MONEY MORAL DILEMMA. Insult by paying or let them struggle?

morg_monster

Yes who cares about the stupid meal I am more worried about the parcel too. There could be ANYTHING in there, and getting thrown in jail is not very moneysaving is it.
Actually what is more relevant is that why is the person even travelling to another country, don't they know about global warming, and how can they afford it in a credit crunch, and with the pound so low at the moment. I think that is the important part of the question we should be focusing on. Oh and also whether they have a Nationwide flexaccount because if not they are probably paying £2 every time they visit an ATM.

(joke, btw)

JayD

When in Rome etc ...
I am a strong believer in respecting the culture of the country I am in. If that is the custom, then so be it but I would imagine it would also be the custom that you bought your host a gift before you returned home, so I'd make it something that I know they would find useful.

hallucenogenic_midas

Why would you take someone to a restaurant if you can't afford the bill? Should have gone to a cheaper restaurant!

sluggy1967

digit wrote: »

A good friend would not ask you to take the parcel in the first place.

I find this quote & others like it incredible. How cynical are you all that you think there is something dodgy in delivering a parcel from a "good friend" to his fathers house? I dont suspect any of my good friends of being drug barons (assuming that's what you are all convinced is in the parcel) & if they were, I doubt they would be supplying class A drugs to their dad!

My sister lives in Australia, had a friend who went out to visit her and, as it was near to my son's 3rd birthday & neice's 1st birthday she asked if they would bring back 2 small gifts for the kids, but only if there was room in the suitcase. They were happy to oblige & 2 kids had lovely presents without having to wait ages for them to arrive (or get lost) in the post. Good job my sister's friend wasn't as cynical as some of you lot seem to be.

YOU MUST ALL HAVE WHAT YOU THINK ARE VERY DODGY FRIENDS.

Has no-one ever told you an act of kindness is what keeps humankind going?

debbsie

I wouldn't take a parcel to a developing country in the first place, anyway, doesn't Wales have a postal service????

andysuth

Every year I visit my in-laws in a poor part of China.

You let them have their time in the sun, - let them pay.

You then make up some british custom that allows you to return the favour several times or leave something discrete for them.

Usually in China, parents have no qualms about asking their children for money though.

-AS

zkb100

sluggy1967 wrote: »

I find this quote & others like it incredible. How cynical are you all that you think there is something dodgy in delivering a parcel from a "good friend" to his fathers house? I dont suspect any of my good friends of being drug barons (assuming that's what you are all convinced is in the parcel) & if they were, I doubt they would be supplying class A drugs to their dad!

My sister lives in Australia, had a friend who went out to visit her and, as it was near to my son's 3rd birthday & neice's 1st birthday she asked if they would bring back 2 small gifts for the kids, but only if there was room in the suitcase. They were happy to oblige & 2 kids had lovely presents without having to wait ages for them to arrive (or get lost) in the post. Good job my sister's friend wasn't as cynical as some of you lot seem to be.

YOU MUST ALL HAVE WHAT YOU THINK ARE VERY DODGY FRIENDS.

Has no-one ever told you an act of kindness is what keeps humankind going?

I don't agree with this - obviously you trust your good friends BUT it doesn't say how long they have been 'good friends' for and I have watched enough programs on people who will even go as far as getting into relationships to have the person trust them that they then plant drugs on to carry into other countries. You have to look out for yourself and although you would trust a good friend, there is nothing wrong with wanting to know what you are carrying into another country and a true friend wouldn't expect you to carry an unopened parcel aboard a flight anyway....sometimes people can be too trusting...i'd probably be one of them!

TeamMCS

The "Dodgy parcel" aside:

Let him pay, but what's to say you cannot be equally generous (Taking into account your earnings ratio!).

Why not buy them a bunch of stuff - using the same "get out clause". I also agree wth the idea of sending english food on the premise of, "Enjoy some of our food" etc

Taffybiker

MSE_Wendy wrote: »

Would you insult by paying or let them struggle?

p.s. there's nothing dodgy in the parcel, that's not what the dilemma is about

I'm sorry, but from the responses it appears that many have missed the last line of this week's dilemma.

Before I go to any previously unvisited country, I always do my research on the local culture, people, laws and religion to try to ensure I don't accidentally offend the people of the host country.
I would allow my host to pay for the meal. Even offering to pay half may be an insult. I would use my time as a guest to pick out something (an ornament, perhaps) which is obviously valueless then insist on buying it at a stupidly high price, stating it as a must-have for one of my family members who have been searching for one of those for years.

Talent

I wouldn't take a parcel for anyone anywhere. Even if you are shown the contents there could be something hidden inside what you see.
EVERYONE SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS!!!! DON'T DO IT. THERE ARE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN NASTY JAILS AROUND THE WORLD BECAUSE OF THEIR GULLIBILITY.
My sister-in-law was detained, missed her flight and very nearly went to jail in Thailand. A relative of her Thai friend in the UK was seeing her off at the airport. She was handed a neat gift wrapped parcel at the last minute, it was about six inches long and one inch wide. These people had been really good to her and she just popped it into her handbag without thinking. During her stay she had been helping and learning Thai cooking. She had commented on a how useful a particular small kitchen knife was. In the parcel was the knife!! All completely innocent but devastating consequences.
In fact I think it silly of Martin, or whoever in his team is responsible, to pose the question in the first place. The situation could easily have been posed without bringing the parcel into the question.