A tough decision

I loaned my GoPro 6, all the accessories, and my ski helmet to a friend so that she could get some footage of her favorite extreme sport while she was doing it this winter in hopes that it would help her get through the tough times that come with PTSD.  She did get a lot of footage and it does help her when she’s having a hard time, which I’m glad for.  The problem is that yesterday, when I went over to her place to help her clear the memory on the microSD in the GoPro, I discovered that one of the side panel doors had been broken off, exposing vital ports to moisture, dust, and all the things you want that missing door to protect against!  This is why I don’t usually loan my things to anyone.

Nobody respects my property the way I would respect theirs.  I always return people’s things that I’ve borrowed from them in better shape than they were loaned to me in.  I don’t understand why people think it’s acceptable to wreck my stuff if I’m gracious enough to allow them to borrow it!  It really makes me angry, and more than anything, disappoints me.  It definitely doesn’t restore any faith in humanity that I might have imagined on a particularly good day.  My doctor told me something very wise that he’s discovered over the last 65 years of his life, and it is simply his policy:  “I don’t loan anybody anything that I wouldn’t be willing to just give to them.”  This advice was given long after I loaned out my GoPro 6.

So now I have to deal with this situation.  The way I’m going to handle it is as follows:  I’m going to ask some questions.  How did it get broken?  Who broke it?  Do you still have the panel door that got broken off?  Where is it?  Then, after I get a little more information about how this happened, exactly, I’m going to offer two options:  either she can pay me for the whole package – GoPro 6, accessories, and ski helmet – or she can give it all back to me right now.  I already know that this isn’t going to be an easy situation to deal with because that GoPro was a real life-changer for her in terms of dealing with her illness.  However, it was a loan, and she did damage my property (however it happened).  If she wants to continue to use this equipment, one of two things has to happen:  either I give her the whole shebang, or she pays me for the whole shebang – and it’s hers to do with as she pleases.

I don’t know what I’m going to do with a broken GoPro.  I’m a rock climber.  Dust, dirt, rocks, debris, moisture, and all kinds of crud are going to get into those ports that are exposed and potentially (and probably) ruin the camera.  I’m really not impressed with the fact that my friend broke my camera, but I’m at a loss as to how to deal with it.  The outcomes could be many and varied – anything from anger to tears to payment to a lost friendship and a broken GoPro in my possession.

Any suggestions?