Social media-user “Casual Thursdays” reported on this story as it unfolded:
Connor Padgett was the name eventually attached to the unforgettable image. It has yet to be explained how or why Padgett got himself wedged into the urn. In her long reign as TV’s top comedienne, Lucille Ball’s writers got her head stuck in a loving cup and her whole body trapped in a suitcase, but never an urn. It is clear, however, that Padgett was not inclined to stay in good humor during his ordeal. Moreover, thanks to the inevitable cell phone video, his humiliation has “gone viral” and will either haunt him until the end of his days, or become a treasured piece of family lore.
He was eventually broken out of his restraints with a hammer. The urn was reputedly worth thousands of dollars, which Connor presumably has to pay to the owner. Some of the social media reactions were clever: “He should have to live his life in there like a hermit crab” was my personal favorite.
But back to ethics: what is the ethical response to Connor? The Golden Rule tells us that we should treat him like we would want to be treated, except that if I did something this stupid, I would be abasing myself mercilessly, particularly after getting the bill.
My verdict is that this is a Nelson:
What do you think?
Ethics Alarms 
A lot of Winnie the Pooh stories featured the not-too-swift bear getting stuck somewhere.
The question is, “What Is the Ethical Reaction to “Urn Boy”?”
My reaction is simply “what a fucking dumb ass” and I don’t care one bit if that reaction is ethical or not. That’s going to follow him around and be more prominent than his own shadow.
I’m left speechless at his stupidity. Since I am speechless I will let one of my favorite people and an anonymous person speak for me:
Life is hard. It’s even harder when you’re stupid. — John Wayne
Back in my day, we didn’t have as many “don’t try this at home” warning labels on things, because people weren’t so freaking stupid. — Unknown
I suppose the kindest (= most ethical?) reaction would be to hope the homeowner’s insurance would pay for the loss, and the fool would cover any deductible.
I don’t understand, though, how emptying his pockets, and/or letting his pants stay caught, and making liberal use of cooking oil couldn’t have remedied the situation.
My original reaction:
For context, Google “Bennett Foddy’s Getting Over It” – The reference is a platformer video game where you play as a man stuck with his legs in a pot, that has to climb to the top of a mountain with a sledgehammer as a tool.
That was my first thought as well.
Back in my teaching days, I’d always start discussions of physical comedy on stage by noting two things: the superiority of the spectator (we’re not the ones who just got hit in the face with a 2×4) and our knowledge of the fictiveness of the event (the actor wasn’t actually hurt even if the character was).
The example I used for the latter point was someone falling down the stairs. Our first reaction is (or at least should be) concern: “OMG, are you OK?” Then the victim smiles or gets up, apparently unhurt. Now we laugh at him. It’s almost an obligation.
Mr. Padgett appears to be fine, at least in physical terms. I’m laughing at him.
But if he had ended up having to live as hermit crab, you wouldn’t?
Well, yeah, but I’d feel sorry for the poor sod, too.
But you’d have to admit, his humiliation was well urned…
You’ve been waiting all day to say that, haven’t you?
To be fair, it’s a rimshot-worthy line.
One of my oldest friends, still living in Arlington, Mass., has always been a master of word play and puns. I challenged him on Facebook to top the urn gag. He replied, “Hope he was able to extricate himself and still save vase!”
It must have been a jarring experience. While I usually amphora swift resolution, it’s good to sit a bit with the consequences of one’s actions. Vessel probably be good for him in the long term.
(They took the hard way out. They could have had him hang from a bar or submerged him in water so he could freely extract his legs without them supporting his weight.)
At least he is not a pot head, eh?
Bravo.
PS: you’re still teaching, Curmie.
I am the kind of knuckle head that would get himself stuck in a situation like this. I’d give me the Nelson laugh.
The main difference is that I’d be polite through the whole ordeal, and profusely thank my rescuer’s. I done my share facepalms, that I know my reaction. I’d become part of my lore. I’ve also rescued plenty of dopes from their own antics.
Shame his name wasn’t Ernie. Still time to legally change it.
The partygoers were too nice to him. They should have let him sit awhile, and think about his poor decision. Perhaps he’ll think about his poor decisions and cut back a bit on the drinking. Then again, he did get stuck in a giant urn. He’s urned all the ridicule he receives.