4 ms·
Rich Friend Poor Friend
- h2odragon 4y agoThe Corolla rant quoted brings back a memory: Group of teen males in a midwestern city, early 90s. Much more diverse than usual, in repose at the usual gathering place (my basement). $G, who was poor, brought in an electric guitar and amplifier he'd stolen from a church, wondering where best to sell it quick because he had to help raise rent money for his family (5 brothers and Mom). $E, who had "never known want" though not actually too rich to hang out with us, thought that was awful and volunteered to give $G the money if he'd return the stuff. $G didn't want to accept charity and didn't want to be obligated to $E. If $E had wanted the guitar for itself $G would have given it to him despite needing the money. I wound up in the middle of that transaction, $G fronted me the stuff, I gave him the money from $E, and me and $E returned it to the place it came from. We didn't tell $G about it, I just told him I'd sold it off elsewhere. We all liked most of $G's family, we'd have all chipped in to help them (and had done so before). $E didn't want to be even technically guilty of receiving stolen goods, but he wanted to help somehow. I knew both of these people well enough to empathize with them. I've thought about the incident over the years. I still can't see any way to really explain the viewpoint of either side to the other. As far as I know, $E went on to live a comfortable, anonymous middle class lifestyle; $G showed up on the papers 20yr later as the star of one of those "house flipper millionaire success story," pieces just before the 2008 crash. Perhaps knowing $E helped him achieve greater success, personally I doubt it.