What a nerve some people have!

[sasquatch]

i've only been stung very few times in my life, i consider myself very lucky, had a few morons hangin around for awhile, but they gradually disappeared after getting the message.

[A.K. Boomer]

Dang Alistair - that's got to hurt bro, esp. your own mother,,, very sorry to hear it.

I feel very fortunate family wise - iv got a great one - we all get along and there are many of us, it's not perfect - but it's real...
As far as friends - I have very few and plan on keeping it that way,
I got rid of a couple douche bags quite awhile back and really don't have any kind of urgency to replace them - for the most part I like my space and value my own company and my dogs...


I still help people out once in while here and there but nothing too crazy, and I barter with an old GF car work for cleaning, That's the one thing about being single - I hate to clean, just hate it --- I know this sounds terrible but I feel it's "beneath" me, I really think its a womans job - lol I know that sounds terrible too - but they are darn good at it and it doesn't seem to depress them - I think cleanings depressing... so im basically a slob...

[uncle pete]

I've been burned more than a few times also. But there's still lots of people around who are the opposite. I've helped quite a few where they couldn't do enough to try and thank me. I try and do the same when someone helps me.

Pete

[KiddZimaHater]

I've been burned just enough times to know how to say NO!!
Doing something once is helping someone out.
Doing something twice is a special favor.
Do something thrice, and the free help begins to be expected of you.
If you nip it in the bud right off the bat, people will be less inclined to take advantage.

[sasquatch]

There isn't a nicer feeling than going and helping out someone in a fun way.

Back a few years ago a guy i knew who was in the 1rst stages of MS had no firewood, (He used to cut his own for years,) so i got about 12 guys together, we landed there in the morning, by nightfall we had ALL his firewood down, blocked and split, and piled beside his house.

Had a great fun time, playing jokes on each other throughout the day, then when finished we all sat down to a big supper, (Wives brought all the food,)

Makes for a fun time doing that.

(never told the guy we were comming as he would of refused the help, a very stubborn independant guy.)

[TGTool]

I think it was Mark Twain who said, "Help a man out when he's in trouble, and he'll always remember you ...when he's in trouble again."

I think I remember another Twain quote, "Give a starving dog a meal and he won't bite you. This is the main difference between a dog and a human."

[flylo]

Quote WE are taught to show kindness to every man, scripture asks us to do that But hey guys do not throw your pearls before swine, Less they be consumed.

Scripture also says "turn the other cheek" But I don't believe it meant to become a pinwheel. I really think my friend has changed for the worse. Now all his friends are his kids friends. Last time they were there I found over 600 beer cans thrown on the ground. Parties over!

[oldtiffie]

This really is an "Agony Aunt" thread - isn't it? Almost straight out of the "Advice" columns in Womens magazines etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agony_aunt

http://www.usingenglish.com/referenc...gony+aunt.html

http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&gs_n...w=1280&bih=549

I learned quite a while ago - mainly by observation but increrasingly less often - the Mr. Nice Guy and Mr. "Go to guy" all too often end up being Mr. Sucker and Mr. Naivety - and Mr. Derided and Laughed At and a soft touch and sucker all too often of his own making.

There are quite lot of those who are really skilled in finding and taking advantages of all-to-willing "softies" and suckers for a soft touch and a truly plaintive and an apparantly well rehearsed and targetted tale of woe and deprivation goes with it.

Those who brag about what they got you to do for them - often as consideraable time and effort and often quite inconveniently - doen't help you when you find out and the "penny drops".

Some feel deceived, others feel badly let down and others lose their faith in human nature and can get quite depressed.

My "success rate" is pretty good as because of seeing what happens to others it pretty well makes my case for being a bit cynical to approaches for help in all its guises - work-shop related stuff and money being very much included.

[mike4]

I have developed a reputation of being an unfriendly type who doesnt do any thing for free .
That came about from exactly the same things that some have said earlier .

I dont see the funny side of wrecking your equipment to "help" some leech who only badmouths you later .

If they cant afford to pay for time and materials then no work.

My saying when I did do work for the general public was "no mun no fun"

or to those who dont understand , if you dont pay for my work I keep your goods .
Michael

[beanbag]

I'm waiting to see Frank Ford's non-bitter take on this issue.