The biggest kid on the playground. He watches his classmates play. Two children are fighting. One with a clear advantage, close to pummeling the other child.

What does he do? He’s the only one strong enough to have a chance of stopping the fight, but risks being resented by one side or the other no matter what he does.

The setting of a playground is quite trivial, but is the essence of many dilemmas we may find ourselves in. Getting involved causes trouble for himself, making him someone who could be targeted for stepping in.

On the other hand, he could very well be targeted for not stepping in, and even resented by the other majority for letting such a large kid overpowering a much smaller one.

What’s the right move?

Ethically, to help the smaller child. But your already the biggest. So does it matter? Wouldn’t picking sides be worse? Is it better to stay out of it?

It becomes a game of picking friends, and indirectly, enemies.

Pt 2 at-
https://expressionist.blog/2025/07/20/dilemma-pt-2/