I let someone use my bike for a few days. When they returned it to me it was totally damaged. They let a heavy bike chain clink against it and completely ruined the paint job. It was a vintage cruiser in mint condition.

Their story? They couldn't see why I was so bent out of shape. The bike still worked. They shrugged and said of course bikes get "road wear."

I still have the bike and it makes me heartsick to look at it. But it reminds me to never lend out my stuff. I just don't. I don't make excuses. I just don't do it now. Ever.

I think some people see "things" as stuff to be used. They just don't have the same relationship to things. So that needs to be taken into consideration. I am a big refurbisher. My vintage bike is over 30 years old. My truck is 25 years old. Everything I have lasts and lasts because I take care of it. But others just don't have the same relationship with possessions. You can't change them and they probably don't understand about being disrespectful. They just don't get it.