What Do You Mean You Don't Want the Money?
| Written by: | Ivor |
| Published: | November 14, 2008 |
Today's world being as it is, with people being ruled by money and greed, it is an egocentric place. It is a place where all is bought and sold for selfish reasons. It's a norm to be greedy, it's a norm not to be unselfish. And so it happens, that in an unexpected situation deviating from the norm, when some complete stranger gives something to us for no particular reason other than "Here, take it," we feel somewhat awkward.
So, I am at a ticket office counter after lunch today, ready to buy two tickets for the evening gig of Kosmikud. As I place my order for two tickets the guy right next to me at the second counter asks if I want the ticket.
"What, for the Kosmikud evening show?"
"Yes!"
"Why? Don't you want it?"
"I've got more than I need," he says while I observe that some 5-6 tickets are being printed. Well, if he's pre-ordered more than he needs, why not help the guy, right?
"Yeah, sure, I'll buy one off your hands," I say going for a 100 EEK note in my wallet, that's about 6 EUR for the interested parties, or 2,2 half a litre beers at the venue.
So, while I'm looking for the banknote this guy gets his tickets, puts one on the counter right next to me and starts to leave.
"Hey! Here, take the money!" I say extending a hand with the note after him.
"No, I don't want it."
"What do you mean you don't want the money?!" I stare at him in disbelief taken rather aback.
"Nah... No..." he goes, and walks away while I'm looking after him somewhat stupefied. I shrug, pay with the note for the one ticket I'm buying now, take the ticket and start the walk back to work.
Waiting for the tram I got thinking and remembered a similar incident a bit more than a year ago. Similar, only the other way around. I was accredited for Ankkarock 2007 festival. It was a pain to get that accreditation, to say the least, but I had to have it as The Gathering was giving their final performance with Anneke at that particular Ankkarock. I mean, it's not exactly on my doorstep but it's right over the Finnish Gulf, just out of Helsinki. Loving the band, not going was not an option. Though, because of the various and complicated confusing reasons I got accredited not through Metal Storm but on behalf of our local newspaper Postimees.
So it happened, that due to all the confusion and due to being somewhat late for the accreditation deadline, I got the deal with the organizers that they got me on the press list but I was not going to get the free pass. I was supposed to get the ticket myself. I was also supposed to present it on demand at the accreditation office on site. I was all fine with that as I was counting on those expenses a while ago, I just needed the photo pass in addition.
Once there, I had to go all around the big festival area to the backside to find the accreditation office, well table that represented the office, to be precise. I presented my ID card and got in return all the necessary labels to hang about myself. And nobody, nobody! asked for my ticket. As I saw from the press list, nobody was even supposed to ask for my ticket. I left the office and went through the yet closed to public festival area back to the main gates.
So, there I was walking, the festival press pass on me and spare ticket in my pocket, thinking thoughts why the hell did I bother to buy it and how to get rid of it now. I don't remember the situation exactly, maybe it was the camera bag over my shoulder that attracted the attention, maybe the fact that I was coming out of the closed area, but once back out through the gates I found myself for some reason asking from a 15-16 year old girl "You want the ticket? You really want the ticket?? Here, take it!" I said handing over the ticket and turning to leave.
That was one shocked happy look on her face. And I was actually rather pleased as I didn't have to look for someone to sell the ticket and go through the tedious bargaining. I was even more pleased that I had actually made someone happy just a moment ago.
I must have done something right that day for, as it seems, the deed got round back to me. Okay, so there is a 10 times the price difference but who the hell cares? It's the deed itself that counts.
I'd like to end this story with the excerpt from Deadsoul Tribe's "Toy Rockets."
Once we were giving
Now we are taking
We left a more beautiful world than we're making
Once we were building
Now we are breaking
Time to clean up all the mess we've been making
Lay down your hand grenades
Throw down your rifles
Now is the time to make peace with your rivals and Love
Love
Love
Love
Love
And now I'm off to the gig. Thanks to all the good people out there.
 |
Written on 14.11.2008 by
I shoot people. Sometimes, I also write about it. And one day I'm going to start a band. We're going to be playing pun-rock. |
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Comments: 31
Visited by: 147 users
| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920  |
Nice story. Well, probably it's true that the deed got round back to you, it's nice to see people doing something good for others sometimes. Sooo, some time ago I allowed an old woman to use my mobile phone and I refused the moeny she wanted to give me, I wait my free metal gig ticket now  
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| Gigginova Account deleted |
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| jupitreas hi-fi / lo-life Staff Posts: 6660  |
Karma sucks. Ive done the same thing as Ivor 3 times already (same reasons behind it more or less) and so far my life has not improved in any way 
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| Doc G. Full Grown Hoser Staff Posts: 9723  |
That was a nice little story. I remember doing something like that, I used to skateboard a long time ago, but stopped shortly after I dropped around $300 on a pro type deck. I remember about a year later I was walking home one evening and saw a young boy (whom I recognized as my neighbour, but never talked to) sitting on the curb with his head in his hands with a broken skateboard at his feet. Judging by this kids clothes and the shitty duplex he lived in next door, buying another skateboard was not a very easy thing for him or his family, so I went inside and grabbed my top of the line True North deck (perfectly molded to my skating style) with camoflauge grindking trucks (great flex in them), brand new spitfire wheels, snazzy unbreakable soft hook-ups riser pads, and the most expensive ball-bearings they had at the store. All components to this skateboard were pretty much brand new. I then gave him my skateboard and said he'd probably put it to better use than me. The little bastards face lit-up like a cokehead on christmas. And what would you know? His mom showed up at my door about an hour later trying to return the skateboard to me! Just like you said, Ivor - those awkward reactions to generous acts of kindness. I have yet to get any luck of that sort to come my way. Jupitreas is right, karma sucks, I want my skateboard back.
---- "I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck." - George Carlin
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| LeChron James Helvetesfossen Posts: 3561  |
Written by Doc G. on 16.11.2008 at 12:35 wait wait wait, you blew $300 on a DECK?
---- Kick Ass, Die Young Less is More Stay Pure Stay Poor Music was my life, music brought me to life and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz in my head that only I can hear.
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| Doc G. Full Grown Hoser Staff Posts: 9723 |
Written by LeChron James on 17.11.2008 at 05:48 I was 14 with my first job, what the hell else would I buy?
---- "I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck." - George Carlin
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| LeChron James Helvetesfossen Posts: 3561 |
Written by Doc G. on 17.11.2008 at 11:10 well for $300 you coulda got 3. 300 bucks is EXPENSIVE for completes of any kind.
---- Kick Ass, Die Young Less is More Stay Pure Stay Poor Music was my life, music brought me to life and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz in my head that only I can hear.
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| Doc G. Full Grown Hoser Staff Posts: 9723 |
Written by LeChron James on 17.11.2008 at 11:21 Yeah, well A) It was one that was actually designed by a pro skater (the name escapes me now). B) I was living in a small town when I bought it. Shit is generally more expensive in small towns because business' like these generally have the monopoly. (so an average decent deck would have been around 150) C) It was a complete set-up....God those Grind King trucks were incredible.... But this is getting really irrelevent, I'm sure Ivor is getting annoyed by now.
---- "I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck." - George Carlin
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| Yossarian Posts: 354  |
Written by Elio on 14.11.2008 at 22:51 Same happened to me. I used the mobile from an old woman and refused to give her the money she was asking from me. Sorry, it was not true. Just a joke. I couldn't help making it. Great stories. Bye
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| Ernis 狼獾 Posts: 6817  |
Written by Elio on 14.11.2008 at 22:51 You know....I think it's better after all to do good to others just for the good feeling itself, not for any supposed reward.....
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| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920 |
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| Warman Erotic Stains Posts: 7695  |
I'm also very uncomfortable with getting things for free. This girl from work always buys me snus every Saturday we work together. I always try to give her her money back, but she refuses.
---- 
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| Marcel Hubregtse Grumpy Old Fuck Elite Posts: 40071  |
Written by Warman on 11.12.2008 at 02:01 Don't you see? She just wants sex in return.
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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| Elio Red Nightmare Posts: 4920 |
Written by Warman on 11.12.2008 at 02:01 Probably Marcel is right, but if you buy her snus you'll give her back the money in a certain way! But, as I already said, Marcel is right 
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| Warman Erotic Stains Posts: 7695 |
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.12.2008 at 16:56 Haha, oops, I left out the fact that we both really like eachother. It still feels wrong though.
----
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| Doc G. Full Grown Hoser Staff Posts: 9723 |
Written by Warman on 11.12.2008 at 02:01 What the fuck are snus?
---- "I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck." - George Carlin
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| tulkas el parcero Posts: 4742  |
I figure since kindess (and also honesty) are so rare to find in people nowadays, when we do get involved in cases like this, we do feel awkward or shocked, like we can't believe someone is doing something for good for someoe else, specially if it's a perfect stranger. imo it's really sad that now we question any good deed someone might do, we kinda question people's motives all the time; i do it. but because we don't really know anyone, i guess. and it's understandable, but precisely because of that it's really sad.
---- love is like a jar of shit with a strawberry on top
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| Valentin B Iconoclast Posts: 10096  |
I never really experienced this, ok, maybe once i tried to light a cigarette in a bonfire and failed miserably, i was also real drunk, so these girls who were staring at me like "wtf is this guy trying to do?" and said "soo... you want a cigarette right?" pretty embarassing but what the heck.
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| Warman Erotic Stains Posts: 7695 |
Written by Doc G. on 12.12.2008 at 09:52 Snus/snuff, that Swedish tobacco you place under your lip.
----
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| Doc G. Full Grown Hoser Staff Posts: 9723 |
Written by Warman on 12.12.2008 at 22:43 Ah, we just call that chew...or dip. And snuff is the snorting tobacco. Its odd that a woman would give you that stuff, most women I know wouldn't even think of kissing a guy who does chew.
---- "I got a lot of really good ideas, problem is, most of them suck." - George Carlin
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| Warman Erotic Stains Posts: 7695 |
Written by Doc G. on 12.12.2008 at 23:28 Well... "chew" is something I use daily, 24/7. If I'm not eating or sleeping I have one in my mouth. But I think she gives it to me for the symbolism, we first started talking when she saw me use it and argued for hours about what's best for you: ciggaretts or snus.
----
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| Gigginova Account deleted |
Gigginova
Account deleted Written by jupitreas on 15.11.2008 at 16:09 well "Karma" does not JUST referre to this ONE lifetime you know. people expect positive things to return back to them so quick!
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| TheBigRossowski Posts: 1357  |
Haven't you seen Pay It Forward with the little boy from 6 Sense? Pay it Forward, thats what this world needs. Some people to remember what good really is.
---- That rug really tied the room together, did it not? 
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| -DC-002- Mastercommander Posts: 1703  |
Written by TheBigRossowski on 24.12.2008 at 18:39 I'm not gonna pay it forward!?... I've seen that movie. I don't feel like getting stabbed seriously though, Pay it Forward everyone 
---- Coldgrits
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| Warman Erotic Stains Posts: 7695 |
I will never pay it forward since that movie is horrible!
----
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| iMPERiAL_iCE Weeping Heart Posts: 1127  |
Actually the same thing happened to me a while ago for the Anathema gig in Lebanon, there was a creepy guy who told me if I'd like to have his ticket because he has to leave and stuff, so I involuntarily put my hand to my pocket but was stopped by the guy, he said he's good and he doesn't need any money and that giving happiness to others is his payment so I thanked the guy and felt bad about finding him creepy, and there I was happy at the door when the security at the entrance stopped me for carrying a fake ticket!!!!!! and well I couldn't enter later on because the gig was sold-out!!!!  so I will never do that again, I'll buy a ticket and with that my peace of mind...
---- The older I get.........The faster I was  Smurfilator -- back when Smurf Metal existed :'(
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| ScreamingSteelUS Editor-in-Chief Admin Posts: 6088  |
One time at an Accept concert some guy gave me one of Peter Baltes's bass picks for no apparent reason, which was awesome. The singer from Pain! also gave me some free stickers because I said they were amazing. I really meant it, but it was kind of cool to get stuff for it.
---- "Earth is small and I hate it" - Lum Invader I'm the Agent of Steel.
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| MechanisT Account deleted |
MechanisT
Account deleted
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| ADIresiduos Posts: 176  |
Written by jupitreas on 15.11.2008 at 16:09 Patience....... patience is the key, when you least expect it, you'll get your reward; but we gotta keep in mind that all good deeds should be done without expecting something in return, it's something we do for two reasons and two reasons only: to make someone happy and to feel good with ourselves. 
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| terrorist Posts: 358  |
I am gonna quote Phill Anselmo: "I am not gonna kill my self,i got wayyyy to much money" )))
---- Will the ones who live after our end Worship the goddamn cross again? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnlG0h7YN_8&feature=related
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