RicodJour wrote:
On Jun 1, 6:38 pm, "L. Guteireze" wrote:

Any adult relationship should be a reciprocal relationship - you help
me, and I help you. It doesn't have to be a 50/50 thing, or keep
track of hours, but there should be a give and take. If it's an old
lady, and she's on her own, of course I would do it for free, but I
would still let her make me a sandwich or bake a cake or whatever she
wanted so she would feel that she was giving something in return.
Standup people don't feel good about themselves when they take and
can't give back.

Charity should be reserved for those in need. Indulging someone who
can do the work for themselves or has the money to pay others to do it
for them will never make you feel good at the end of the day, and you
will have experiences like the one you wrote about. It is probably
how your poor schmuck neighbor was raised - he didn't have to do his
chores, and things were handed to him.

I can understand your frustration, but what did you really expect?
Next time you have such an urge to give charity to those that don't
need it, charge the people and when things turn out okay, donate the
money to charity or _you_ hold the kickass neighborhood block party.
It will be a surprise (everyone likes those), and everyone will feel
better about themselves and each other.


People like the neighbors ARE giving back. They give back by insisting on
strictly enforcing HOA rules, by agitating city councils on new anti-smoking
laws, by voting for candidates who implement more nanny-state regulations or
taxes, and any of a thousand ways to make each of us a better person.