So this guy borrowed a movie from me and he won't give it back.

[Alexander]

Let me explain.

I lent out my DVD of "Casablanca", and a book to this guy I know, believing that he'd return both. In return he let me borrow some books of his, which I finished and returned.

Well, I got the book back - but when I asked him for the movie, he just said "Yeah, I can't find it."

This was Sunday, and he promised to get it back to me on Monday. It's now Wednesday, and I asked him again if he could find it.

His response? "You know I will". Meaning he can't be bothered. I know it is in his possession because he told me about his impression of the movie during winter break. I have a DVD of his but I've seen it a million times, and I'd rather just sever my connections with this guy ASAP, as soon as I get my damned movie back.

There are many things I could do, some of them legal, some not. For starters, his apartment is ridiculously easy to break into (in fact he's invited people to go in and retrieve stuff before through this method). I'd rather not resort to criminality unless there's no other way, but dammit, that's a good movie, and I want it back.

What should I do?

[henslee]

1. I'd leave it alone... but remember it for next time. But if you'd like..

email him this....http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/6305736650/002-8433848-6532020?v=glance&n=130

[Initech]

2. That's why I usually dont loan things out to people.

It's not out of selfishness, it's out of "whether or not I will get this back". For instance, if I loan CDs out to people, I usually loan out burned copies, that way if I get them back and they're scratched I can just throw those out.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. Kill him.

Then trash his house. If you don't find the DVD, burn his house down with his worthless carcus in it.

That'll show him!

[NNadir]

7. But first drag him to Abu Gharib.

Have him photographed with Lynndie England.

[HEyHEY]

4. Get someone to break his legs

[Lisa]

5. you can always get another one (that's what's eBay is for) ...

But the moment when he asks to borrow something from you, months later, and you tell him "not unless you return my copy of Casablanca" -- the look on his face will be priceless.

(I would suggest sending back his DVD -- if he doesn't take the hint, you can rest assured that you've clinched the moral high ground on this.)

There was a woman at my workplace who was that way about CDs -- always claiming that she couldn't find it to give back. When she announced that she was moving to a different city, a bunch of us bought her a going-away-gift -- one of those CD-storage towers. She got the point.

Anyway, now you can peg that guy as someone not to lend stuff to. I'm convinced that time moves differently for some people, once they've borrowed something -- they totally lose track of the fact that they've had it for months. (There's one guy who's still got the USB cable from my digital camera ... and he's in complete denial of the fact that it's a specialty job which can't be replaced by the store. Yesterday I casually mentioned to him that I am donating the camera to the SPCA, and that they would very much like the cable for it. Nothing like using cute puppies and kittens as a collection agency! You could make up something about wanting to watch "Casablanca" this weekend on a hot date, but it sounds like your guy is immune to guilt.)

[MrSlayer]

6. Just go take it.

And stop acting like a wuss.

[petronius]

8. You need to let it go...

Obviously, he loves the movie and it loves him. It's only right that he should keep it. After all, you'll always have your memories. Put on a stiff upper lip, step back, and develop some new interests...

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

9. Petronius, I can I barrow your car?

:evilgrin:

[petronius]

11. Sure, but the plot to "What Happened to the Guy Who Didn't Return My Car"

is quite a bit different from the plot to "Casablanca"... :scared:

:)

[Left Is Write]

12. You mean...

he'll always have Paris? ;)

[hiaasenrocks]

10. I had a similar experience with a book.

New hardback, $27.95. I loaned it to someone, asked several times to get it back, just kept getting the run-around. I don't talk to them anymore. I bought another copy of the book.

Sometimes things like this aren't worth the trouble. I mean, unless it was autographed or you were hiding a lot of cash in it or it was given to you by someone special who said, "Don't ever lose this" just before they died, well...I say, let it go.