Quote:
Originally Posted by toys
I developed my own personal mooch-test for my friends. I felt I needed this 'system' when one day I opened my eyes and realized every single friend I had was a mooch... without exception. I had doubts about my judge of character (and still do)... and I knew at some level I was as much to blame for allowing the behavior to continue. So, I would have felt too guilty to just kick all of them out of my life immediately. Therefore, I decided to test them. I would give each friend a chance to repay me for all they had borrowed. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't simply about money; it was the whole concept of give-and-take these people had somehow conveniently been forgotten. I could do ten favors everyday for them... but the test... the test would be if I could get just one favor out them when I needed it. So, I turned the tables... started asking for a ride everywhere, asked to borrow clothing or other personal items, bummed cigarettes, requested small loans, hinted I needed help moving, begged for them to do my schoolwork, made comments such as "let's have the party at your place, this time," forgot my purse at a bar, gas station, restaurant, etc... all things I had NEVER done before (or since). Everyone had plenty of opportunity to return years worth of favors. Amazingly, everyone scored exactly the same on my little mooch test: ZERO. I could then systematically remove each bum from my life, without any regrets... and have a bigger bankroll to show for it.
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That is a *really* good idea. I'm working on an article about dealing with moochers and I paraphrased this advice into a step:
"Turn the tables. Since there have been plenty of times when you helped them out, test them and see if they'll return the favor. Mooch off of them. "Forget" your wallet, ask them to loan you money, borrow their clothes, and see what happens. It may feel unnatural for you, but you might really discover your friend's true colors by doing this. Don't wait until you're really in a pinch, only to discover that many of your friends will leave you high and dry."
What do you think?