rocknbil - 9:37 pm on Dec 20, 2009 (gmt 0)

If I were to share a single part of my life with any of you, I swear I'd have some of you in tears. I share some, but only the good stuff, and for a reason.

It's not pride that keeps me silent, it's just common sense. Anyone who contacts a company with this sort of request just deserves the A train straight to H*** or whatever you call it. Even if their story is true, it is a sorry ploy.

Wife has several groups of these people come in. They whine that their unemployment is low; they whine their house has no insulation; they whine they don't have a car; they **always** ask for a discount. On the rare occasion I manage to save up enough to take my wife out to dinner at a NICE restaurant - who do we see there chowing down, paying for it with FOOD STAMPS? This makes me sick, and I am a compassionate person, but for people like this I only feel disgust.

You're not soft. You're a victim, one that has a shred of humanity left. And by the way, you should believe in the whole "karma" thing, even if you call it something else. Let the realists crack all they want, as you give, so shall you get.

I would handle these kind of requests with the same intent they are solicited: you want something, but what do you offer me in return? Platitudes that wil never materialize, like "I'll bring you sales" or "I'll tell everyone about you" (yeah, sure, 'hey guys, sucker on aisle 7') or "I'll pray for you" are not acceptable. Give me something that costs you, something that means something, and I'll consider it. But no one will do that.

You will be amazed at how resourceful the most pitiful person can be if they are motivated. If they whine "I am poor, I have nothing" it tells you all you need to know. Everyone has something good they can offer. They just never do . . . because your problems are not their priority.