The art of borrowing seems to have lost its meaning somewhere between «Can I use this?» and «This is mine now.» It’s fascinating how some people view other people’s possessions as a communal resource pool, ready to be claimed with just the right combination of pressure and entitlement.

The request always starts innocently enough, a casual mention, a temporary need, a simple favor. But scratch the surface, and you’ll find permanent intentions wrapped in temporary promises.

Express even the mildest hesitation about handing over your belongings, and suddenly you’re the unreasonable one. The audacity of wanting to use your own possessions! How dare you prioritize your needs over their convenience? after everything they’ve done for you?

One young man found himself in this exact situation when his mother decided his car, which he bought and maintained himself, would make an excellent solution to her transportation needs. Her perfectly reasonable reasoning was simple, she didn’t want to deal with public transport or, you know, buy her own car.