Skip to content ↓

The Responsibility Project®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

Friday Feb 10

Technology and Tattling

32 Comments

August 19, 2009 by Kathy McManus

In Iran, the combination of citizens and cell phone cameras has been revolutionary.

But in Boston, the story of a man using his Blackberry to record the potentially dangerous actions of a bus driver has raised a question about whether communications technology can ever compel someone to be responsible.

The bus was in route from Boston to New York, when front row passenger Shelomo Alfassa became alarmed. The driver had his eyes off the road and both hands off the wheel while he tore, folded, and processed tickets. The driver also used his cell phone for calling and messaging.

Alfassa says he called the bus company in route, but was unconvinced they would do anything to stop the driver’s behavior—or the bus, which was speeding down the highway with dozens of passengers.

So Alfassa recorded 20 minutes of video with his Blackberry. After arriving in New York, Alfassa says he tried to speak to the bus company several times, to no avail. Two weeks later, he posted his edited video on YouTube, supplying captions about the driver: “He is either texting or reading e-mail on his cell phone.”

“My goal is not to get this guy fired,” Alfassa said. “My goal is to get these guys, as a corporation, to be responsible.”

But many readers of the Boston newspaper that reported the incident said Alfassa’s actions had little to do with responsibility and everything to do with technological tattling and video vigilantism. “This looks like a case of overreaction by someone who feels empowered with a cellphone,” wrote one. “Is the busybody passenger who taped this incident a professional driver?” asked another. “Sit down, shut up, read, sleep, whatever,” blurted one more, “but leave the…driver alone. Did he not get this ‘hero’ to his destination unharmed?”

Alfassa answered back unequivocally: “This is not ‘video vigilantism’, this is being a responsible citizen.”

Tell us what you think: Did Alfassa do the right thing? Can technology ever force responsibility, or enable it?

Share this short URL /// http://sharerp.com/5d

 

32 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

  • August 20, 2009 by jade1977

    We have a problem with dangerous bus drivers in Pittsburgh, PA, and I for one wish more people would do this. I have read about three different deaths this year caused by careless bus drivers. There is little or no accountability that I am aware of. My boyfriend and I have several times reported very dangerous driving of bus drivers, where in each case we were almost cause to crash our car because the bus driver wanted to illegally merge. This has been reported, and yet we continue to see many different drivers do the same illegal merge at the same area. This is not tattle telling, this is potentially saving peoples’ lives. Bus drivers should have a higher responsibility since they have to get special licensing. Where is the difference between a negligent bus driver and a negligent doctor, other than a bus driver can kill or injure a bunch of persons with one accident?

    Reply

    • February 16, 2010 by Analesia Marisabel

      "Where is the difference between a negligent bus driver and a negligent doctor..." I agree 100% on that statement. What gives the bus driver a right to txt/ email, or call while driving? The bus driver has full responsibility on every passenger and if he were to wreck or have any kind of incident while on duty not only will he but his company will have to pay for the costs. So if the company had enough sense they would better their workers to avoid having to go into an incident as so.

      Reply

    • February 16, 2010 by Bob Hope

      I agree with Jade 1977. He wasn't tattling and if these people calling him names were on that bus, I'm betting they would feel a little differently. Calling a man stupid because he's obviously a little wary of this drivers ability to safely drive these people places is absurd.

      Reply

      • February 17, 2010 by Bertha Filmont

        I agree with you Bob Hope, the people who weren't on the bus really don't have any room to talk because it wasn't there lives that were in danger.

      • February 17, 2010 by Bertha Filmont

        You've got that right Bob...

    • February 16, 2010 by Sue Write

      Touche. I completely agree. I think that alfasso was right to inform someone of the drivers careless actions. Someone could have been seriously injured or killed. Technology is useful at times, but in situations like this one it causes problems. The driver should have been paying more attention to his driving instead of the tickets and his phone. So many people die due to car related accidents. It only takes one time to mess something up. If something were to happen he wouldn't be able to just rewind and take it all back.

      Reply

      • February 17, 2010 by willy wonka

        i totally agree with u

      • February 17, 2010 by Wolfegang Marracos

        I agree with you points good job sue.

    • February 16, 2010 by Octavia Meriano

      You are so right, it is not tattle tailing when people's lives are in danger. Also, just because that bus driver didn't crash that time doesn't mean that he would have in the future if someone, such as Mr. Alfassa, did not do or say anything. Bus driver's do have a large responsibility because they are responsible for getting the citizens to their destinations safely. Frankly there needs to be more people like this man to stand up for what is right.

      Reply

    • February 16, 2010 by Dale Halland

      I agree. How could you really just sit back and say do something and let the bus driver do his job if he is doin a hundred things at one time. Yes the driver may have got them safely there that time, but what if it continues. By reporting a bus driver not fallowing laws is NOT tatle taling, it could possibly save PEOPLES LIVES!! That is a big deal!!

      Reply

  • August 22, 2009 by Becky Cooper

    Technology can force responsible behavior, and that is a good thing, even if the behavior is a result of coercion instead of intrinsic motivation. When I am riding a bus or commuter train, I don't care whether the driver is doing the right thing because he knows he may be videotaped or because he cares about his responsibility to his passengers. It's a shocking shame, though, that drivers can be so uncaring and unprofessional that they will risk the lives of their passengers. I applaud the passenger who taped and posted the video; it may well save lives.

    Reply

    • February 16, 2010 by rusty shackelfurd

      I do agree that it is irresponisble to be driving and texting ecspeicall with a bus that has dozens of people. Yet it would be more of a concern if Alfasso had had an accident before, or if he had other complaints about his driving from the past . The thing is he doesnt have a bad record and isnt a bad driver because he got everyone of the passengers arrived to their destination without a single scratch or bruse on their bodys.

      Reply

  • August 27, 2009 by James Newman

    I'll wager the people who criticised the Mr. Alfassa for documenting dangerous driving habits by the bus driver would be the first to criticise if he had not done so and an accident had happened. "For evil to exist requires only that good men do nothing". If more people took an interest in stopping crime, crime would not be so prevalent.

    Reply

    • February 16, 2010 by Carter Johnsom

      I think it was a good thing that that man videoed the driver. I really wouldnt feel bad if the driver would have gotten fired because if he would have put my life and others lifes in danger then he deserves to be fired. This man did the right thing by videoing this man to show how dangerous the driver was.

      Reply

      • February 16, 2010 by Wolfegang

        I also agree with this. The man should of been paying attention to his job and not his cellphone!

  • September 25, 2009 by David Shantz

    It is possible that technology can give us the tools to be better parents? In the evolution of entertainment from broadcast television and radio to interactive digital communities we may be evolving some brilliant new alternatives to repetitive and destructive games and worse. mind numbing television... As an example, a new website launched at TechCrunch50 in San Francisco last week, www.toonstunes.com gives children a place to go to explore, create and share music. Cunningly, the bit where they learn about music does not resemble the music lessons you may have suffered through. Here is a link to the launch event stage presentation: http://bit.ly/YJJne I have really enjoyed your writing Kathy, thank you.

    Reply

  • October 5, 2009 by Frorsedrirm

    Hi People How are you doing?

    Reply

  • November 20, 2009 by Doris Hoffman

    Driving and texting is not multi-tasking. It is the most irresponsible way of creating a tragedy for who knows how many people and causing thousands and perhaps hundred of thousands of dollars in damages, and hundreds of hours of lost productive time. Alfasso deserves an award for being concerned enough to report this reckless behavior to the home office and to send it world wide when those in charge chose to ignore the report.

    Reply

    • February 16, 2010 by Ray Jay

      I'm agreeing with this person because i'm happy he stood up and took controll. He was thinking about everyone else's life and not just him. I'm happy that he didn't just back down when the first step said no i'm happy that he was going to make someone listen to him and make sure that the bus driver would get in trouble.

      Reply

    • February 16, 2010 by fat albert

      Most deffinent agree!! you are very true people should not use technolligly near as much as they do!!! while they are driving it puts the pepole on the road in danger aslo..

      Reply

    • February 16, 2010 by Wolf Spirit

      Alfassa does deserve a award or at least recognition for taping what he did. If he didn't there might be 12 more dead to the never ending list. We should never talk on the phone or text while driving, becuase it just might be your life next and you might be at fault for a numerous amounts of death. It does cost money to fix the damages and repairs. Shouldn't we all keep the streets safe from anyone who does talk or text on the phone?

      Reply

      • February 17, 2010 by Octavia Meriano

        Oh yes, i totally agree with you that he should not receive an award. Yes he did do something meaningful but it doesn't really deserve to be awarded because it is something that should be done no matter the appraisal. In my opinion Alfassa did the right thing because if that driver would not have been caught he could have one day gotten into a wreck. "I remeber in elementary school i was always told that responsibility is doing what is expected of you even when nobody is doing."

    • February 16, 2010 by Bertha Filmont

      I agree with you that he does deserve an award for being concerned because he was not only concerned with himself but with the other passengers as well. In our world today people are becoming careless about their driving habits, and you're right, it causes thousands of dollars in damage and sometimes even lives.

      Reply

  • February 16, 2010 by Kinsey Vega

    Technology has already killed many citizens while behind the vehicle. Several States have already banned the use of cell phones in vehicles. Alfassa did do the right thing because the bus drivers driving could have killed inoccent civilians as well as the people being transported. just as i was saying the first comment under the script said not once but several times, "My boyfriend and I have several times reported very dangerous driving of bus drivers, where in each case we were almost cause to crash our car because the bus driver wanted to illegally merge" (jade1977). like jade1977 said it isn't tattle tailing it is saving inoccent peoples lives.

    Reply

    • February 16, 2010 by Jameslynn Joe

      I agree with you Kisney. We have lost many American citizens to texting while driving, and to see that a bus driver not paying attention, what if he could have crashed? there would be people injured and some dead...I know I wouldn't like to have that on my mind knowing that I killed and hurt people because I was being irresponisble. Alfassa did the right thing.

      Reply

  • February 16, 2010 by willy wonka

    There is much resposibilty in technology. You must always be responsible becasue what you do may effect others around you. Technology can also make people extremely unresponsible. Txting and calling while you should be paying attention to something could have horrible consequences.

    Reply

    • February 17, 2010 by Wolf Spirit

      I totally agree with you willy wonka. It is dangerous to text and call while driving. It can cause accidents and hundreds of dollars in damage. Technology can be a great thing to humanity, but it can cause great distractions and many accidents that can cause millions of people's their lives.

      Reply

  • February 17, 2010 by JamesLynn Joe

    I tottally agree with you Bob Hope....he did the right thing. He is very smart for videoing the trip and going to the Leaders of the bus place.

    Reply

    • February 17, 2010 by Jack J Bishop

      YES I ALSO AGREE

      Reply

  • February 17, 2010 by Bob Hope

    Well all this "don't text while driving" talk is just dandy, but how many of us really do that? ha ha ha

    Reply

  • February 17, 2010 by Sue Write

    You are so right. Who uses the word tattling anyways? He had the right to "Tattle" because he's placing his life in the care of someone that he's trusting to be resonsible. It's not only his life, it's the lives of others also on the bus. Sure he got them there safely, but what happens if he kills someone because he wasn't paying attention to whats important? what then careless drivers of america?

    Reply

  • February 17, 2010 by icky thump

    I don't think that he is tattling. I think that a bus driver should take his job more seriously. You have to realize that there is a time and place for everything, and texting while driving is dangerous. It is one thing to text and drive when you're alone, because you're responsible for your own actions, but being distracted while driving with dozens of people is just stupid.

    Reply


Tell us what you think.

Let the world know what you think, but please do so responsibly. Comments are moderated and we will not post personal attacks, obscene language or inappropriate material, comments with links, or comments from people under the age of 18. If you have a question, check out our Comment Submission Guidelines.

why are we asking for this?

By clicking submit, you agree to our site’s Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Find More ///

Related ///

A Champion for Homeless Pets

The founder of The Best Friends Animal Society explains the origins of the “no kill movement” and his continued efforts to help homeless animals.

» read more

Mothers In Arms

A responsible mom may pack many things: lunches, car trunks. Does she also pack a gun?

» read more

TED Talk: Gary Lauder

The venture capitalist’s brilliant idea for reducing traffic accidents: a new sign.

TED Talk: Gary Lauder

Watch Now

The Promise of Friendship

Amidst an ever-changing online world, a reflection on the tremendous responsibility that accompanies life-long friendships.

» read more

Focus on Youth Sports

The Responsible Sports program is a valuable tool for parents, coaches, and kids.

Focus on Youth Sports

Read More

Europe Deems 2014 the Year Against Food Waste

Should we take waste stats more seriously?

» read more

About Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual is a provider of auto, home, and life insurance for consumers, as well as risk and disability products and services for businesses. Because responsibility is integral to who we are, we also support a range of community service programs around issues like fire safety and responsible sports. Through the Liberty Mutual Foundation, we make grants to organizations that show low-income students a path to lifelong success through education, and agencies that provide immediate basic health and human services to the needy. To learn more about us, visit us at LibertyMutualGroup.com

© 2012 Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116