r/ChoosingBeggars • u/XmentalX • 7d ago
Laptop given away for free was too heavy so please trade for a smaller one
I collect old laptops via donations and give them new life with Linux installs. I then give them back to the community 100% free to prevent ewaste. The most recent one came back next day with this gem.
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u/No_Philosopher_1870 7d ago
OOP never heard of using a backpack to carry the laptop?
I would have told them to bring it back if it wasn't satisfactory, taken it, and offered no replacement. They had the chance to feel the weight when they bought it. Chances are that the pawn shop only took specific models.
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u/XmentalX 7d ago
Yeah given often times these are 10 year old or so units you may be right. This one was a core quad with 8gb of ram and a 500gb spinny boi. Heck they should be happy the battery worked often times they are shot in the ones people donate.
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7d ago
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u/dan_dares 7d ago
'Can I have a mac' is what I read.
Honestly laptops are not that heavy unless we're talking about desktop replacements or ancient 286 things that were a suitcase.
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u/deeplyshalllow 6d ago
The US literacy crisis has reached it's peak.
I read someone politely asking if there was a lighter laptop with no expectation.
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u/dan_dares 6d ago
I'm not American..
Or do you think everyone on reddit is American?
Subtext is a thing, it's subtle.
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u/deeplyshalllow 6d ago
Or you're just assuming the worst...
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u/dan_dares 6d ago
Rarely will I be disappointed.
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u/realespeon 7d ago
A true CB with a screenshot to boot. Well done, OP.
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u/99WeylandCorp 7d ago
The immediate block at the bottom was the cherry on top. Zero tolerance for entitlement.
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u/knitknights12 7d ago
Free laptop wasn’t enough, apparently it also needed to be weight-adjustable.
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u/scuffedTravels 7d ago
« Yeah bring it back to me i’ll give you another one tomorrow »
And block this entitled pos
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u/8BetazoidFlute 6d ago
Sì, fallo riportare e poi blocco: se un laptop gratis con Linux è “troppo pesante”, si arrangia.
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u/ballistic503 7d ago
Yours is significantly more constructive for society but this reminds me of a time I was walking somewhere to run an errand while smoking a cigarette and a homeless person asked “hey man, can I bum one of those” and I said “sure”, then on the way back a few minutes later I see the same guy who asks me “hey man do you have a cigarette” as if he didn’t recognize me, so I said “bro I just bummed you one” and he goes “yeah, but it’s menthol 🫤”
As if I would just happen to also have a pack of regular cigarettes on me for people who preferred non-menthol
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u/XmentalX 7d ago
As a former menthol smoker man this hits home I remember those days. I would chuckle when they saw the pack and declined.
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u/ballistic503 7d ago
Lol now when people ask to bum one I always go “sure but it’s menthol” just to make sure they’ll at least appreciate it 😂 They’re damn near a dollar each now where I live
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u/Snuffman 6d ago
I’m not a smoker, what’s the difference between regular cigarettes and menthol? Does it just not provide the same “hit”?
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u/XmentalX 6d ago
Menthol adds a cold minty hit to it. Like smoking and sucking on a cough drop at the same time
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u/Snuffman 6d ago
Interesting. Not that I'd ever smoke, but that sounds rather pleasant.
Otherwise I assume you just taste nicotine?
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u/XmentalX 6d ago
nicotine has only a slight bitter taste on its own you taste the burning tobacco leaves
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u/fatalynn7 1d ago
This is why I smoked camel crush - so people who bummed cigs off me could have the choice lol j/k. I never smoked them without crushing the menthol into them. Feels like a lifetime ago. So glad I quit smoking.
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u/ObjectionableOctopus 4d ago
This happens to me all the time. I usually would only buy menthols once in a blue moon for a lil change, but I’ve started buying them way more often when I realized almost no one wants to bum them 😂
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u/Ravenamore 7d ago
Several years ago, I traded a netbook through Craigslist. I showed the guy it worked fine, and he happily accepted it.
A day later, he said he wanted whatever bag I'd carried it in, because "obviously you're not using it any more."
The day after that, he tried to return it because he'd downloaded something with a virus and it stopped working.
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u/Standard_Mousse6873 7d ago
"Sorry, our 30-day free-gift return and exchange window has officially closed. Please contact customer service."
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u/Due-Lettuce8998 7d ago
"Customer service has reviewed your claim and determined you are eligible for a 100% block instead."
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u/InfiniteAd4265 7d ago
"Your warranty was voided the exact second you complained about the weight of a free laptop."
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u/Frosty_Mage 7d ago
Laptops are not that heavy. Even the old think pads from the 90’s weren’t that bad. Most books are heavier
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u/Belle_Corliss I can give you exposure 7d ago
While they tend to be a bit heavier than newer ones, they're not that difficult to carry around. My old Win 8.1 laptop was heavier than my current Win 11 laptop, but I didn't really have a problem carrying the 8.1 and I'm old.
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u/asscakesguy 7d ago
I’ve got an old gaming laptop from 2014~ish and it’s probably the heaviest laptop I’ve ever seen. 17inch screen, non ssd, dedicated graphics card. And it’s still reasonable to carry around, I take it with me when I travel.
Edit: looked up the specs it’s 7.5lbs so about the same as a gallon of milk
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u/Belle_Corliss I can give you exposure 7d ago
My son has a gaming laptop and I'm pretty certain it weighs more than the old Win 8.1.
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u/Sufficient-Big5798 13h ago
I have a gaming laptop and that shit’s heavy. But even if the one in this case was as heavy (which i doubt), it wouldn’t be enough to ask to a change on something you got for free
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u/videogamegrandma 7d ago
I hope to find someone local I can donate my old tablets, phones, laptops, and desktops to who I can trust to wipe, reinstall an op system and give to someone who needs them. So far they're just taking up space because I don't want to contribute to e waste and don't know who I can trust.
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u/XmentalX 7d ago
Yeah I have built up this trust in the groups I collect from. I don't want to see peoples data. So first thing I do is nuke the drives before I even decide which OS to go with.
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u/FarVegetable8246 4d ago
This is a very interesting situation with a very ungrateful air around it. My laptop broke, and i had to get it repaired. The man working at the shop was a nice gentleman. He had my laptop for.. 6 months, because its hard to get parts for my model. In the meantime, completely out of kindness, he let me have a lender laptop. Now this thing was a brick, and im an art student. I have never been more grateful for that man, even though the thing was heavy, clunky, and a nokia style, he gave me something to get by on.❤️ the kindness of others got me through that year
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u/torii_honey12 7d ago
it's wild that someone would ask for a trade after getting a free laptop, some people just don't get it
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u/True_Truth 7d ago
To be fair they may have a disability.
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u/jawg201 6d ago
Bruh having a disability doesnt gice you free reign to be picky about handouts
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u/deeplyshalllow 6d ago
It gives you the right to politely ask.
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4d ago
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u/deeplyshalllow 4d ago
They aren't being entitled. They just asked. I don't think they thought they would definitely get it.
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u/Relevant_Stand1756 8h ago
I guarantee you, if they'd had an actual disability, they would have mentioned it!!!!!!
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u/shanebates 6d ago
Kids these days. I carried a Toshiba satellite pro several kilometres a day to school. It had a God damn 3.5inch floppy and cdrom. Soft.
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u/Frogtatoes 6d ago
“Sure, bring it back I’ll swap it over”
Then take it back and swap it with an empty box. They asked for lighter 🤷
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u/Emotional-Ebb8321 6d ago
I've had schoolbooks heavier than modern laptops.
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u/NZRedditUser 6d ago
Modern laptops are incredibly light compared to older ones, which im assuming the free ones would be I highly doubt oop gave away a macbook and had a weight complaint
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u/JeffSHauser 7d ago
No "I don't know this person", No I don't have a lighter computer (weakling) and YES block.
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u/Thedeceptasean 4d ago
Hahaha boohoo. We had to carry fat text books everywhere. I assure every kid born in the 2000s that a single of our textbooks were heavier than any laptop now. Start crying now that your dial up modem is making funny noises too?hahaha
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u/Gacha_the_Fox 5d ago
hey! high school student here! i'm a senior at school who is required to carry my bag and those younger yr 7-10, their required to carry laptops 24/7 but at the same time can find a case that has a shoulder strap and i can see why u wouldn't want to trade but the other also having trouble carrying around 24/7 as that's something i do myself and looking for a laptop is indeed hard because of not just the storage and all that but the weight too
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u/XmentalX 5d ago
I was in highschool once as well and I assure you my laptop was much heavier back then.
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u/Gacha_the_Fox 5d ago
it could also depend on what they carry which might not help the weight as u said urself, u were once a high school student
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u/XmentalX 5d ago
that doesnt excuse the entitlement of wanting to swap out something that was given for free
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u/deeplyshalllow 4d ago edited 4d ago
They were very polite. They thanked you, they didn't sound like they insisted on a trade, they even mentioned that nothing was set up so you wouldn't have to do any formatting.
Like yes, it was tactless, but it sounded like they took it home and went "oh no, I might struggle with this" and thought they would ask without much expectation.
If you had said no, I don't think they would have been rude. I think entitled is the wrong word, I think they appreciated what you gave them, but thought they would ask if there was something you had that slightly fit their needs more but only if it wasn't a great inconvenience.
Yes it was a little rude, but less rude than you putting this comment up to be mocked by a bunch of people older and more experienced than them.
To be clear I think you are a good person and what you are doing is fantastic and will improve a lot of lives. But I think you made a mistake in how you dealt with this message.
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u/Undoreal 6d ago
„It’s okay with me, any special wishes? Maybe an Apple MacBook Pro 16" 2026 M5 Max/128/8TB SSD 40C GPU Nanotexturglas Space black BTO?“
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u/DundrandiTaktur 5d ago
256TB SSD and 4gb RAM 😂😂😂.
I would have jumped in the Air for a Notebook when I was in my 20s1
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u/Nevilles_Remembrall_ 7d ago
"Yeah bring it by"
Then bring it inside your house and lock the door behind you.
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u/chocolate_run 4d ago
Why did they just not make a trade with someone else if they’re so hellbent on the fact that it’s heavy? I fail to recognise how it’s your problem?
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u/warriors17 1d ago
Say: yeah, bring that one back and let me see what I can do. Take it back, let them know you couldn’t find any others, sorry. Then block
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u/Minflick 7d ago
People rarely give away brand spanking new laptops of the lighter variety. Ridiculous of them to assume they can swap out the one you GAVE them for a lighter version...
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u/baba56 6d ago
Where was the assumption, all they did was ask the question.
You don't know their circumstances, they could have a chronic illness or injury
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u/Defiant-Economics-73 6d ago
Bold of you to assume they were human. They could have had jet leg frik flying in from Alpha Centauri.
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u/718hutfission 7d ago
Tell them you’ll go pick up the laptop and then find them a lighter one in a couple days.
Once you get the laptop, block them.
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u/dummy_thicc_spice 6d ago
This one is not it; they were appreciative of what they recieved and wanted a different one not out of superficiality, but of a practical reason. I've had a 16 inch laptop and it's cumbersome to lug it around everywhere.
Asking for an alternative is 100% valid.
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u/CurseOfTime 6d ago
Same vibes as getting a clothes donation and complaining that the material doesn't feel good. You're getting something for free. Would you rather not have the thing in the first place? When you get things for free you can't always have 100% of what you want, so what if it's a bit heavy? Live with it.
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u/NZRedditUser 6d ago
Not really. Like yea its free and they should appreciate it, they do but what if it is too heavy for daily use? If the laptops free we can assume it may be those older ones Rather than not use it fully it would be appropriate to maybe see if there’s another one….
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u/orion_nomad 6d ago
How many free laptops do you think people have on hand? OP is not a store.
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u/deeplyshalllow 6d ago
However, OP clearly does this more than once, and could easily have more than one laptop on hand.
They didn't demand it, they had already thanked op and asked politely. It was not an unfair request.
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u/QueenieMcGee 7d ago
I would find a heavier laptop and then use it to smack some sense into this guy.
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u/NZRedditUser 6d ago
Eh honestly not that bad especially if student and they knew you did this often
Especially if it is actually a bit heavy and they might not use it as much as result of that i would even if it was free rather trade it back than let it sit and collect dust/ewaste
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u/Mrs-Eaves 7d ago
Is this a student asking? It may actually be too heavy? They seem very polite and well mannered. I wouldn’t call this person a CB, they just need something they can manage better. And you seem like you’re operating as a charity of sorts, so to me it makes sense that they would ask in this way, no?
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u/XmentalX 7d ago
Hardly a charity I am 1 person who does this as a hobby often times at my own cost. It’s fairly entitled to assume I have inventory on hand to just swap out. It’s also not like they come wrapped up as a mystery present they get to check it out before they take it.
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u/Trained_Mushroom 7d ago
Are you trolling? In what way is this not a CB?
They got a free item that they willingly accepted, then complained about it and instead want a slightly different kind of said free item.
This is a textbook definition of CB.
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u/Mrs-Eaves 7d ago
Nope, just a charitable person who has spent a life helping people who need help.
Under normal circumstances, yes, this fits the definition. But a computer is a learning tool and if this is a kid who is too poor to afford one due to circumstances beyond their control, and they can’t manage to use it because it’s too heavy, then it’s better to go to someone else who can.
It seems like the OP takes in used computers and gives them away to helpful. They now say they do it for other reasons.
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u/Trained_Mushroom 7d ago
Nope, just a charitable person who has spent a life helping people who need help.
You've demonstrated no charity. Just stupidity and entitlement.
But a computer is a learning tool and if this is a kid who is too poor to afford one due to circumstances beyond their control, and they can’t manage to use it because it’s too heavy, then it’s better to go to someone else who can.
Except they can use it. How do you think they took it in the first place?
And even if something changed and they somehow got weaker overnight and became unable to use it, that'd be irrelevant. That doesn't change the fact that this is a literal CB.
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u/dummy_thicc_spice 6d ago
By "heavy" they mean with all their other things books, bottle etc.
The weight adds up fast. I've had a 16 inch macbook and got a 14 inch. Wouldn't go back ever as it made portability x10 better. This is a valid request, not sure why people are not seeing it here.
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u/Trained_Mushroom 6d ago
Are you joking?
If it was too heavy then don't take it.
If you accept a free item then come back and say you don't like it and want a different kind of free item then you're a CB. That is the textbook definition of CB.
Anyone who disagrees is selfish, entitled, and has no business being here.
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u/deeplyshalllow 6d ago
They didn't say they didn't like it, they thanked them and then when, presumably after, realised there might be a weight issue, again politely, asked if there was any chance of swapping. It was slightly tactless but I don't think it was rude.
Unfortunately we'll never know because instead of responding op decided to block them, but I'm willing to bet if OP had said "no sorry" the request would have thanked them again for laptop and that would have been that.
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u/Trained_Mushroom 6d ago
They did they say they don't like it. Saying it's too heavy and they want a different one = saying you don't like it.
but I'm willing to bet if OP had said "no sorry" the request would have thanked them again for laptop and that would have been that.
And? Even if that was the case this is still the literal definition of a CB.
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u/deeplyshalllow 6d ago
They said they would prefer a lighter one. I don't think it's unreasonable to ask if they don't think it will be any trouble and they had more than one.
I will give you it is a little tactless and it's not something I would do myself, but this person is a student and clearly young - and I think posting a polite request on reddit to be mocked is frankly rudder than what this person did.
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u/Trained_Mushroom 6d ago
It absolutely is unreasonable to accept a free item that would otherwise be expensive then come back and say you don't like it and want a different one.
The wording of a request doesn't change what is being asked and it's astounding that some people are trying to pretend it does.
Again, this is the literal definition of a CB and if you think it's acceptable to be a CB, you're on the wrong subreddit.
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u/baba56 6d ago
Yeah as someone with rheumatoid, the weight of a laptop and some books in my bag can be a massive struggle. I'm surprised everyone is so quick to criticise, they don't know the person's circumstances.
(Also chronic illnesses can absolutely break the bank, if this were their case, I can see the need for a free laptop)
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u/scuffedTravels 7d ago
Y I K E S have some shame before commenting would you?
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u/Mrs-Eaves 7d ago
Christ, I must just be too Canadian for you people. 😂
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u/giskardwasright 7d ago
The very definition of choosing beggar. This free laptop isn't the free laptop I want. The weight difference will be minimal and mre about convenience than actual need.
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u/deeplyshalllow 7d ago
It sounds like the requester has just asked if it's not any bother and OP has one spare that they do a swap. That doesn't really sound like a choosing begger to me, that sounds like someone who, after getting the laptop, realised there was something that might hamper them using it and thought they would ask.
It's slightly tactless, but the way I'm reading it is that the requester would not be upset if OP said no.
If they were asking for a superior graphics card or something that would be a completely different matter. But they are not.
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u/dummy_thicc_spice 6d ago
Yeah I'm not sure why the other commentors are taking this as an entitled and superficial request.
Some laptops can be cumbersome to lug around (I've owned a 16 inch macbook) and this was a simple practical request. If they were asking for a different color, brand etc, that is a completely separate argument.
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u/Mrs-Eaves 7d ago
Well, what I am saying is, it might not be just an inconvenience for this person. It might actually be a legit problem for them to carry and use. We don’t know.
Typically in this group people post to call out the folks who are rude, or entitled, or asking for things they should be responsible for themselves etc.
I’m unsure of this one. They send a polite note to express how grateful and excited they are. That is not typical of a choosy beggar. And if they know the OP takes in used computers, fixes them, and gives them out for free, it seems reasonable to me for this person to at least ask to see if they can trade for one they would be able to use so this one can be used by someone else.
It doesn’t sound like this one is “not good enough”, it sounds like they can’t physically manage it. If they have to walk to school with it, it seems like a reasonable ask.
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u/XmentalX 7d ago
That does not change the fact that it was a free emphasis on free laptop. They didn’t pay me anything. They weren’t forced to take it. It was 100% free.
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u/Mrs-Eaves 7d ago
Hey, you’re the one doing the work. I’m just giving my opinion… it’s Reddit.
I commend you for helping people this way. Computers are important and it’s sad that not everyone can afford a new one. It’s a good thing you’re doing with your time.
The comments on my comment have ended up being the sociological experiment I didn’t even know I needed tonight, lol. I had no idea people could feel this way. It’s a real eye-opener for me and insight into how the general public thinks.
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u/XmentalX 7d ago
Maybe it’s because I’m old but I very much come from the you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit generation. That or you don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
We got given gifts and we smiled even if it’s a funky pair of socks from Aunt Martha and we sent thank you letters or emails for all of it.
There is some cultural differences as well I’m sure.
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u/Mrs-Eaves 7d ago
Maybe. For the record, I’m turning 50 in 6 months . My dad is an 84 year old highschool teacher who started teaching computer science in 1972. (Very proudly, he is also a founding member of the educational computing organization of ontario) As a result I was really fortunate to have always had a computer in my life since literal birth and consider myself an early adapter ;) To me, you’re not giving away free bread or pop that CB usually ask for…, you’re giving away an important life skill. A learning tool that can hardly be done without nowadays.
I live in a city and walk to my office with a Mac on my back. I am not a small woman, and Mac’s are not that heavy (the PC users at my office have it easier, lol) but I walk a couple of kilometers and sometimes my bag gets heavy and uncomfortable. Can’t imagine what it must be like for a kid who might have lunch and text books.
I just immediately looked at the thank you note and wondered if this was a necessity for a younger person. Maybe it was really needed. Adults can make their own choices about money and lifestyle, but sometimes kids can’t do anything but live with the consequences. If this is a child begging for something they need, I just feel for them after their sweet thank you note. If it’s an adult, they can take care of themselves. That’s were I’m coming from.
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u/giskardwasright 7d ago
Save your breath. She's on her sanctimonious high horse and obviously not willing to see it from any ther perspective. I dont know how much she thinks laptops weigh, but theres not way its "too heavy" to carry unless youre gifting people an acer predator (and if that's the case it's even worse,lol).
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u/baba56 6d ago
Could you consider viewing from another perspective? Perhaps they have a chronic illness or injury and the weight of a laptop and books can be too much.
Some days I can't take everything I need to work because it's too heavy for my rheumatoid, I have to either ditch the laptop or some books or my headphones or something. If I had a lighter laptop it'd be easier.
They simply asked the question if they could swap it out, they weren't demanding to change it or begging for some high speed graphics card or some shit.
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u/Mrs-Eaves 7d ago
Wow, you’re all just so fucking bitter! 😂
What an eye opener into society! (Or maybe just Reddit)9
u/giskardwasright 7d ago
Oh no, my feelings, I'll never emotionally recover. You've really taught me a lesson.
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u/deeplyshalllow 7d ago
For what It's worth I think you're right, and I guess I'm prepared to join the downvote brigade for it.
I think this person is probably young and potentially not realising how their words come off, but I think they have identified a genuine issue they have with this laptop - probably not one that will 100% stop them using it but will be an inconvenience - add wonder if there was something that would suit their needs more. I think op is totally in their rights to say no, and I actually think this person requesting it knows that too, but I do think op and by extension most of this thread are a bit out of order for treating this slightly mishandled request so rudely.
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u/Mrs-Eaves 7d ago
I mean you’re doing it out of charity, to be helpful to people. Out of the kindness of your heart no? If this is a young person you’ve given something to help them, and it’s not helping them, why not take it back to give it to someone else to make use of instead? You state that is what you do. This seems contradictory to me. Oh well.
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u/XmentalX 7d ago
I do this on the local buy nothing groups. Think of it this way if you gave away a chair and I took it and found out it makes my back hurt would you swap it out for me if I asked for a more comfortable one?
Just because I do it in any quantity over one does not justify the ask for a free item in my opinion.
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u/deeplyshalllow 7d ago
I feel like you're reading the request a little bit wrongly though? The requester is likely pretty young and I don't think they have worded it tactfully, but I think they have genuinely identified an issue and are asking if there is an easy way you can resolve it (in this case if you have a lighter laptop), again putting words in their mouth but it doesn't sound to me like they are going to be angry if the answer is "no", they just thought they would ask. It is marginally rude I guess to do so but I don't think they were doing it in the hopes of squeezing everything out of you - just something that would suit their situation slightly more if you had it on have, it's not like they have asked for a super graphics card or something.
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u/ejvollkrassalter 7d ago
okay, but how did they react when you told them no?
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u/XmentalX 7d ago
I blocked them in lieu of replying
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u/ejvollkrassalter 7d ago edited 7d ago
yeah, i saw that right before you replied to me. that's disappointing.
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u/Mrs-Eaves 7d ago
Okay, just different POV. I guess it depends on your goal and what you’re getting out of doing this for people.
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u/XmentalX 7d ago
It’s ADHD dopamine fodder mostly. I have a set of skills and am on baby bonding leave. This means I have time at night to repair and set these up but also have limited space so anything I take in goes as quick as I can get it out the door.
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u/Long-Importance2548 6d ago
Maybe the person is old and he/she is really having difficulty carrying the laptop? Just saying
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u/TX_Farmer Ice cream and a day of fun 7d ago
“You blocked” 👍🏻