how much would you pay for the return of your laptop?

[Johnny blaze]

I left mine under the train seat, it had important information on it, and it was worth about 650 quid.

However, the next day I got a call from this honest young lad who read my business card and said it was in safe hands. The train was a London to Manchester train, I live in London and guess where he lives!

Any way Im going to be meeting him in a cafe, for the return of it this Sunday.

What should I give him, if anything at all. what would you do? I need 50 answers (so please ask anyone else in the the same room as you and list their answer too).

I will do whatever is the most popular response.... or an average of.

The essence of this question is WHAT YOU WOULD DO IN THE SAME SITUATION. So please dont suggest giving this 24 year old guy 1000 pounds - unless you REALLY would... or then again a Mars bar unless you would.

I cannot respond to how, why, where, what, who questions. Thanks for all you help.

[andy-hughes]

Based on the value of the laptop alone, plus the bonus of getting your stored info. back, and him taking the time and trouble to meet with you, it has to be worth �100, and a nice lunch in the cafe.

[spaced]

i'd give him �50. Let him have a good weekend out for being so honest

[Ethel]

Give the chap �50 and pay for the refreshments.

I would put the money in a thank you card to save embarrassment.

I would also change all my passwords at the very first opportunity.

You are certainly very lucky.

[Ralph]

�50 and lunch I'd say, providing all's where it's supposed to be and he doesn't hand it back in a bin bag!

Do you work for MI5?

[teag1rl]

yeah, �50 and lunch I reckon. If it all works out it's very refreshing and restores faith in human race!

[rosyrussell]

Yes, �50 would be about right - if I had found it and done the same, I would have been absolutely delighted to receive that. Good idea to put it in a card. Nice to know that human nature can still reveal a good side!

[Confab]

Not sure why you need 50 answers unless your post is just for a bet. In any case do what your heart tells you - not what others think you should do.

[lady_p_gold]

Before I read any of the answers I was going to say �50

[sense4all]

I would give him 100 pounds (perhaps in vouchers if you are not happy with handing out cash) I have had a computer crash recently and it cost over six hundred pounds for a forensic computer agency in the City to retrieve the info., then clean the discs (they were replaced under warantee and the manufacturer would not let us buy the defunct discs off them.) and provide back up storage. Got to be worth it for the aggravation saved factor alone. Imagine if he had flogged it in the pub for a hundred quid ...... and an identity thief had got hold of it!

[ronnie963]

yeah �50 and lunch. what a nice guy not many would hand it back

[peterd]

I would say �50.00. I would approach with caution though. I hope he's genuine & you get yr laptop back in the condition you left it. I know there are good souls out there & I hope all goes smoothly.

[vehelpfulguy]

On the subject of leaving your laptop.

I have a little ritual I always do before I leave anywhere I have been sitting (park bench, restaurant, train or bus).

As I walk away I glance back, it is surprising how often one of our family members have left a coat or jumper over the chair, or a bag alongside it, or a purse on it.

Get into the habit of doing it.

[ajmmac]

i find this a really bizarre Q--as confab say--why do u need 50 answers--do u always seek 50 answers to help u solve problems--i mean how do u know he is he is an "honest young lad"--assuming this is all genuine are u meeting this person in manchester or london?--either way the "young lad" is aware your home may well be empty at that time and for how long--i guess your address was somewhere in ur laptop and he and possibly others could be aware of it--call me cynical but either the Q is some sort of exercise by u or if genuine i would have found some other way to retrieve my laptop--i might have asked for it to be handed in to some manchester police station on receipt of an appropriate reward--if he is that honest it should be no problem--anyway hope this counts toward ur 50 answers and best of luck

[gen2]

Is this a psychology investigation into sub-liminal suggestion? Has anyone else noticed the coincidence of 50 answers being requested and the prevalence of �50 being suggested in the majority of these answers?

[Confab]

Yes I did notice the 50 issue. I also found it odd why Johny Blaze can't respond to how, why, where, what or who questions.

So come on Johnny, pretend you're the "honest young lad", come clean and tell us the reason for your post.

Confab

[Johnny blaze]

Hello All.

Oh dear! Although I said I would not answer 'off subject matter' questions, it looks like some off you will not rest until I do so.

Also having thought about it a little, I thought it only fair to answer some of your questions since many of you took the time to answer my original posting, for which I am truly thankfull.

Hello Confab and Ajmmac..(have not forgotten about you Gen2) Here goes:

The request to have 50 answers was simply designed to keep the interest in this post and have as many answers as possible. To be honest with you I was going to say 100 replies needed, but I had a last minute change of heart. Previously when I've posted a question on AB, after about 5 responses it ceases. If you look at the number of replies for other postings in this catergory, you'll probably find that the replies cease after about 5 replies. The request for 50 should have really read "Keep posting until I say stop" so sorry about that.

Ajmmac, in response to your question regarding how I know he is honest, quite simply I dont. You have totally read far to much into that comment then was intended. The honest reference was simply in relation to the fact that he phoned me and said he has it, rather then wiping the laptop s hard drive and selling it on Ebay THATS ALL. I have no idea on this guys criminal history, or whether or not he helps little grannys across the rob without robbing them.

He was honest enough to phone me first rather then auction it first - simple. But thank you for your concern over my welfare.

.....continues BELOW

[Johnny blaze]

Thanks for staying tuned.

Regarding getting into my home, little chance of that. My wife will be

at home and my neighbor lives 1.5metres directly in front of me. He

will protect my home and wife like there his. Futhermore, he will have

to get through 2 security entry doors, and dodge 2 cctv cameras (one

being concealed), then fend off this wife of mine! If he does manage to

penetrate the security, the most expensive and needed item that I have

hear is worth 2 pounds (a 2 litre bottle of vimto). Again, thank you

for my walfare.

The correct word for you is PARANOID and yes, the word cynical is

fitting too.


Ajmmac, you know where im meeting him, otherwise you wouldnt of

suggested for him to drop it off at a Manchester police station. But

if you dont know, yes its Manchester.

Im not keen of it being in police hands - im not GARY GLITTER but there

are documents and other confidential items that I dont want any "cops"

sniffing around when there bored.


continues.....BELOW

[Johnny blaze]

Your so loyal......

In actual fact to digress a little, last year when I went to Manchester

I saw the police do things to this guy that was sickening - Im sorry

but I trust this stranger more then I trust the Manchester police.

Put it this way, if I explaned why I dont trust the Manchester police ,

the question on AB would be:

'WHO DO YOU CALL WHEN YOU SEE THE POLICE BEATING - YES RODNEY KING

STYLE- UP SOMEONE WHILST THEIR COLLEGUES JUST PRETEND NOTHINGS

HAPPENING?'
Think of the image of our troops in Iraq beating up those iraqis..thats

kinda what happened.

Any way back to this thread.

Confab and Ajmmac, NO is the answer to both of you.

Both your contributions did not count towards the 50 answers I was

seeking. In your hast to ask me How, why, what questions you still

didnt answer mine 'cept I suppose confab with 'what every my heart

says' .. Well my heart says "ask Confab and Ajmmac for their view on

how much I should give him" . Im a cheeky monkey I know.

continues below

[Johnny blaze]

Your loylty card is in the post......

Confab the only reason why I did not want to answer 'off subject

questions' is for two reasons 1) I THINK EVERYONE WOULD AGREE, THEY

HAVE A TENDENCY TO RUIN THE ORIGINAL QUESTION. See for yourself.. how

answers 13, 14, 15 have not answered my original question instead they

have focused on the conspirecy theorys.

2) Time, look at the length of this reply and the time stamp for this

posting. NEED - I - SAY - MORE !!!

Hello Gen2.
Gen 2, after I saw confabs first post, suggesting that this may be a

bet, straight away I knew where I went wrong. SEE ABOVE (post till I

say stop etc..).

Like you I spotted the coralation between the requested number of posts

and the amount people were saying.

All I can say is COMPLETLY UNINTENTIONAL COINCIDENCE!.. But you have

raised an interesting theory. Im going to put it to the test. Look out

for the same question on AB with a different number today.

ANYBODY WHO WAS KIND ENOUGH TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ON THIS THREAD

SHOULD NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION ON THE SISTER THREAD.

Sorry for all the spelling mistakes - Im typing this with one eye open

and my belly rumbling.

... Thats it I think.. if you still doubt anything o well.

Thanks for all the replies I will give the guy 50 quid.

[Johnny blaze]

****** I have no idea why the text came out like it has done, how irratating!!! sorry about that *****************