Imponderables: Special Favors
POSTED BY: nvghostrider
UPDATED: Thursday, August 5, 2010 17:30
VIEWED: 14154
PAGE 10 of 10
Entertain you? Uh...*sings*
Good?
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I'm from a Sicilian background....favours in our culture have a "special" connotation (have you watched the Godfather or Sopranos?) My Parents migrated to Australia from Sicily in the 60's. I was taught as a very young child NEVER to accept any favours offered by certain people my Dad had grown up with. He always said "be polite and curteous to these people when we see them, but do not get involved with them" and then he'd mutter angrily about moving to this country to be free of the ignorance cycle etc etc. having said that I don't mind helping people out if they need it, I'm less open to getting help or asking for it...but am learning that sometimes meaningful friendships require you to accept favours every now and again...as long as it's an equitably reciprocal deal.
as for the moving dilema, friends have offered to help a couple of times (I don't drive). I always made sure I had a feast ready for them to say thanks, or I made them stuff or helped them move/clean etc etc.
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Quote:
Originally posted by boris:
I'm from a Sicilian background....favours in our culture have a "special" connotation (have you watched the Godfather or Sopranos?)
Sure haven't watched them. What's the special connotation?
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Mafia flavoured...Sicilain favours are like unbreakable contracts where you end up owing way more than you got and for an indefinite time frame. It would be like getting a favour from Adlei Nishka...(probably not the right spelling, but I mean the scary psychotic little bespectacled man from "Train Job" and "War stories")
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If you're nice to him (trollkeeper that is) he tends to stay away...I try to visualise patting him on the head and giving him cupcakes when he's really obnoxious...poor deprived little bugger. He kind of reminds me of the most noxious kids I've worked with over the years.
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Quote:
Originally posted by boris:
Mafia flavoured...Sicilain favours are like unbreakable contracts where you end up owing way more than you got and for an indefinite time frame. It would be like getting a favour from Adlei Nishka...(probably not the right spelling, but I mean the scary psychotic little bespectacled man from "Train Job" and "War stories")
Can't you just tell them to shove it? I mean wouldn't they then owe you another favor and then you owe them favors for that favor and it just becomes and endless cycle?
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Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
Entertain you? Uh...*sings*
Good?
It'll do...for now.
Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
Can't you just tell them to shove it? I mean wouldn't they then owe you another favor and then you owe them favors for that favor and it just becomes and endless cycle?
Which is why Boris' father said never do a favour...then you don't get into an endless cycle. :D
I personally HATE asking for favors. I'll do them no problem, but I won't ask for help unless I absolutely have to.
***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw
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OH my god No! telling a Sicilian to shove it!!!! your whole family loses face...ugh! big big mess for everyone...actually only for my Dad as the rest of us could care less what the Sicilian community thinks of us...they already think I'm a freak for going back to university in my 40's for a second round, being unmarried, not having kids. They disapproved when I left home at 19/20. As for the favour cycle...it doesn't work that way...they do you one favour you're indebted to them for the rest of your life...very unbalanced.
As Rug Bug suggests just don't ever go there.
yeah I'm not keen to ask...i just bank on the fact that if you have good friends and you need help they'll give it before you ask or else you muddle through on your own. I always offer before I'm asked
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Wow. Great items for discussion. Starting a new thread.
New Thread
http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=2&t=44683
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The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn
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