what do you think of this situation?

[globetrotter]

ok, so this guy says hello to me on a flight on the way to a tradeshow - we met at another trade show, and we have common friends. he is in a similar job to mine, for a similar company, 25 years older than me. he is new to the position, and has little experience internationally, and my subordinate has helped him out with his trip, getting him a hotel room with my group and a few other things. he is traveling with his wife to the trade show, first time in Dubai. anyway, I give him a ride to the hotel, and sort of look after him for the first two days, and buy him and his wife dinner, as he tags along with my group.

I had bought a bunch of local SIM cards, and he needed one, so I sold him one at cost, he came up to my room and paid me, pulling his wad of cash (about $200) out of his pocket to count out the money.

so here's the thing - the next day at breakdfast I see him and he says, first thing - "hey, did I leave my money in your room last night?" I said "no, but if you had I would have told you before you asked me, don't you think?"

later, it turned out his wife had it.

anyway, I found it more than a little insulting, and have effectivly cut off the help tap. I am not mad at him, I just found it insulting and don't think that I want to help him anymore.


what are your thoughts?

 

[Bruce9241]

Don't think too much.

 

[unjung]

Maybe he felt you just forgot. I would not sweat it.

 

[unjung]

I feel that this is the best of the four threads on this topic.

 

[Spirit of 69]

Why are you asking us? Go with your instincts!

 

[TheIdler]

Originally Posted by unjung

I feel that this is the best of the four threads on this topic.

+1
It's the subtle differences that make it work for me.

Seriously, to the OP, it sounds like you're making a little too much of it. If you'd been the one who'd lost the cash, wouldn't you have asked? Why is it insulting exactly? It sounds like you've been a nice guy to him so far, and it's no big deal if you don't want to keep helping him, but I don't see why you feel insulted.

 

[j]

It seems like he's a bit scattered, and I very much doubt he meant anything by it. He probably just has no idea WTF is going on in various parts of his consciousness.

 

[flashback]

You're thinking way too much about it. For all he knows, he left it there and you didn't notice it, so unless brought to your attention you may not even realize its there. There is nothing insulting about this.

 

[Spatlese]

Originally Posted by j

It seems like he's a bit scattered, and I very much doubt he meant anything by it. He probably just has no idea WTF is going on in various parts of his consciousness.

globe - I agree with this. Who knows where his mind is at.

 

[VKK3450]

Maybe you are only sensitive about it because it was cash? Wouldnt you ask someone if you thought you may have left a hat / gloves / phone in their room?

K

 

[globetrotter]

yeah, the reason I asked was that I felt I might be overly sensitive - and the trouble is that there are a lot of people here right now who want to make me happy, so if I seem to be mad at him, they all are acting like he is the devil.

 

[Star]

Look at the bright side. He could have said "hey, did I leave my franger in your room last night?"

 

[VKK3450]

Originally Posted by globetrotter

yeah, the reason I asked was that I felt I might be overly sensitive - and the trouble is that there are a lot of people here right now who want to make me happy, so if I seem to be mad at him, they all are acting like he is the devil.

Its good that you can recognize when you may be being overly sensitive.

For some reason you initially took a liking to this guy / decided that it was worth helping him. Is this really a big enough indiscretion that at best you withdraw your assistance, or at worst other people start to ostracize him?

K

 

[acidboy]

Its probably nothing GT, I wouldn't think much of it.

 

[Johnny_5]

You are totally over-thinking the situation. It is his first time in Dubai, doing a new job, etc etc...So he is probably flustered and probably meant nothing by it.