Know-How Exchange : Other

ok, here it goes.

A WIFE is fed up with her HUSBAND since he's always away in business and she feels like he ignores her. So she takes a LOVER. One day when her husband is away, she crosses over the river to meet up with the LOVER. On her way back home, she notices a big commotion on the bridge. There is a CRAZY PERSON who is threatening to kill anyone who crosses that bridge. Since there is no other way to cross over, she asks the only BOATMAN available to take her to the other side. He asks for some money, but she doesn't have any. The BOATMAN insists that he won't take her across the river unless she pays up. So she runs back to the LOVER, who refuses to give her money. She insists it's a matter of life or death, but he refuses. The same thing happens when she goes back to the BOATMAN. He refuses. She runs over to the bridge, and crosses over.

The CRAZY PERSON kills her.

Now, the question is . . . who is responsible for this woman's death?

THE WOMAN HERSELF?
THE HUSBAND?
THE LOVER?
THE BOATMAN?
THE CRAZY PERSON?

Obviously, there is no correct answer. Depending on people's mentalities, positions, and personalities, there will be many different answers (a legal mind will say the Crazy Person, an ethical person will say the Boatman, Husbands usually blame themselves, wives usually blame the Husbands (!!) and the list goes on . . . )

However, this is a great story that buids group unity and gets people talking because the object, when using it for groups, is to get the group to agree on who is responsible, from the most responsible, to the least. You'll have a list of 5 people, in order of responsibility.

Then compare each group's list and have a representative from each group try to sway the other groups. Your job is to present the story well, and to keep the conversations going afterwards.