Responsibility

Recently I was waiting for a meeting in a university student lounge, and observed a young woman stand up and walk away from her laptop and bag.

She walked to the far side of the crowded area to get a coffee.  She was at least 50 yards away, and out of sight to the laptop.

To be clear, she left the laptop unattended, without friends keeping an eye on it.

As I observed this, I have to admit my parental genes were kicking in.

I did not have fond thoughts for the young lady and her behavior. 

What went through my mind is:

• Her parents worked hard to buy that laptop
• She’ll cry if she loses the laptop
• She’ll not have her homework or music
• Anything confidential is compromised

So my view is she was simply irresponsible.  (Note, I have no clue what the real story is.  I have no idea who bought the PC; perhaps the student worked hard for it.  She may not cry.  Perhaps her machine is fully backed up.  Maybe she runs encryption.)

My thoughts were about the parents, and the theft of the machine.  Full disclosure: she returned with her coffee and the laptop was still there.

Now it is your turn.  Is my view too narrow or jaded?  Or should the young woman take better care?

Update on Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 1:47PM by Gary L Kelley

Clearly it is me.  I saw two suited professional people leave their PCs by the door of a cafeteria in Cambridge.  These machines could have been easily snitched.