Would you loan a stranger a ladder?

[LCHIEN]

"would you loan a stranger a ladder?"

Sure, if it wasn't my ladder.

[woodturner]

That's just silly. Too many people watching Law and Order.... Crime is down-

Not sure what statistics you are seeing, but in general, the crime rate is increasing, and increasingly violent.

I don't think it is silly at all - it's just wise to be careful what information one reveals to others. The day of "openness" is long gone, even in smaller towns in America.

One of the reasons I moved to the small town where I live was the low crime rate. Biggest "crime" used to be parking tickets. Now people are getting robbed at gunpoint at the mall.

The world has changed, and those who ignore those changes are likely to be victimized.

[gjat]

I revel in my naivete! Of course I would probably loan my ladder. I consider it being neighborly. In the extremely unlikely event that 1-somebody hurt themselves and 2- somebody tried to sue me for a faulty ladder, I'd deny lending it to them and have them prove it. How could they do that?
I know most of the neighbors around (at least up to 3 or 4 houses down each side of mine). I am able to judge their character to a degree and have no worries. We all do lots of helpfull things for each other and there is quite a bit of tool loaning.
The fact you don't know your neighbor well is a problem. I would think about it but would still probably say yes. I have a couple of ladders, most that were given to me, so I wouldn't be upset if a ladder didn't come back. I NEVER loan tools I would be upset I didn't get back or was broken. I've said yes and no enough to my neighbors they understand. If it's my good hammer drill, I go and drill the holes myself. Most neighbors pay back in meat, beer, or dessert or they do a favor for us so it works out great.

[BobSch]

I'd have no problem loaning a ladder to a neighbor, but the original post referred to loaning it, through the neighbor, to a stranger, and one who should have had his own. To my way of thinking that's a whole 'nother deal.

[radhak]

I guess it'd depend on where one lives. We've have been lucky in being able to choose my our neighborhood most of the times, and reported crime-rate has been our primary parameter. Apart from a year in Pennsylvania, we have always been in very safe areas. Presently, I wouldn't hesitate to lend some of my tools (ladder, cordless-drill, hand-saw), while with the power-tools, I would offer to help out by doing the cut myself. Different type of caution.

Of course, LOML would not hand over anything from my garage to anybody without giving me a call (just as I wouldn't from the rest of the house).

Not sure what statistics you are seeing, but in general, the crime rate is increasing, and increasingly violent.

Depends on which period you compare with : of course we are worse off today when compared to the 40's or 50's, but as records show, 1993 was the most crime-ridden year in the US. Since then the trend has been downwards, taking the country as a whole. The reporting by the media, of course, is a different matter !
(Of course, again, YMMV depending on where you live.)

[LCHIEN]

In all seriousness, I would loan my ladder to a neighbor who needed her A/C repaired even if it were for the A/C repairman to use.

You gotta remember, this is Houston, and people, esp. old people, die here when the A/C goes out. I've had A/C repairmen show up lacking what I considered essential tools. But I was glad they showed up at all - its usually a weekend, and the hottest day of the year, when air conditioners break down (more than just a coincidence, you know) and a repairman of any kind can be a rare commodity. A/C repair is a seasonal business so there are many repairmen who go out on the busy days that are not fully equipped, sad to say. I'd be real thankful if some neighbor would loan them a tool to finish the job.

For old people, it can literally be a life or death matter.

An aside, your neighbor and you should get to know each other. If you're old, you should really get to know your neighbors.

[LinuxRandal]

In all seriousness, I would loan my ladder to a neighbor who needed her A/C repaired even if it were for the A/C repairman to use.

You gotta remember, this is Houston, and people, esp. old people, die here when the A/C goes out. I've had A/C repairmen show up lacking what I considered essential tools. But I was glad they showed up at all - its usually a weekend, and the hottest day of the year, when air conditioners break down (more than just a coincidence, you know) and a repairman of any kind can be a rare commodity. A/C repair is a seasonal business so there are many repairmen who go out on the busy days that are not fully equipped, sad to say. I'd be real thankful if some neighbor would loan them a tool to finish the job.

For old people, it can literally be a life or death matter.

An aside, your neighbor and you should get to know each other. If you're old, you should really get to know your neighbors.

It can, but you might also be surprised. It will really depend on the condition of the older person. A good friend of mine (extended family), had a gentlemen that he helped out. The fellow had no kids and his wife died in the 50's. By his early 90's all his friends were gone. EVERY year, my friend would try to put in a window a/c in this man's home, and every year he was chased off. The man made it 96 years without a/c and finally went downhill rather quick (Stroke then moved to a home and was there a week).

A/C is something my parents grew up without, and I have lived without for almost 20 years now. In some respects, I am probably in better condition, because of it (don't get sedentary and move more).