FUNdraising

I didn't know who kids think they are nowadays.

I was doing some fund-raising for one of my local fire departments.

I was using my iPhone for marketing purposes. I was using social media to tell my circles what was happening, and taking pictures of the event. Urging people to come support us.

This young man decided he wanted to use my phone, too make a call. We had some down time. He asked if he could use it.

I saw no harm in letting the child use my phone. For a second, I figured that he would do the same thing, by telling his friends to come down and support us.

What did he do?

He got on Facebook, and started conversing with his friends. He went through my apps and EMAIL!

Customers started to gather in the parking lot, and proceeded though the line. I asked for my phone back. One: because he was logging me out of MY APPS! Two: it had started to rain.

His reaction was like I kicked his puppy.

Wait.

That's MY phone you are changing all the setting to!?!?!!! I seriously thought he was going to definitely throw a full-blown temper tantrum-like my two year old. And, the best part is his father was standing right next to him!

Imagine this scene: A 15 year-old with my phone, in the rain, clenched fist and jaw, stomping his feet, and refusing to give my phone back. His father standing right next to him. This child was not "special," except for the need for a swift kick in the ass.

Now, I'm not the greatest parent in the world.

Never said I was.

But I would be damned to let my child use and abuse someone's property after they were nice enough to let them borrow it.

I reached for the phone to try take it away from him, like I would to a two year old throwing a tantrum. He flung his arms up almost dropping the phone in the process.

My phone is an iPhone 4, in white, brand-new! Just came out in July! I got it as a upgrade to help me stay with AT&T after my contract was over.

The teenager's defense was he did not understand why I was so upset. I got it for free anyway!

Then I explained to him, and his father, that yes I did get the phone free. But, It's $600 to replace the phone if it breaks; because, I'm already out of contract. And it has no insurance. (sorry, I HAD to lie, but I wasn't about to go through the paperwork and hassle of making a claim. The replacement is also $199.00.

Also, I'll expect payment immediately if the phone was damaged.

The phone returned immediately.

With this whole scenario what really got me steamed was the lack of responsibility. Both the father and the teen acted like a children.

What is our society is heading towards? It's all about "not me," "blame someone else." We have been sifting responsibility back and forth for years! We need to take action, and start being more responsible as citizens as a whole.

YOU make YOUR life. If YOU continue to blame other and let people run all over YOU, it is YOUR fault. Plus, IF someone lends YOU their things. Return it in the same condition or better then what it was given to in.

This situation will forever sit in the back of mind, and I will, more then likely, not loan my phone or any other piece of expensive equipment out again.

I guess no good deed goes unpunished.


-stay safe.