Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a "nice" person... often, too much so. I'm one of those who will strike up a conversation with people in the store, or just smile, to try to make someone's day a bit better. I enjoy helping my friends and neighbors, and could not imagine my life any other way. Therefore, I often find myself struggling, trying to decide just how much to give, when someone just keeps taking and taking, or just plain crossing the line.
The perfect example is an incident that occured yesterday. I have a neighbor who is going through a stressful time. She got a notice that her lease would not be renewed at the end of the month, and was, obviously, upset. She is on Section 8 (rent assistance), and has three large dogs, so it's not easy to find a place in that situation. She does not have a computer, and is not computer literate, so after she had exhausted every list she had, as well as the local newspaper, I jumped on my computer and did a little searching for her. I found a beautiful three bedroom home, and now, they are set to move in a couple weeks. She and her husband were thrilled and appreciative, which was nice... BUT, finding out that I'm computer literate and a helpful person, this neighbor came up with a list of things she wanted me to do. She has several items she wants listed for sale, and just expects me to do all the work for her.
One of the items my neighbor wanted me to sell for her is a painting. We lucked upon a listing of a guy who is searching for paintings by this artist, so I sent him an email with photos of the painting, along with my neighbor's phone number. He, immediately, called her and offered her twenty-five thousand dollars for the painting. I can understand her excitement, and I'm happy for her... BUT... her reaction was just plain ridiculous.
I was in bed yesterday, sooooo, very ill. She knew that I had been ill for a few days. Yesterday morning, she stormed into my home, screaming at the top of her lungs. My fiancee explained to her that I was in bed and felt horrible. She pushed her way up the stairs and into my bedroom, screaming that I HAD to get up! She jumped on my bed and started shaking me... telling me that the man who is interested in the painting was, "breathing down her neck", so I HAD to get up and email some more people and list it in more places, so she could get more money from the painting. I was in such shock and disbelief at her insane behavior... I wanted to tell her, in not so nice words, to get out of my house and leave me the hell alone! I tried explaining to her that I was sick, and she would not accept that. I, finally, told her to give me half an hour to wake up, to get her to leave, and then we immediately locked the door behind her.
What is wrong with people today? I have other friends like her... they walk into my home uninvited. If I do not answer my phone, they hang up and call right back, repeatedly. These people know my health isn't very good, and if I am sick in bed, or have one of my migraines, I don't want to talk to people. I just really cannot understand the rude behavior of people today! I have such a problem with being too nice, and not wanting to hurt anyone's feelings, but these people, obviously, aren't concerned about mine.
Where do you draw the line with pushy, overbearing friends???
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Comments: 11
She's using you now and isn't much of a friend if she doesn't have the curtesy to leave you alone when you're sick.
Your "friend" needs to do the legwork herself to sell the painting if it means that much to her.
I find it appalling though, the a family with a grown man and woman with possession valuable enough to sell on the internet is using our government and tax dollars to get Section 8!
Why is he not working, or she? Do they have young kids that make it impossible for one to go to work? WHY do people who supposedly have no money to take care of their own human family take on the responsibility of having 3 dogs. I am sorry, this woman makes me so freaking sick to my stomach.
She is the reason why there are so many starving homeless families out there that don't have two beans to cook. These same people don't have the same worldly possessions to make a buck off of to get out of a bind.
She is not someone I would want associated with me.
She needs to sell that painting, buy her own computer, and do her own work--quit mooching off of you and the rest of the tax-payers!
THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT EATS ME UP!
My family went through a very rough time, and we were HOMELESS, I was pregnant and had my one year old daughter, plus a 15 year old I was responsible to care for. I was ordered on bed rest for pre-eclampsia. So, I was not able to work, so our only income was my husbands.
We tried to ask for help from the state, and we were literally denied because we kept our kids clean, and told the truth about what we had and did not have. We were told to sell the family car...which would have caused my husband to lose his job, because there is no public transportation route close to his job--nearest one is 3 miles away.
So, here you have this lady you are telling us about who has all this, and is crying she is has no "way of helping herself".
PLEASE! Drop her like a hot potato. She is a loser. So do not associate yourself with people like this, you seem like too good of a person.