[...]Romer!can – Dispatches from an American in Romania (was Transylvania)[...]…

CO – That’s an interesting point. In the US, there is a similar concept where you’ll get punished for making false reports… but, in this particular case, it wasn’t a false report. American public safety officials would have dealt with the fire rather than expose untrained citizens.

Previously, we had a small car fire here in the neighborhood where both the fire department and the police came. Of course, that was summertime and there were pretty girls walking around half-dressed. This time, the building/trash fire was much larger and longer lasting… yet they didnt care.

Mrs. S – Yes, I felt conflicted. On the one hand, normal every day people were fully capable of handling the situation without the need for some guy in a uniform and badge. On the other hand, it was slightly dangerous and these city residents are paying significant tax money to the government in order to have these services be provided, yet they essentially get nothing in return on this occasion.

CO – I think you hit the nail on the head on this last point. Perhaps if the call had been more yelling and panicky, the guy might have felt obligated to get off his duff. But when one acts like a fairly experienced adult, maybe they figure “no big deal.” (Yet, just for the sake of comparison only, the Americans would have come to the scene and made sure the fire was completely extinguished quickly and safely. That’s what they get paid for.)