Sharing

[Andrew Gubb]

Just now I've been to the market and mannaged to get a big fat sack of organic local produce that was being thrown out. Not having running water at the squat where I'm staying, I decided to go to the youth hostel nearby to wash the stuff in the toilet sink.

After a few minutes a lady in work uniform arrived and asked me to get out, saying that this wasn't a public place. I said okay, and continued cleaning my strawberries at least, seeing as I was half way through and it would practically take the same amount of time to pick them up without washing them.

Just as I was getting out the lady (about my age, cute, but apparently insecure) opened the door and stood there with her arms akimbo trying to put on a menacing look. I asked her if she wanted a strawberry. She said no, she wanted me to get out. She looked so funny that I stood there and imitated her posture. She didn't crack a smile. It's a pity, because I saw some lovely flowers in the trash a while back – I would have given them to her.

Reminds me of another day when I was at a public gathering. There had been drinks put out for sale, and after the event, there was a load left over, so the guy in charge went and tipped them all into a bucket and threw them away in front of everyone's eyes, using the excuse that it was “his property to do with what he liked”. Well, I hope he had fun.

Santa Claus, I don't know if it'll fit in your magic sack, but for Christmas this year I'd like a world in which when people have something to share which costs them nothing and is worth a large amount to the other person, they'll give it out of principle. I'd also like people to stop being so dumb about the idea of “private property”. You wouldn't have a problem with people using your stuff if you just gave them what they needed when they asked for it nicely.

[Xanafax]

Yeah you sound about right. There is being mean for the sake of it.

[jtracy]

I agree with you too. I stongly beleive that nothing should be thrown out unless it is absolutely necessary and there is nobody else who wants it. After all "one man's trash is another man's treasure". It infuriates me when I see things going on like that. What a waste! And I also beleive that the world would be a lot better off if people were willing to share what they had more freely. After all, none of the saints had "private property". The people we respect and love most gave away freely what they had.

[ns123]

Originally Posted by Andrew Gubb

Santa Claus, I don't know if it'll fit in your magic sack, but for Christmas this year I'd like a world in which when people have something to share which costs them nothing and is worth a large amount to the other person, they'll give it out of principle. I'd also like people to stop being so dumb about the idea of “private property”. You wouldn't have a problem with people using your stuff if you just gave them what they needed when they asked for it nicely.

I've never had much success in asking for other people to change their behaviors. So good luck with that.

I thought your response to the gal that wanted you to leave and offering her a strawberry was a wonderful response. No doubt, even though she looked like she was unflinching and wanted you to leave, inside she was probably quite surprised. I'm willing to bet she has not forgotten about that encounter and you have given her a bit to think about.

I myself have been the "mean" one before... when the other person was sweet as pie. Or friendly and unaffected by my mean-ness. And I'll tell you what, I did not act like I was affected by it at the time, but when they left, I reflected upon it a lot. And it chips away at the hard shell... and gives me an example to follow. And it does change me.

So what you did was wonderful. You have a lot to be proud of yourself. Try not to fall into that rut of "I wish everyone would...." and instead, keep on acting out and behaving of "I serve as an example by..." like you did here. I believe that's how you really change the world around you, permanently.

[Subscreet]

Why are you even posting on the internet if you're squatting? Why not live in the hostel? That water's not free, you know. You're pretty much stealing from them. Nothing exists in a vacuum where it can be 100% free. While I largely agree with the spirit of your post, it reads like you're a spoiled child who wants a toy.

The fact that you're even posting implies that you either A: Own a computer and pay for internet access in which case you're more than able to get some running water and shouldn't waste your time essentially stealing it and complaining, or B: You spend a significant amount of time on a public or a friend's computer reading and posting when you could be doing any number of things which would allow you to have running water, thereby eliminating the need for this thread.

Both of those scenarios lead me to believe that perhaps it is you who should be sharing more. Have you considered that possibility? Please, spare me any "but I don't have anything to share!" ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Unless running water is exorbitantly expensive there's really no reason for you not to buy your own. Then perhaps you could have a discussion about sharing.

[Plays With Life]

Originally Posted by Subscreet

.. it reads like you're a spoiled child who wants a toy. ..

Yowza. It didn't sound like that at all, to me.

[Subscreet]

Originally Posted by Plays With Life

Yowza. It didn't sound like that at all, to me.

I was specifically referring to the part where he's sitting at a computer, posting on the internet about how he's upset that he couldn't just walk in and use the plumbing to essentially steal water from a youth hostel, of all places. You may not have noticed, but a good portion of humanity will never have the pleasure of indoor plumbing or the luxury of sharing their trivia with the internet.

The fact that the OP is even posting means that he indubitably is privileged enough to be able-bodied and able-minded enough to provide his own running water. If the OP's profile is correct, he resides in Barcelona, which is one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. I'm not trying to sound like a dick, but if I had to guess I would say that the OP likely came from a privileged bourgeois background and there's really no reason he can't provide for himself.

I agree completely that people should share their marginal utilities, but a lot of that kind of rhetoric comes from people who don't even realize their own relative wealth and I was hoping to perhaps offer an alternative perspective on the OP.

[Plays With Life]

It sounds like you're pretty indignant about it.

"How dare he!" *shakes finger*

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by ns123

I've never had much success in asking for other people to change their behaviors. So good luck with that.

I thought your response to the gal that wanted you to leave and offering her a strawberry was a wonderful response. No doubt, even though she looked like she was unflinching and wanted you to leave, inside she was probably quite surprised. I'm willing to bet she has not forgotten about that encounter and you have given her a bit to think about.

I myself have been the "mean" one before... when the other person was sweet as pie. Or friendly and unaffected by my mean-ness. And I'll tell you what, I did not act like I was affected by it at the time, but when they left, I reflected upon it a lot. And it chips away at the hard shell... and gives me an example to follow. And it does change me.

So what you did was wonderful. You have a lot to be proud of yourself. Try not to fall into that rut of "I wish everyone would...." and instead, keep on acting out and behaving of "I serve as an example by..." like you did here. I believe that's how you really change the world around you, permanently.

Thanks so much for that, you've given me something to think about... I'll definitely remember it the next time someone's mean to me

[Andrew Gubb]

Originally Posted by Subscreet

Why are you even posting on the internet if you're squatting? Why not live in the hostel? That water's not free, you know. You're pretty much stealing from them. Nothing exists in a vacuum where it can be 100% free. While I largely agree with the spirit of your post, it reads like you're a spoiled child who wants a toy.

The fact that you're even posting implies that you either A: Own a computer and pay for internet access in which case you're more than able to get some running water and shouldn't waste your time essentially stealing it and complaining, or B: You spend a significant amount of time on a public or a friend's computer reading and posting when you could be doing any number of things which would allow you to have running water, thereby eliminating the need for this thread.

Both of those scenarios lead me to believe that perhaps it is you who should be sharing more. Have you considered that possibility? Please, spare me any "but I don't have anything to share!" ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Unless running water is exorbitantly expensive there's really no reason for you not to buy your own. Then perhaps you could have a discussion about sharing.

Do you want a strawberry?

I do have things to share. But I don't consider taking what I need stealing. Children take what they need without giving in return... mother earth supports them I'm just continuing this by disregarding stupid social conventions and challenging people who want to uphold them unconsciously. I contribute to society in my way, and I'll have an income sometime, but I don't intend to feel pressured into anything in the meantime