Just desserts - When equity gets nasty

Just Desserts :

The punishment inflicted on those promoting social responsibility ( and more specifically, socially responsible baking ) yet behaving irresponsibly in their own lives ; thus igniting the fury of those - socially responsible or not - around her.

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When Equity Gets Nasty - a Love Story

The influence of social responsibility gaining momentum in our culture, I decided to venture out and put my pseudo - journalistic skills to good use. I say Pseudo, because it took a year and a half after graduating J-school to discover that CAR skills are not in fact the skills you need to drive a car. (Yes, I actually wrote that in a cover letter). CAR is Computer assisted reporting for those not in the know.

I reported my new story idea to my mother. "Shouldn't you be looking for a job?" she inquired incredulously. Well yes, that was what I was supposed to be doing. But, that's not any fun.
"You might want to try dusting your room once in a while", was another off the cuff remark.

Dusting could wait. Justice could not. Or so I thought. That's proved to be a fatal mistake. I've discovered people are generally irritated by those who sniffle a lot.

Hence the nickname: Dusty

Never put your chores on hold even when the clarion call to a better society sounds its horn louder than a fog horn.

Oh, I dust - just a little hyperbolic anecdote for narrative purposes.

I wanted to write about bakers who use fair trade products - why? Because I'm an obsessive. Once I start on a tangent, I must pursue it to its logical conclusion. Because I enjoy baked goods. Because nobody likes the idea of slave labour - especially when you're eating chocolate.

I entered the bakery Just Cake, notebook and pen in hand eager to learn. I was greeted by a server and explained my story idea: "Aren't you the one who took our tax money to go on vacation?"he asked a little irritated.

"Well, it wasn't really a vacation..." I said wondering how he could possibly have obtained that information. He pulled out a bunch of photos. "Isn't this you lying on a beach in a bikini?" How did he get those photos? "What are you, stalkerazzi?" "No, Taxerazzi". "I'm here to talk about just desserts - get it - just desserts". "It's a fun little pun". I said.

"Yeah, I've read your column ; you're obsessed with puns." said one server.

"Oh, I get it, and you'll be getting your just desserts", said another in a tone that wasn't all that reassuring.

In the end, Just Cake wasn't really very just - and it wasn't really cake. I'm not sure what I ate.

One thing I've learnt about social responsibility is that being socially responsible means never take money that doesn't belong to you. Never yell at your parents. Never yell at strangers. Never yell at shopkeepers - even when they've pissed you off. Get a job. Pay your taxes.

Then, we can truly enjoy our just desserts.



Pinkgrapefruit
100% funscientious