The CD Incident of 2006
I'm sorry I didn't get to blog about this last night when I was REALLY pissed off. Instead, I had some Aurora duties, then dinner, then some more Aurora duties, then bed. So, tonight I'll put a few thoughts down regarding what I will now refer to as "the CD incident of 2006". Firstly, its important that you know that some of my family read this blog. So, you know I'm pissed when I publicly declare them to be irresponsible thieves (no, not joking). Not my ENTIRE family of course, just my sister, cousin and mother (half my family). I'm still quite big fans of my Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle.
So, I've already alluded to the fact that I'm in the process of culling some of my music collection, in order to give away some CDs. So far I've managed to sort out about 120 CDs into a few piles to give away. I came home from work last night to find that over half of them were gone. You see, my Cousin, Sister and Mother had been around and decided to help themselves to the piles. And by help themselves, I mean not ask me if it was OK to do so. I had mentioned, in passing, to my Mum that I was sorting out the piles to giveaway. Steph, when they started to go through the piles, said that I wouldn't be happy, that they shouldn't be doing that, and that I hadn't yet finished sorting the CDs and I would send out an email on what I was giving away when ready. "Yeah, but that doesn't count for relatives" was one response. So, they loaded up - and I don't mean they took 1 or 2 CDs. My cousin took 7 CDs. My Mum took 10. My sister took... wait for it... 58. Yes, 58 of my CDs. Without even thinking "jeez, I wonder if Andy's going to be cool with this?" Excuse me, but that's the definition of sheer stupidity
So I delivered three really angry phone calls last night demanding my CDs back. In the end, it's likely I will give these exact CDs away. But at this point they are still my CDs to do with what I like. At no point have I said "The CDs are ready for taking". And when I tried to explain this last night, I was met with feigned innocence, ignorance, lies, stupidity, naivity and a sheer lack of responsibility. In fact when I quizzed my cousin about "did you say this", "did Steph not say this", all I got was "maybe...", "I might've...", "I don't remember..." and "Whatever...". Unbelievable - just no sense of responsibility or acknowledgement that she had done anything wrong. I was treated like I was over-reacting that someone had come into my house, taken my stuff as their own, and I should be cool with that. Fuck that. ANYONE who knows me knows how passionate I am about music and my music collection, and yet at no point did it occur to any of these 3 people that they should talk to the person WHO ACTUALLY OWNED THE PROPERTY that they were taking. Guess what, that's called theft. In fact, my sister even said "I wish Andy was here, he'd tell me what CD's I'd like". Well, yeah I'd tell you what CDs you appear to like, anything that's not fucking nailed down.
Whilst I might try to explain to them that some of the CDs I might've promised to people already, or some of the CDs I might consider selling, not giving away, or some of the CDs I didn't have copies of yet, or some of the CDs I wasn't sure about giving away, none of that matters, because in the eyes of my greedy flesh and blood, my lounge room was just another bargain basement giveaway for a few hours. And I have absolutely no doubt that Steph said that it wasn't right (despite the protests and feigned innocence of "well, we thought it was OK, because Steph didn't smack the CDs out of our hands"), but at the end of the day (and this seems to have been forgotten)... they are my CDs.
I would definitely feel better if I thought that any of the above would sink in... we shall see in time I suppose. But given I saw (with my own eyes) my Mother lie directly to Steph no less than 24 hours after the event, I have serious doubts. So that was a shitty way to end yesterday. At least now when you get that email that says "CD Giveaway" from me, you'll a.) know that I mean it and b.) not have to worry about getting in before my family does.
** Updated 20/3 (removed the line (in grey) that was incorrect)
So, I've already alluded to the fact that I'm in the process of culling some of my music collection, in order to give away some CDs. So far I've managed to sort out about 120 CDs into a few piles to give away. I came home from work last night to find that over half of them were gone. You see, my Cousin, Sister and Mother had been around and decided to help themselves to the piles. And by help themselves, I mean not ask me if it was OK to do so. I had mentioned, in passing, to my Mum that I was sorting out the piles to giveaway. Steph, when they started to go through the piles, said that I wouldn't be happy, that they shouldn't be doing that, and that I hadn't yet finished sorting the CDs and I would send out an email on what I was giving away when ready. "Yeah, but that doesn't count for relatives" was one response. So, they loaded up - and I don't mean they took 1 or 2 CDs. My cousin took 7 CDs. My Mum took 10. My sister took... wait for it... 58. Yes, 58 of my CDs. Without even thinking "jeez, I wonder if Andy's going to be cool with this?" Excuse me, but that's the definition of sheer stupidity
So I delivered three really angry phone calls last night demanding my CDs back. In the end, it's likely I will give these exact CDs away. But at this point they are still my CDs to do with what I like. At no point have I said "The CDs are ready for taking". And when I tried to explain this last night, I was met with feigned innocence, ignorance, lies, stupidity, naivity and a sheer lack of responsibility. In fact when I quizzed my cousin about "did you say this", "did Steph not say this", all I got was "maybe...", "I might've...", "I don't remember..." and "Whatever...". Unbelievable - just no sense of responsibility or acknowledgement that she had done anything wrong. I was treated like I was over-reacting that someone had come into my house, taken my stuff as their own, and I should be cool with that. Fuck that. ANYONE who knows me knows how passionate I am about music and my music collection, and yet at no point did it occur to any of these 3 people that they should talk to the person WHO ACTUALLY OWNED THE PROPERTY that they were taking. Guess what, that's called theft. In fact, my sister even said "I wish Andy was here, he'd tell me what CD's I'd like". Well, yeah I'd tell you what CDs you appear to like, anything that's not fucking nailed down.
Whilst I might try to explain to them that some of the CDs I might've promised to people already, or some of the CDs I might consider selling, not giving away, or some of the CDs I didn't have copies of yet, or some of the CDs I wasn't sure about giving away, none of that matters, because in the eyes of my greedy flesh and blood, my lounge room was just another bargain basement giveaway for a few hours. And I have absolutely no doubt that Steph said that it wasn't right (despite the protests and feigned innocence of "well, we thought it was OK, because Steph didn't smack the CDs out of our hands"), but at the end of the day (and this seems to have been forgotten)... they are my CDs.
I would definitely feel better if I thought that any of the above would sink in... we shall see in time I suppose. But given I saw (with my own eyes) my Mother lie directly to Steph no less than 24 hours after the event, I have serious doubts. So that was a shitty way to end yesterday. At least now when you get that email that says "CD Giveaway" from me, you'll a.) know that I mean it and b.) not have to worry about getting in before my family does.
** Updated 20/3 (removed the line (in grey) that was incorrect)
posted by AndyN at 10:23 PM
2 Comments:
That's fucked up, dude.
And when YOU have a problem with people taking YOUR stuff - it sounds like they're saying it's YOUR problem !!
So much for Generation-X, and Generation-Y - times have changed.
Now - it's Generation-ME.
I've had similar from some people - take, take, take - no consideration for anyone else.
We're becoming Austramerica...
*shrug*
I have nightmares (really) about that kind of thing happening. It's the powerlessness that generates so much anger.
One way to look at it is that you had the phone numbers of the burglars. That's a rarity.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home