OMG! What Would You do? Part IV!

**Sigmund** · June 13th, 2010

Hi Everyone!
You know the drill. I descibe a situation and you, very kindly, share what you think you would do. Let the games begin!

1. Your Auntie comes into the country once a year to visit bringing gifts galore. You open up your gift and it's very nice. However, it's not your thing. You apprciate the thought but, it's just not you. A short time later a co-worker is having a birthday and you company/office does the B-day thing.
You are a little strapped for cash and you remember your gift. Hey, maybe it would be something your co-worker might like and appreciate. You wrap it and bring it in. Now, it's time to open presents. S/he opens your gift and they really like it! Right there on the spot they open it. Opens the top flap and there on the underside is a white envelope taped to it. The envelope says simply, "Indulge!" S/he open it and there is a nice, crisp 100 dollar bill!.
What do you do?

2. You are at work. You get a frantic call from your mother-in-law telling you that her son/daughter just called and is at the police station and has been arrested. S/he asked that her/his spouse not be contacted because they are out of town.
You get to the police station and post minimal bond. While you are filling out the paperwork you find out that your brother/sister-in law was arrested for shoplifting condoms and personal lubricant. You know that their spouse has had her tubes tied/ had a vasectomy. Your wife's sister/brother- in law got busted shoplifting contraceptives they shouldn't need.
What do you do?

If you would be so kind, please answer the #2 question first and then read the following.

Thank you for your thoughts and replies!

**E.Freemantle** · June 14th, 2010

First Scenario, feel guilty for re-gifting, and a sense of Divine Retribution for losing that hundred dollars. Second scenario "Stay out of other people's sex lives and business", They generally already know, or are swingers. If you say something. Remember two historical situations "The killing of the messenger" and one of the greatest truisms ever " No good deed goes unpunished". Basically mind Your own business unless people do not mind yours. E. Freemantle AKA Beambounder. Thanks for the ethical seeming conundrums. Remember tell people what they want to hear, not what they already are beating themselves and others up about. Also maybe ask in the pharmacy scenario,"How is that lube anyway,I've been meaning to try it?. Just to make 'em squirm a little bit and let them know you have a relationship atomic sword of Damocles over their heads ,if you ever need to blackmail-or a really BIG favor.HA

**PatInTheHat** · June 14th, 2010

#2- Oh my word, talk about fun fun fun for the whole...hmm, okay, maybe not the whole family

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Ya know, as far as dirty words go, extortion & blackmail really aren't all that nasty, I can think of plenty that are worse.."missed" & "opportunity" are just a couple that come to mind

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High quality entertainment doesn't cheap, especially if it has a moral lesson

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(them there morals always seem to cost a lot extra, kinda like Ticketmaster)

#1- Couldn't happen, at least in that kind of scenario, I will only give a gift I've received away to someone who might admire, want or need it more than me...we don't "re-gift" in a gift giving situation.
Talk about being a cheap skate, but then to lose the cash, now that's what I'd call proper Karma

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Now that's not to say I won't give something away to someone who may admire, want or need something I have received as a gift, that maybe I really can't appreciate, and if that were the case, I'd have to say..."Enjoy that c-note, but don't you dare spend it wisely"

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**doowopgirl** · June 14th, 2010

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. Grin and bear it. You gave it away. Also look over presents more carefully in future 2. Be very temped to let them stew. But, as I've akready paid the bail, let them know that you know, and say no more. Trust me on this there is no way you can win by saying anythin to anybody else.

**catnoel** · June 14th, 2010

1. I would let her keep it. My bad for not looking in the first place!!!

2. I would not tell. I would tell my mother in law not to call me anymore if that happened again and let her know why.

2. I would ask my sister what is up with that??? First of all what the heck are you shoplifting for??? I would ask her what is up with her marriage? Is my sister in trouble ( verbal or physical abuse). I would not tell her husband.

**fushingfeef** · June 14th, 2010

1. There's no way to get that $100 back, so just kiss it goodbye and hope your friend takes you out to dinner or something with it!

2. I'd probably keep my mouth shut, but at some point you gotta throw someone under the bus. I might keep quiet for a while but I won't make up new lies if someone is pressing me for details.

**GNTLGNT** · June 14th, 2010

2.-I would simply ask-"Is that what they call a five finger discount?" or "Thought you were pretty slick didn't ya?"...

1.-Wear out shoe leather by the metric ton because I'd be kickin' myself in the a** for lettin' the package get away-normally dear old Auntie brings me a tea cozy but NO, this year she mules in a portrait of Franklin-AAAHHHHH!...

**kittykiller** · June 14th, 2010

Well to answer the first you would have to bite the perverbeal bullet and except the facts. but yes I would be stupified for the mistake.
second the truth is that your family member is a thef and I have rites o say that for I have been ther but You would be obligated to tell the truth of the matter for you wouldnt be a clean minded person for lieing to them and that would eat you up very likley.

**arista** · June 15th, 2010

Answering the #2 question first-I would just pay the fine and let the couple work it out. Everything always comes out eventually, why be the bearer of such bad news. I would advise the mother in law in the future, please take care of the matter herself first.
Answering #1-I would have at least checked out the item thoroughly prior to regifting. In my opinion-regifting is like the ultimate recycling. As far as the $100 dollars goes, there is such a thing as Karma and will come back to you.

**no bounce no play** · June 15th, 2010

2... First off, I'd frown and tell them, "Y'know... you coulda asked me to loan you a few bucks... it woulda been lots cheaper than bail." Then, I'd ask who the condoms were for (is guessing they might have teenagers and the one spouse doesn't want the other spouse to know they're sexually active).

If it was my sibling's spouse who I was bailing out, that's as far as I'd snoop. If they use condoms to prevent some kind of std or something from spreading, that's their business. I would mention the arrest to my sibling later when s/he returned from out of town.

If it was my sibling who got arrested... and if I liked my sibling... I'd keep my mouth shut.

(side note: our local drugstore keeps the condoms behind a locked glass case and one day I asked why. They said condoms were shoplifted more often than anything else in the store.)

1... My biggest fear would be that all my co-workers would expect 100 dollar bills for their birthday lol. I'd come clean and admit I re-gifted, and I was a dummy, and leave it at that. If the co-worker offered me the 100 dollar bill, I'd take it. If it wern't offered, I wouldn't ask for it.