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There are very few material things I put substantial value on. If it's cheap and replaceable, I'm not going to pitch a fit if I lose it, break it, or if it just "dies." There are far more important things to worry about than a DVD, t-shirt, beanie, video game, or a USB cable.
However...
If you borrow something from me, with or without my consent, and fail to return it to me, I'll think of you no differently than that of a thief. And that, even if it's only worth a single penny, is one of the things I find most insulting and unforgiving.
I keep a USB charging cable for my phone at my desk. Cost me about $3 on newegg.com. My office is like a cave inside the heart of our building. Signal in here sucks and it causes our phones to drain quicker than normal because it ups its power to try and boost its signal. In the past, co workers have asked if they could borrow it to charge their phones and I've let them. When I came into work on Monday, the cable was gone. I don't see it at anyone else's desk, so I'm guessing whoever took it, took it home. I have yet to say anything. I'm hoping whoever took it has been on their weekend and hasn't been back in yet. I really don't want to start distrusting my coworkers, but it looks like I will.
I loaned a friend of mine an acoustic guitar and $80 a few months back on separate occasions. Both were for her son. Her son is taking a guitar class in school and she couldn't afford to buy him one at the time. I happened to have an extra "throw away" (I bought it so that people didn't pick up and fuck with my custom made Taylor) that I paid about $75 for back in 2000. I've gotten more than my money's worth out of it and it still had a great sound, so I lent it out for him to use until she bought him a guitar of his own or he dropped the class from disinterest. He's actually become quite good at playing it and is showing some real talent. The truth of the matter is, I'm perfectly fine letting him keep it. As a musician that believes in supporting other musicians, I'll gladly let him keep this guitar if it keeps him playing. I'm just irked that she hasn't said a single thing to me about it. She hasn't given me the opportunity to tell them they can keep it.
The request for the $80 came from when her son got a last minute date to homecoming. She had just started a new job and was in that period in between paychecks where she had to make things stretch as far as they could. She asked me with the promise that she would pay me back when she got her first paycheck. They're new to the area and I didn't want her son to miss out on homecoming, so I lent the money. I haven't heard a single peep from her since. I'm not sweating the money because I would've blown it at the bar anyway. Instead, I stayed in one night and didn't go out. Budget balanced. But again, it comes down to the lack of effort to even talk with me about it that I find insulting.
I shouldn't have to chase someone down to get things back. They should have the courtesy, decency, respect, and honor to return it, or at the very least approach me about it and discuss keeping it a while longer/repaying at a later date.
As I write this, my phone is down to 65% and I've been in the office for 2 hours. At this rate, it'll be dead before my shift ends. I may actually have to speak up just for the sake of speaking up.
However...
If you borrow something from me, with or without my consent, and fail to return it to me, I'll think of you no differently than that of a thief. And that, even if it's only worth a single penny, is one of the things I find most insulting and unforgiving.
I keep a USB charging cable for my phone at my desk. Cost me about $3 on newegg.com. My office is like a cave inside the heart of our building. Signal in here sucks and it causes our phones to drain quicker than normal because it ups its power to try and boost its signal. In the past, co workers have asked if they could borrow it to charge their phones and I've let them. When I came into work on Monday, the cable was gone. I don't see it at anyone else's desk, so I'm guessing whoever took it, took it home. I have yet to say anything. I'm hoping whoever took it has been on their weekend and hasn't been back in yet. I really don't want to start distrusting my coworkers, but it looks like I will.
I loaned a friend of mine an acoustic guitar and $80 a few months back on separate occasions. Both were for her son. Her son is taking a guitar class in school and she couldn't afford to buy him one at the time. I happened to have an extra "throw away" (I bought it so that people didn't pick up and fuck with my custom made Taylor) that I paid about $75 for back in 2000. I've gotten more than my money's worth out of it and it still had a great sound, so I lent it out for him to use until she bought him a guitar of his own or he dropped the class from disinterest. He's actually become quite good at playing it and is showing some real talent. The truth of the matter is, I'm perfectly fine letting him keep it. As a musician that believes in supporting other musicians, I'll gladly let him keep this guitar if it keeps him playing. I'm just irked that she hasn't said a single thing to me about it. She hasn't given me the opportunity to tell them they can keep it.
The request for the $80 came from when her son got a last minute date to homecoming. She had just started a new job and was in that period in between paychecks where she had to make things stretch as far as they could. She asked me with the promise that she would pay me back when she got her first paycheck. They're new to the area and I didn't want her son to miss out on homecoming, so I lent the money. I haven't heard a single peep from her since. I'm not sweating the money because I would've blown it at the bar anyway. Instead, I stayed in one night and didn't go out. Budget balanced. But again, it comes down to the lack of effort to even talk with me about it that I find insulting.
I shouldn't have to chase someone down to get things back. They should have the courtesy, decency, respect, and honor to return it, or at the very least approach me about it and discuss keeping it a while longer/repaying at a later date.
As I write this, my phone is down to 65% and I've been in the office for 2 hours. At this rate, it'll be dead before my shift ends. I may actually have to speak up just for the sake of speaking up.
)
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