Picture this: some nasty person had some negative influence on my wife. My wife convinced me to do work for this person and I did. But after weeks and weeks of work, I realized I am not getting paid. Philosophically speaking, what should I do and how shoudl I feel? 

Freeloaders are everywhere, beware. I feel sorry for your wife since it was her idea.

sometimes doing favours for freinds pays off in the long run.perhaps they will be able to oblige you with a favour when you are in need of one.

I always did favours for freinds and sometimes I get them in return. There have been times when I have been promised money for doing work for people by handshake or gentleman's agreement and have not been paid. A favour is a favour but if another person makes money off your efforts and doesn't keep to an agreement it is exploitation of goodwill. Those people never seam to be around when you need them.

willie c wuddle wrote:

it is exploitation of goodwill.

Exactly, especially over a $1000 worth of good will!

I'm out about $3,000.00 from 3 people who have exploited goodwillie. Somehow they had a harder time getting people to work for them shortly after I did. I'm really not sure why.

I did a favour for a friend....he asked me to borrow a bunch of items he needed and didn't want to buy..so I said ok...expecting the items back when he was done with them....months went by and I never asked for them back but assumed they would be returned. I never once said I was giving them to him..just letting him use them them. One day I am reading the classified ads and under general items for sale..what do I see...all my stuff...to me this was just like stealing from me...how does everyone else see it?

You should have gotten someone to buy them for you and given them to him as a wedding gift or Christmas present or something. BTW Merry "Ten Months To" Christmas everybody. Oops, I have to go write a song bout Christmas.

I wish I had thought of that Mr. Wuddle!