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Old 14 March 2019, 04:54 PM   #1
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Locker Room Conversation

This a bit lengthy but I thought some here my get a kick out of the story.

Yesterday as I was getting dressed after my swim at the health club there was a young lad about 10 years of age with his father at the locker a couple down from mine. He was putting on his gold colored watch and locked over at me asking if I liked his watch. Telling me his mother gave it to him and that it was solid gold. I could tell by looking at it that it was likely anodized aluminum. He asked, "why did she give it to me?" To this I replied that she likely loves him and wants him to be on time. The fathers was laying back and watching the interaction.

I was straight forward the the boy telling him that it looked more like anodized aluminum. He asked how I could tell? I said, well weight is one way. I was wearing the Platona which I wear while swimming and took it off and asked him to feel the difference in weight. He was stunned saying that feels like it weighs a pound (not too far off). He said that his watch needs new batteries. To this I replied that it's still right twice a day. He said, "true, I've set it for 9:30. I need to go to the mall for a new batteries."

I'd like to think that I helped along a budding WIS with open discussion and frank observation. It really was a pleasure to see a young lad as interested in watches as he was. His father also seemed to appreciate my having taken the time to talk with his son.

I'm a bit reminded of a school trip we made to Wall Street when I went to school in Manhattan. We went into a bank; I must have been in third grade. They let us all take turns holding a million dollars. I doubt that opportunity would occur today. It did give me an appreciation of wealth however.
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Old 14 March 2019, 05:37 PM   #2
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That is awesome. It’s amazing, the impression that you can leave on a young person.
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Old 14 March 2019, 07:05 PM   #3
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So... you told the boy his mother lied to him. Did you tell him there's no Santa Claus too?

Sometimes it's better to let kids believe something not perfectly true. I don't see the value in telling him his watch isn't what his mother wanted him to believe it is.
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Old 14 March 2019, 07:13 PM   #4
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Did you tell him there's no Santa Claus too?
Wait, . . . . what!?
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Old 14 March 2019, 07:20 PM   #5
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Wait, . . . . what!?
The Easter Bunny is real, though.
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Old 14 March 2019, 07:22 PM   #6
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So... you told the boy his mother lied to him. Did you tell him there's no Santa Claus too?

Sometimes it's better to let kids believe something not perfectly true. I don't see the value in telling him his watch isn't what his mother wanted him to believe it is.
Where did I say he said his mother told him it was gold; where did I say his mother lied? The only comment about his mother was that she gave him the watch because she loved him and wanted him to be on time.

It was clear he was pretending to me and based upon his father's reactions that was the case; there was no issue. He also got a bit of education on density of materials in a hands on way.
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Old 14 March 2019, 07:33 PM   #7
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I liked the story
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Old 14 March 2019, 07:35 PM   #8
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The Easter Bunny is real, though.
Thank FSM!
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Old 14 March 2019, 07:48 PM   #9
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Great story. I got into watches at that young age too.


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Old 14 March 2019, 09:17 PM   #10
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I like the story and my experience leads me to believe that many times interactions with others carries more weight than your parents.
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Old 14 March 2019, 09:25 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdullah71601 View Post
So... you told the boy his mother lied to him. Did you tell him there's no Santa Claus too?

Sometimes it's better to let kids believe something not perfectly true. I don't see the value in telling him his watch isn't what his mother wanted him to believe it is.
I have to agree.
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Old 14 March 2019, 09:39 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdullah71601 View Post
So... you told the boy his mother lied to him. Did you tell him there's no Santa Claus too?

Sometimes it's better to let kids believe something not perfectly true. I don't see the value in telling him his watch isn't what his mother wanted him to believe it is.
I cringed when I first read it As this was my take as well.

Quote:
Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR View Post
Where did I say he said his mother told him it was gold; where did I say his mother lied? The only comment about his mother was that she gave him the watch because she loved him and wanted him to be on time.

It was clear he was pretending to me and based upon his father's reactions that was the case; there was no issue. He also got a bit of education on density of materials in a hands on way.
Glad the father’s reaction was what it was ... could have turned out differently.
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Old 14 March 2019, 10:05 PM   #13
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Nice story; I think you handled the young man with dignity.
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Old 14 March 2019, 10:07 PM   #14
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I have to agree.
I had to go back and read it again.

As I too had the same thoughts about it.
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Old 14 March 2019, 11:06 PM   #15
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Thanks for sharing this story.
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Old 14 March 2019, 11:07 PM   #16
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Nice story.
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Old 15 March 2019, 12:33 AM   #17
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Calm down guys it was just locker room talk
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Old 15 March 2019, 01:46 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR View Post
This a bit lengthy but I thought some here my get a kick out of the story.

Yesterday as I was getting dressed after my swim at the health club there was a young lad about 10 years of age with his father at the locker a couple down from mine. He was putting on his gold colored watch and locked over at me asking if I liked his watch. Telling me his mother gave it to him and that it was solid gold. I could tell by looking at it that it was likely anodized aluminum. He asked, "why did she give it to me?" To this I replied that she likely loves him and wants him to be on time. The fathers was laying back and watching the interaction.

I was straight forward the the boy telling him that it looked more like anodized aluminum. He asked how I could tell? I said, well weight is one way. I was wearing the Platona which I wear while swimming and took it off and asked him to feel the difference in weight. He was stunned saying that feels like it weighs a pound (not too far off). He said that his watch needs new batteries. To this I replied that it's still right twice a day. He said, "true, I've set it for 9:30. I need to go to the mall for a new batteries."

I'd like to think that I helped along a budding WIS with open discussion and frank observation. It really was a pleasure to see a young lad as interested in watches as he was. His father also seemed to appreciate my having taken the time to talk with his son.

I'm a bit reminded of a school trip we made to Wall Street when I went to school in Manhattan. We went into a bank; I must have been in third grade. They let us all take turns holding a million dollars. I doubt that opportunity would occur today. It did give me an appreciation of wealth however.
Let me guess -- you never had kids?
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Old 15 March 2019, 03:29 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdullah71601 View Post
So... you told the boy his mother lied to him. Did you tell him there's no Santa Claus too?

Sometimes it's better to let kids believe something not perfectly true. I don't see the value in telling him his watch isn't what his mother wanted him to believe it is.
Of course. Quite cringe worthy.
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Old 15 March 2019, 03:40 AM   #20
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Sorry, I tried as hard as I could to see this in a positive light, but I can't. He didn't ask to try on (or even mention) your watch. You handed your watch to a child... to prove to him that his own watch wasn't actually solid gold. Then you compare holding your watch to holding a million dollars cash. A million dollars a few decades ago could be worth 100 Platonas today.

Further, someone who is able to buy a Platona should not be returning a years-old kayak to Costco.
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Old 15 March 2019, 04:28 AM   #21
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oh boy did this take a turn
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Old 15 March 2019, 04:41 AM   #22
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oh boy did this take a turn
I'm enjoying this thread
Can't say what the OP did is either right or wrong - very much situational and dependent on a lot of factors.

Pretty sure it didn't change the boy's life, one way or another
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Old 15 March 2019, 05:56 AM   #23
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oh boy did this take a turn


At least a dropped watch wasn’t in the equation! Now that would have been awkward.
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Old 15 March 2019, 06:49 AM   #24
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At least a dropped watch wasn’t in the equation! Now that would have been awkward.
i spit out my vodka soda at this one.

damn you, now i need to clean up my keyboard.
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Old 15 March 2019, 07:12 AM   #25
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Nice story and I'm sure that the boy enjoyed the attention.

I don't see any reason for anyone to be so judgemental over such an innocent story.
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Old 15 March 2019, 07:49 AM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Abdullah71601 View Post
So... you told the boy his mother lied to him. Did you tell him there's no Santa Claus too?

Sometimes it's better to let kids believe something not perfectly true. I don't see the value in telling him his watch isn't what his mother wanted him to believe it is.
Must admit, this was my exact thought as I read the story as well. If he was 20, then burst his bubble....but 10, let the kid dream. I have a different feel for this interaction than some I suppose.
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Old 15 March 2019, 08:01 AM   #27
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Why did I immediately think of this movie scene?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfgO90yGusI
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Old 15 March 2019, 08:03 AM   #28
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I was straight forward the the boy telling him that it looked more like anodized aluminum.
My favourite part. You sir, are a class act.
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Old 15 March 2019, 08:59 AM   #29
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I was straight forward the the boy telling him that it looked more like anodized aluminum.
And then I told him his father looked like a 98 pound weakling and his mother was ugly.



Just kidding...
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Old 15 March 2019, 09:09 AM   #30
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Damn what a dream killer.

I am surprised the dad didn't tell you to pound sand.
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