Pay it Forward disappointment
08-02-2011, 01:32 AM
#21
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Behind my sewing machine
Posts: 7,202
I am sure every person in this world has paid it forward one way or another...I have had people send me things here and there..a picture of a family member, a book etc..(family or friends).I always am very thank-for...I never even would have thought to send postage...as I would not expect them to pay me if I sent them a book, flowers, pictures, trickets etc...also in the future...if you tell the post office its a book it a lot cheaper. I use to send books to my daughter inlaw in CA. it was like 3.00 to send...they do not weight it its one set price for books.
08-02-2011, 02:58 AM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 460
I think that when we PIF we have to accept that our "payback" is within our hearts. There's a difference between being good and wanting to look good.
Let not your left hand know what your right hand does.
Let not your left hand know what your right hand does.
08-02-2011, 05:17 AM
#23
Power Poster
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,643
I dislike having something given to me with a Pay It Forward attached.
I have chosen to make sure that most of whatever I put into circulation does NOT have a PIF attached. What the recipient chooses to do - or not do - is up to him/her.
I just realized that's not completely true - I do ask if whatever it is - if it is not useful to him/her - to please pass it on.
Now please read the rest of this before you jump on my case!
I feel like there is a "catch" attached to something when someone says "Pay it Forward" - I don't rest easy or comfortable with the item until I have done a PIF. Sort of feels like a weight/debt that needs to be paid off.
I am totally in favor of doing good things for others with no expectation of an immediate return. I do believe that "what goes around comes around"
(Although wouldn't "casting bread on the waters" be considered "littering" or "polluting" now? - but I digress)
I also feel it is reasonable to ask for shipping costs. Many of us acquired "stuff" when we had more money/cash available to us - now that we are ready to "let go" of some of the stuff - the cost of sending it on is what holds some of us back. We don't have the discretionary income anymore.
However, the shipping cost should be asked for "up front" so there will be no lingering resentments/disappointments later.
I have chosen to make sure that most of whatever I put into circulation does NOT have a PIF attached. What the recipient chooses to do - or not do - is up to him/her.
I just realized that's not completely true - I do ask if whatever it is - if it is not useful to him/her - to please pass it on.
Now please read the rest of this before you jump on my case!
I feel like there is a "catch" attached to something when someone says "Pay it Forward" - I don't rest easy or comfortable with the item until I have done a PIF. Sort of feels like a weight/debt that needs to be paid off.
I am totally in favor of doing good things for others with no expectation of an immediate return. I do believe that "what goes around comes around"
(Although wouldn't "casting bread on the waters" be considered "littering" or "polluting" now? - but I digress)
I also feel it is reasonable to ask for shipping costs. Many of us acquired "stuff" when we had more money/cash available to us - now that we are ready to "let go" of some of the stuff - the cost of sending it on is what holds some of us back. We don't have the discretionary income anymore.
However, the shipping cost should be asked for "up front" so there will be no lingering resentments/disappointments later.
08-02-2011, 06:05 AM
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Saskatchewan, Canada
Posts: 445
Thank you. That is exactly what I was trying to say. After two days and nights of caring for a grandson(2year old) with a high fever with trips to the doctor and hospital, my thoughts did not come through. I was only thinking kindness and the joy of giving.
Originally Posted by sharon b
Maybe someday she will without even realizing it :wink: She will think of the kindness shown her and think "now its my turn to help someone else" :wink:
08-02-2011, 06:29 AM
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Fayetteville, GA
Posts: 2,879
Originally Posted by DebraK
Maybe she paid it forward to someone else. It's not called pay you back ;-)
08-02-2011, 06:30 AM
#27
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 887
I just assume people PIF if possible and we rarely know. I believe we should give with a happy heart and it sounds like that is what you intended. Imagine researching to find a family member - how awesome are you. That was such a neat idea.
I will say I have only been on the board here a few months and have sent fabric, patterns, scraps, etc. to probably 10 people now. Only 1 has offered to pay the postage. I was not offended as no where in the request did they mention they would pay postage they just asked if anyone had any to spare. I hope I've never accidently offended anyone because honestly if someone I did not know contacted me and offered to send me something it would never occur to me to offer her the postage back. I'll remember that for the future though.
I will say I have only been on the board here a few months and have sent fabric, patterns, scraps, etc. to probably 10 people now. Only 1 has offered to pay the postage. I was not offended as no where in the request did they mention they would pay postage they just asked if anyone had any to spare. I hope I've never accidently offended anyone because honestly if someone I did not know contacted me and offered to send me something it would never occur to me to offer her the postage back. I'll remember that for the future though.
08-02-2011, 06:35 AM
#28
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 887
Not sure if you have a military base locally but if so just for future reference to everyone - you can take the info to the base office and they will attempt to locate the soldier. I did that with items from my grandfather. We live MacDill AFB.
--------------------------------------
And most of the young don't get it either.
In de-cluttering, I found some personal papers of 3 GIs who had, on being discharged, given my ExDH (now deceased) to keep tlll they called for them. One I finally found after looking on the internet, and found his only child, a son who must be about nearing or past his 50s, and sent them to him as I found them. I did get thanks by email, finally, after the last big postal envelope, but at no time did he even mention repaying me the 30 or so dollars it cost to send all these military records and masses of his family members' pictures. Even a marriage lic for his parents. Well, I guess that I did it as a final favor to my ex.
The other two, unfortunately, had very common names and I finally forced myself to take them to the community shredding we have every year. Sad, there were so many photos and personal papers, but no way to find either one of these after nearly 50 or so years. Didn't even have any military numbers on them, that would have made it easier.
But should I find any more in the storage building still to be gone through from this guy's dad, I will send it to him, with maybe a suggestion that he pay it forward. But like I said, it's a last favor for my ex. RIP Billy Bob H.
Originally Posted by Ramona Byrd
Originally Posted by momcpo
Good for you, don't worry about other people. Some just don't get it.
And most of the young don't get it either.
In de-cluttering, I found some personal papers of 3 GIs who had, on being discharged, given my ExDH (now deceased) to keep tlll they called for them. One I finally found after looking on the internet, and found his only child, a son who must be about nearing or past his 50s, and sent them to him as I found them. I did get thanks by email, finally, after the last big postal envelope, but at no time did he even mention repaying me the 30 or so dollars it cost to send all these military records and masses of his family members' pictures. Even a marriage lic for his parents. Well, I guess that I did it as a final favor to my ex.
The other two, unfortunately, had very common names and I finally forced myself to take them to the community shredding we have every year. Sad, there were so many photos and personal papers, but no way to find either one of these after nearly 50 or so years. Didn't even have any military numbers on them, that would have made it easier.
But should I find any more in the storage building still to be gone through from this guy's dad, I will send it to him, with maybe a suggestion that he pay it forward. But like I said, it's a last favor for my ex. RIP Billy Bob H.
08-02-2011, 06:52 AM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 1,911
Originally Posted by bearisgray
If you want/need/expect postage to be paid, it's better to ask for it up front.
I can relate to how you feel, though.
At least the person remembered to thank you!
Now I am a bit puzzled - if you didn't want postage/shipping - and would have refused it if offered - why are you annoyed/disappointed that the person didn't offer to reimburse you for it?
I can relate to how you feel, though.
At least the person remembered to thank you!
Now I am a bit puzzled - if you didn't want postage/shipping - and would have refused it if offered - why are you annoyed/disappointed that the person didn't offer to reimburse you for it?
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