We watched True Grit (which I highly recommend), The Mechanic (anything with Jason Statham is always cool because that guy is BAD-ASS), The Switch (S.D. can't stand romantic comedies, but he liked this one because the kid in it is so cool), and Just Go With It (we both like Adam Sandler). But, the movie that I thought about the most after I watched it was The Dilemma.
I'm not going to give away any spoilers, just present the situation, like a movie trailer.
You discover that your best friend's wife is cheating on him. Your instinct is to tell him the truth ASAP. But, you hesitate because your best friend is also your business partner, he has a high anxiety and stress level, suffers from ulcers, and is trying to meet a crucial deadline that will either make or break both of your careers. Do you tell him now? Wait until after the important deadline? Pretend you didn't see anything and don't tell him at all because you don't want to meddle in his marriage? What do you do? WHAT do you do?
Obviously, you can watch the movie and see how Vince Vaughn's character handles the situation. It gets pretty funny and sad at times.
How would you handle the dilemma?
I've often thought about this question. The rational answer is to ask myself when and if I would want to be told. Anything that deviates from that answer would only serve my own self-interests and not my friend's. If you're Ayn Rand then business and selfishness first. But I think most people would want to be self-less in such a situation because they would want it in return.
ReplyDeleteThe more philosophical struggle is trying to determine the outcome that delivers the maximum happiness to the most people.
If friend is in an unhappy marriage then it would give him more long term happiness to learn the truth ASAP and start anew. But what if he's happy in his marriage? His wife gives him all the sex, affection, attention, and compliments that he could ever need. He believes he's in the perfect marriage. Would it then really increase his happiness to know it's all a sham? If he died the next day would his life be better ended knowing the truth but being alone and bitter or never learning the truth and thus dying in his own happy but delusional reality? (I haven't seen the movie yet btw. so hopefully I'm not just rehashing the whole point of the movie). I think everyone's knee-jerk reaction is "well I would want to know!", but really? Would you?
I watched this the other week, and I can honestly say I felt bad for Vince Vaughan's character. I think he was doing the best he could with a poor situation, and I was rooting for him. I'd like to think I wouldn't make as big of a mess of things as he did, but I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteOptional Delusion- yes, taking the marriage situation into consideration would definitely help make a decision
ReplyDeleteEmily- I felt so bad for Vince Vaughn's character too! I mean the guy was really trying, to the point that his own relationship was suffering.
I don't know, but I want to see that movie. :) Vince Vaughn seems like a cool guy.
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