I was at my friends earlier tonight and I was telling him how I recently put some things (games, CDs) up for sale on the SC/CC boards and eBay. Unfortunately, his stepdad overheard me and asked if I was selling any turn-based RPGs. I said no.

That was a lie.

Why would I lie when I'm looking to sell? Well, I'm sorry but I really don't want to sell to someone I know is going to abuse and beat the hell out of what I sell them. I really hate to see games being mistreated even when they aren't mine! If I saw an item that was formerly mine like that it would only compound that feeling. I remember when I lent them SO3 once and the case ended up being used as a coster; I got the game back with a few rings on the case and a few million scratches on the discs.

In a certain sense it really shouldn't matter to me, but it does. I know games and CDs are only "material things" but I like to think the people I sell things to will take care of them (like the people on this board.) But because I know what's what first hand in this case I'd honestly rather sell to a perfect stranger than to someone I know.

Anyway, am I a bad person for thinking this way?

Money is money.

I'd sell girl scout cookies to international arms dealers for an extra buck.

True. But in this case I really don't "need" the money that badly. I'm just trying to unload items I have been sitting on that I don't think I'll ever revisit.

Edit: If I was hurting for money I'd totally agree - business is business - but I'm not.

Nah.  I understand where you're coming from.  You want to sell the stuff to someone who will appreciate and cherish it like you do.  Same reason Elijah Price got pissed over that one guy wanting to buy a piece of art for an infant named Jeb.

Yeah, I think that if I were selling something online, the best is to hope it winds up in the hands of a dedicated fan. I think that's all you really can do when selling online. But you have total control over who you sell to in person, so I would exercise discretion.

If you're selling it, then that means you don't want it. And if you don't want it, then you should not care about it. If you cared about it, then you would keep it. What a nice little circle. Anyway, don't worry about the things you're selling. Read a book, watch a movie. Do something. Get laid. Anything to stop stupid thoughts.

Man, people keep shouting this advice as if it's the easiest thing to do.
Am I missing something here?

Hehe... well I personally have high standards. However, from what I've heard, if you a)have low standards and b)drink a lot of alcohol then it's really not that hard. However, I do believe that good things take effort! Anyway...

back to Ashley's interesting question: No, I think you're entitled to sell to whom you want. You are not a business, you're an individual, and you have the right to sell at your own discretion. I might call you a little eccentric for doing so, but certainly not "bad" Furthermore, wouldn't you feel a little strange selling things to your friend's father?

cheers,

-avatar!

Hmm... you know, I could say the same thing about you considering the amount of over-thought philosophical stuff you post - but I try to understand where you're coming from instead of being cynical I try to be helpful if I reply. Oh, yeah - and sex is the answer to everything - just like the military wants you to believe that money is.

I've always believed if you look hard enough you'll find someone willing enough to have sex with no strings attached. Still, when I think about it is this the way it should be? I've always thought of sex as something "special" between two ppl who care for each other, not two random people that are just in need of a "fix." Of course, I know in the real world that is a pretty candy-coated, false ideal.

Well if you've got money, you can just pay for sex. Which is why it's important not to be so picky about who you sell to.

Girls everywhere have dirty vagina...not saying that about any of the girls here, though.

I'm sorry, what were we talking about? Oh, right.

If you feel guilty to sell to a certain person, then don't.

Usually merchants retain a stance of impartialty regarding their customers...

...but on a sidenote, not saying it corresponds to this case, some merchants can get into trouble for selling certain things to certain people, such as firearms to those who are prohibited by law from possessing them, or alcohol to minors.

I say you're just being responsible.

Quoting Carl, of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, "I've never had consensual sex when there wasn't a considerable amount of money involved."

I see it this way. It's your property until you unload it. So you decide who to sell it to. Simple as that.

It's easier than beating most video games, easier than calculus, easier than subatomic physics. People think it's so difficult because you have to do something horrible if you don't have money. That horrible thing is 'talking'. That's what people did before we had television, telephones, portable wireless phones, ipods, and other various 'wonders'.