Is It His Or Mine?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-28-2005
Is It His Or Mine?
6
Thu, 10-20-2005 - 3:00pm
Not that material things are important, my concern is what's fair? He had 2 cameras before I moved in. Years later while on a vacation in Cancun, sponsored by his company. His boss offered five camera's to the group by saying "who wants a camera"? My hand went up and I walked over and retrieved it. He said that there is a competition for five categories, at the end of the trip whoever takes the best picture for a category, wins the camera. Throughout the rest of the trip, my s/o comments were, "it's a cheap camera", "its a cheap trick for John to get pictures for his vacation", and you are taking too much time with those damn pictures". I took 130 pictures to win the camera. At the end of the trip, five people submitted their best picture for each category but John ended up saying to everybody "just keep them". When we got home my s/o looked up the price of the camera and it was $200. he was impressed and decided the camera belonged to him because it came from his boss and I didn't actually win. The problem is, I am the one with the real interest in using it, spending hours enjoying the art, a new found hobby. I also took many pictures of him, he has taken one of me in a group shot at Christmas. Am I being petty thinking that I should have the camera?
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2003
Thu, 10-20-2005 - 3:55pm
Of course your not being silly. If he has two cameras then why would he want a third any way? You are absolutly right about how you worked hard to earn that camera, I think he's just jealous that you got a good camera from his boss for free. Keep it!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2003
Thu, 10-20-2005 - 11:34pm
The camera is yours as far as I am concerned. It's like if your guest won a neat prize at your company's picnic bingo game -- do you have the right to lay claim? I think not!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-28-2005
Sat, 10-22-2005 - 5:04am
Cool handle. Wow you are the first person to side with me, if only you could be my judge, jury and...well anyway , thanks!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-28-2005
Sat, 10-22-2005 - 6:00am
Thanks, I love you guys. The funny thing is that I had left him, took the camera thinking it was mine, and he charged me with theft. Now he is saying that the camera is $500. and was a Christmas gift from his boss. Have you ever witnessed someone believing their own lies? Perhaps he knew that his boss would back him on it, they're like two peas in a pod. I would hope that an employer would have nore scruples, but then again, I wish he did. You know, I could probably make a lot of money selling scruples!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-16-2003
Sat, 10-22-2005 - 11:42am

Hmmm...sounds just a bit like revenge! And they say women are scornful.
Unless it was clearly stated at the party that these cameras were for employees only, then I don't see where you are in the wrong. But in the end you need to pick your battles. Sometimes it just doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong -- it only matters that you cut all ties to move on. This situation is just giving him fuel for the fire. You have to ask yourself if it is really worth going to battle for. If it is, then go for it. If not, no one would fault you for giving it back.

Lois

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-28-2005
Tue, 10-25-2005 - 11:49am
All the employees in Cancun brought guests and it was not verbalized that the camera's were for employees only. Yes Lois, he is very vengeful, however; you are right to pick your battles and not lose focus of the main objective, thanks. It's better to lose the battle to win the war. He has also told me that he had a big problem with me giving and getting advice from this forum. "You don't know anything about these people" he claimed. He thinks it far better to gain support from someone that you know is dysfunctional, and on your side, no matter what. I feel sorry for him.