How To Be Human and Humane

Some time ago China opened up its borders to Hong Kong after three years of pandemic.

Not too far from the border crossing in Hong Kong is a superstore.

The story goes after a hundred people went up to the store asking for directions to the cross border bus station, the store put up a sign saying that they will “charge HKD 10 for directions and that their employees are not obligated to be nice”.

As you would expect this created a whirlwind of responses in the digital world.

South China Morning Post

The view ranged from those who thought that the store had every right to do it - especially in facing these “rude, don’t-belong-here mainlanders”, to those that expected nothing less than this “very Hong Kong-style” way of dealing with matters, to those that were completely horrified at the lack of humanity, and those that were just dumbfounded on why the sign wasn’t just a one which had directions to the bus station instead.

No, some say, it’s not about humanity, “our time is money”. Some thought Google map should always be the answer.

Still others thought it was entrepreneurial and that both sides win in getting what they needed.

Funny how we are always glad to be at the receiving end of compassion and humanity especially in times of need, but when the tables are turned - Hang on, it becomes a commercial transaction and all’s fair in love and war.

One particular response stood out, said : Why not put up a sign with directions to the bus station and below it: “If this helped you, please help us by considering buying something from the store.”

Same effort. Very different outcomes.

Very different aspirations for the world.

We always have a choice. Always.

Humans & The World

Our world view and how we influence the world matters.

If we start putting a price tag on humanity, undoubtedly we are set to reap inhumanity, and create a soul-less, exclusive world of heartless robots for our children and our children’s children.

Ironically, as we speak, AI is exponentially gaining speed to become “more human”.

What kind of human? Ahh… that my friend, will depend on all of us.