Hot take: My cookout chat about free work for friends turned super awkward.

Piper Fisher · 2026-03-05T18:16:00.34281+00:00

One side says helping pals for free builds trust, the other says it sets a bad precedent. What's your take on this?

william666mo ago

Man, this reminds me of my cousin who fixes computers.

3

alexlewis6mo ago

What if you start feeling used instead of appreciated?

2

parker_bell6mo ago

Seriously? This is the exact thing that ruins cookouts! Tbh that "trust building" side is how you end up with one friend asking you to re-tile their entire bathroom for "exposure". Alexlewis is totally right, that feeling used part creeps up on you fast. It stops being help and starts being expected free labor, and then you just get quiet and mad about it. Setting a clear line from the start saves the friendship way more than unlimited free work ever could.

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