees this a bit differently. According to its website, “children 44 inches tall and under ride for free on subways and local buses when accompanied by a fare paying adult.” No mention of seats. “Infants (under 2 years of age) ride express buses free if the child sits on the lap of the accompanying adult.” Thus, a stickler for the rules who wants to expel a little one from an express-bus seat should first ask the child’s age. If Baby is under 2, tell him or her to scram. And to get a job.
Rules aside, ethics urges everyone hale and hearty to offer that seat to any passenger who, for whatever reason, genuinely needs it.
Write Randy Cohen at Universal Press Syndicate, 4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111, or ethicist@nytimes.com.
