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March 19, 2005
The Borrowers
Are you a bad borrower? What I mean is, do you borrow things and then keep them over a month, several months, or even years?
I cannot stand to have other people’s things in my space, so if I borrow something, I am very quick to return it. I never keep library books for the two weeks allowed or the movie rental the five days allowed. If I did, it would drive me insane. It’s just me knowing that I have someone else’s clutter that drives me nuts.
If I borrow a book or a movie from a friend, they have it back within two weeks. I honestly believe that it would be very bad manners to keep things longer than one month. I wonder what an etiquette book would say.
I am not a selfish person. If you have established yourself as a good borrower, I will let you borrow to your hearts content. If, on the other hand, you have proven to be a bad borrower and I have had to ask for things back or had to retrieve the items myself, banishment from borrowing will be eternal.
That’s another thing: if you have come to my house asking to borrow something, then I believe you should return it to me. I should not have to go out of my way to come and retrieve it from you.
In my opinion, there should be an etiquette timetable for certain items. For example:
*books, CD’s, movies – return in two weeks
*clothing – return within one week
*money – within two weeks or the first day paid
*tools or household appliances – within one week
Think of it this way: if you need to keep something longer than two weeks, that’s a good indication that you should purchase it yourself, not borrow.
Posted by tami at March 19, 2005 10:15 AM
Comments
You could give Emily Post a run for her money! ;) I am a well-meaning procrastinator. I had overdue books when I worked at the LIBRARY. I'd leave them in my car, forget all about them, and drive back home after closing with them still in my car. Just one of those people, I guess! I am much better now, 16 years later, though.
Posted by: Kimberley at March 20, 2005 12:06 AM
My failings in this are dreadful - mum used to write in large letters in her books, "This is mum's book and please return it to her!" All of used to borrow her gardening books and many is the time she ended up with none.
Posted by: Miss L at March 20, 2005 3:23 AM
YES,YES,YES You should let your sister read this. My presure washer (NEW) they used it ,it cost me $40 to fix it. My (NEW) rug shampooer, they lost one of the parts that holds the tank on. Old dumb me, I took the stuff to them to use and had to go get it back. Money, get ready to get down and beg for that.
Posted by: DENNIS at March 20, 2005 9:59 AM