Discombobulated

Well now this is pretty interesting.  I didn't think this would be my reaction to this type of situation, but it is, and I think I find my reaction to it a bit more disturbing then anything else.

This past father's day my sister and I bought my dad an iPad.  the newest model, all the bells and whistles.  Which is quite a riot when you think about it since my dad is much more of a pencil and paper kind of guy.  I'm not surprised he mentioned he'd like one - I mean seriously, who wouldn't like one?? but I'm surprised anyone took him seriously about it.  But whatever.  She already bought it and going in on it seemed to make the most sense.

We spend the day setting it up, talking about it, schedualing a class to take him in to learn how to use it.  I was the designated chaperone because a) I'm the techy of the house and b) I get the least frustrated with him and c) his grandson wasn't around to volunteer.  I don't mind, I like spending time with my dad.  He's a big a curmudgeon as I am, and we get along well.

There was some good natured jabbering via online communication after I had left, and Monday sometime after lunch someone broke into his house and stole his iPad along with a laptop and a few other things of value.

At first I was just told it was the iPad via my sister.  She called to get the password so she could lock it.  I thought that by posting to my father's facebook page we started something.

Turns out his facebook profile isn't visible to anyone but family, so that wasn't likely.  Not to mention the full story is they took more than the iPad.

I'm ticked, and stressed about the whole thing.  But not because my parents were broken into.  Weird as that sounds.  I'm mad that he doesn't have the iPad and I can't chatter with him.  I'm also mad that it was just a matter of hours that he had it (maybe what? 24? if that??) I'm mad that people don't "play fair".  I'm sick and tired of people doing things like this (and theft in particular) to get what they want and not 'playing by the rules'

To further illustrate where I am mentally, there was a meme posted recently by someone I follow on twitter.  It was one of those stupid internet memes with some nondescript person sitting there with a quote next to them.  This one said something along the lines of the woman in line has a new iphone and a coach bag and food stamps, yup, seems legit.

Just about every reply to it was "don't judge!!".  A few people took it a little too personally, thinking it was a personal insult.  One woman explained she bought an iPhone and had an expensive bag while she had a job that could support her and after she lost her job she needed to go on assistance.

OK yes, fine.  I'm absolutely sure that happens.  but

If you are on public assistance for food, how are you affording an $80 phone bill each month??  Seems to me that there are cheaper options.  Ok, so you have a contract with them and can't break the contract with out heavy penalties.. but is that really more expensive then paying out the rest of your contract??

And even if it is, I would say that is one exception.  There are way too many people scamming the system to get free money from the government and then buying things that most of us who aren't on public assistance would have a hard time affording.  When I was a cashier at a grocery store, all too often I would see people buying food with their food stamps, then spending cash on alcohol and cigarettes and often a lot more of it then they did on food.  Or people in brand new designer clothing, etc.

And since they are spending my money (all be it a very small portion of it is mine, cause I do pay my taxes) I think I do have the right to judge if this seems fair or not. 

Yes, some cases it is fair.  Some cases it is legit.  But in a lot of cases I am betting it isn't.  and I think as a citizen who pays into the system that is designed to help people I have every right to say out loud and in general that it isn't right. I would never question an individual in particular, because a) I'm not in their shoes and b) that isn't my job.  but, I think we need to say to the people who's job it is - be aware, there is fraud out there... we are aware of it and so should you!!

It is people like this.. that scam the system or steal from others... that ruin charity for me.  I want to be generous.  I want to give to those in need, but how on earth do you determine who is in real need and who is telling the world they have cancer and do fundraising when they are perfectly healthy.  or the people who 'need presents for their kids'?

It sucks. 

and it sucks that when you say something about it, you are often called judgmental and wrong.. since when did it become a crime to call something that walks like a duck and quacks like a duck most likely to be a duck... or at least a very well trained parrot...

if I have to "play by the rules' then darn it, so should the rest of you!!

and give my dad back his iPad!