Property Rights
I am frustrated.
My brother wants to borrow my car. No problem, except that it will be till late, and i do not have the peace to let him have it. Plus there will be five people in the car, and i get the feeling it is very easy to speed, by being goaded on.
I know this sounds selfish, but it is my car. Not the family car, not a family car, not for sharing. But my car. I do not like to let other people use my car simply because i don't know if you are taking care of it MY way. I am fussy about my car. The first 1 plus km must be driven with the revolutions below 2k, the last 1 plus km as well. When you turn off the engine, the aircon, fan, radio, lights everything that runs on electricity must be turned off before the engine. The wheels must be straighten out too. No one who smokes must enter my car. No more than five people can be in the car, unless you know how to cross bumps and all that. No speeding above 3.5k revolutions.
I am fussy about my car. I maintain it well, i wash it, take care of it. My brother doesn't bother to help, only use. That is not my beef; even if he offers i will be happy (and turn it down politely because i like to wash my car alone) but at the same time i just want my car my way. I am fussy about it, anal even.
Yet i know this is being selfish, not lending my brother my car. But is it being selfish? Not sharing? I do not share my underwear, my girlfriend, my wife, is that being selfish?
I think that property rights must be respected. At the end of the day, if the item belongs to me, i have absolute right over it. I have the right to share of course, but if i feel you will not take care of the item, i also have the right to reject that. I think selfishness arises when someone cannot show himself or herself responsible to take good stewardship of the item that he or she requests to borrow. I think it reflects badly on the other person. Of course there must be grace, it may be that the lender is really selfish and have no real reason not to lend. But at the same time, we outside must remember the cost to lend is borne by the lender, not anyone else. It is all very well and easy to stand at the sidelines and say selfish. But if you consider the whole issue, you'd probably have to bite your tongue and scold yourself.
Have you ever lended someone something and regretted? Some people refuse to lend money; i am actually ok for that. I can lend books, clothes. But not my car. it is just that part of me that is too close to my heart. UNLESS you can show that you will take care of my car for me perfectly, it is not likely that i will lend you.
On the one hand, it is selfishness. But view from another point, it is merely respect for property rights.
My brother wants to borrow my car. No problem, except that it will be till late, and i do not have the peace to let him have it. Plus there will be five people in the car, and i get the feeling it is very easy to speed, by being goaded on.
I know this sounds selfish, but it is my car. Not the family car, not a family car, not for sharing. But my car. I do not like to let other people use my car simply because i don't know if you are taking care of it MY way. I am fussy about my car. The first 1 plus km must be driven with the revolutions below 2k, the last 1 plus km as well. When you turn off the engine, the aircon, fan, radio, lights everything that runs on electricity must be turned off before the engine. The wheels must be straighten out too. No one who smokes must enter my car. No more than five people can be in the car, unless you know how to cross bumps and all that. No speeding above 3.5k revolutions.
I am fussy about my car. I maintain it well, i wash it, take care of it. My brother doesn't bother to help, only use. That is not my beef; even if he offers i will be happy (and turn it down politely because i like to wash my car alone) but at the same time i just want my car my way. I am fussy about it, anal even.
Yet i know this is being selfish, not lending my brother my car. But is it being selfish? Not sharing? I do not share my underwear, my girlfriend, my wife, is that being selfish?
I think that property rights must be respected. At the end of the day, if the item belongs to me, i have absolute right over it. I have the right to share of course, but if i feel you will not take care of the item, i also have the right to reject that. I think selfishness arises when someone cannot show himself or herself responsible to take good stewardship of the item that he or she requests to borrow. I think it reflects badly on the other person. Of course there must be grace, it may be that the lender is really selfish and have no real reason not to lend. But at the same time, we outside must remember the cost to lend is borne by the lender, not anyone else. It is all very well and easy to stand at the sidelines and say selfish. But if you consider the whole issue, you'd probably have to bite your tongue and scold yourself.
Have you ever lended someone something and regretted? Some people refuse to lend money; i am actually ok for that. I can lend books, clothes. But not my car. it is just that part of me that is too close to my heart. UNLESS you can show that you will take care of my car for me perfectly, it is not likely that i will lend you.
On the one hand, it is selfishness. But view from another point, it is merely respect for property rights.
posted by W | Sunday, June 29, 2008
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