What would you do?

[V]

Here's the backstory:

My mom has a brother that's totally screwed up. He's homeless, and there's just something in his head that won't let him change the situation. My mom has gotten him countless jobs. He's never showed up to work for more than 1 week straight. My uncle bought him a house. He just walked away from it after a couple of months. He does drugs, and gets in trouble from time to time.

Anyways, he got the crap beat out of him apparently a little while ago, and while at the hospital one of the nurses suggested he sign a victim's abuse form or some such thing. Turns out he's just received a cheque for $36k. Odd stuff. Now that he has this money you'd think it would be a good chance for him to start to turn his life around, but nope. He's giving over 2/3s of it away, $500 of which he's giving to us to put in a fund for our daughter, of whom he's never met (he was in jail last Christmas, Christmas before we were in BC, that's about the only time I would normally see him). I can guess what he'll spend the other third on.

Do you take the money? I've already made up my mind (took about 0.02 seconds), but I'm curious what others have to say on here.

[Phanuthier]

That is quote a situation

Tough call, I'd have no idea to be honest. I'd be leaning 51% towards "no" for pride's sake, mostly. The other 49% of me realizes he chooses to live that life style, and its a nice guesture.

[Gravitykillr]

Take it, it's going to a good cause., think of the effect that money is going to have on your daughter don't worry so much about where it came from.

[flames_fan13]

Originally Posted by Dominicwasalreadytaken

Here's the backstory:

My mom has a brother that's totally screwed up. He's homeless, and there's just something in his head that won't let him change the situation. My mom has gotten him countless jobs. He's never showed up to work for more than 1 week straight. My uncle bought him a house. He just walked away from it after a couple of months. He does drugs, and gets in trouble from time to time.

Anyways, he got the crap beat out of him apparently a little while ago, and while at the hospital one of the nurses suggested he sign a victim's abuse form or some such thing. Turns out he's just received a cheque for $36k. Odd stuff. Now that he has this money you'd think it would be a good chance for him to start to turn his life around, but nope. He's giving over 2/3s of it away, $500 of which he's giving to us to put in a fund for our daughter, of whom he's never met (he was in jail last Christmas, Christmas before we were in BC, that's about the only time I would normally see him). I can guess what he'll spend the other third on.

Do you take the money? I've already made up my mind (took about 0.02 seconds), but I'm curious what others have to say on here.

Was the 36K from the government? or was it money for dealing? cause if it was from the goverment then i'd probably take the money. It might be his way of paying ur Mom back for what they did for him even if it's not too much. And having money for ur daughter's tuition can't be a bad thing.

[V]

No, the money is legit (if my uncle can be believed).

All part of filling out that victim's abuse form.

[Gravitykillr]

Originally Posted by Dominicwasalreadytaken

No, the money is legit (if my uncle can be believed).

All part of filling out that victim's abuse form.

Then as I said above take it, your daughter gets some extra $$$ for schooling when she gets older, and you can say atleast 1 good thing (there maybe others but alteast one) about your uncle when your daughter gets old enough to ask about family relatives.

[flames_fan13]

Originally Posted by Dominicwasalreadytaken

No, the money is legit (if my uncle can be believed).

All part of filling out that victim's abuse form.

Then I definitely take the money, Like the previous poster said atleast this can give u a good memory for ur daughter about her great uncle.

[CarlW]

Of course you take the money, even though he's messed up it is still a gift from him to the future of a member of his family, it is him showing that he cares even though he can't control his own actions. Not to mention think of where that money would be used for if you didn't take it.

[jamesteterenko]

It sounds like he would waste the money if he had it. He probably knows this himself. By accepting this money, you are actually helping him. Not only will it not be used on drugs, he will feel good that he got to help a family member. As long as he got the money from a legal source, there is no question that I would accept it.

I would probably put the money into an account that would not be mixed with other money. Once it gets handed to your daughter, you can say that the entire amount came from your uncle. This will give your daughter a very positive memory about him.

James.

[HOZ]

Your Mom has a brother....is this a mistype? Because that would make him your uncle's brother and hence your uncle.

WHY would you come on an internet message board to ask, what I would assume to be, this very personal question? Don't trust your family???

[V]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Your Mom has a brother....is this a mistype? Because that would make him your uncle's brother and hence your uncle.

WHY would you come on an internet message board to ask, what I would assume to be, this very personal question? Don't trust your family???

He's not family. Maybe he was at one point, but I feel as much empathy for this guy as any other total stranger. I've seen him about 4 times in the last 10 years.

And I came on here because I was curious. I had already made up my mind before I posted on here.

FTR, I said no to the money. I don't need this guy thinking he did me a favour, and then one day when he's down in the dumps again, comes knocking on my door thinking I'm in his pocket. With most people I'd accept a gift, but a guy like this? No thanks. So my mom's taking the money and putting it in an account along with the money he gave her and her parents so there will be a few thousand left waiting for him after he blows what he's got.

Besides, it's 500 bucks. It would've been a tougher decision if it was 5 grand.

[jolinar of malkshor]

I would take the money and put it in an RESP for your daughter. At least he is thinking about her. (As long as he doesn't come back one day and ask for the money back).

Not to de-rail your thread, but what a waste of tax payers dollars.......only in BC.

[V]

He lives in Edmonton.

[Azure]

I wouldn't have taken the money either. For the exact reason you already stated Dominic.