MetaChat - Sharing delema!

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01 March 2007

Sharing delema! A co-worker has asked to borrow my elecrtic fondue pot for a party she's going to tomorrow night. These are her friends, so I'm not going to the party. I got it for Christmas and haven't yet used it (and don't plan on using it this weekend), but I don't know if I want her to 'break it in' for me. Would you lend it to her?

post by: youngergirl44 at: 14:51 | 55 comments

That kind of depends on how your co-worker discovered that you own a fondue pot.

posted by mischief 01 March | 14:54

I wouldn't. She could buy a slow cooker for $20 at K-Mart.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 01 March | 14:55

If she's a really good friend, yeah, but if she's just a cow-orker, hell no. And I can't imagine asking someone if you can borrow something for a party they aren't invited to. That's just rude. Tell her, sorry, no, you already have plans for it that night.

posted by mygothlaundry 01 March | 14:56

Well I would, but I'm me and you're you and you gotta do what's comfortable with you.

posted by gaspode 01 March | 14:56

Oh duh, I kind of skimmed where it was just a coworker. Nah, I wouldn't.

posted by gaspode 01 March | 14:57

Based on the available information I vote "hell, no."

posted by Prospero 01 March | 14:59

I've been a party to the destruction of three fondue pots due to inexperience and mishandling. Do you know for sure that your coworker hasn't?

I'd say no.

posted by Hugh Janus 01 March | 15:00

ITS A DILEMMA TO SHARE YOUR DELEMA.

posted by quonsar 01 March | 15:03

yes, I would.

posted by small_ruminant 01 March | 15:03

Nope.

posted by initapplette 01 March | 15:06

crap, should have spell checked

I'll probably keep it for myself. Maybe this is the boost I needed to get it out and use it. Anyone have good, tested fondue recipes? :)

posted by youngergirl44 01 March | 15:10

Nope. I have said yes too many times and gotten burned.

posted by tr33hggr 01 March | 15:12

OMG YES!!!

Fondue!

This thread, along with a huge love for fondue, has inspired me to eat it tonight :-D

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 01 March | 15:13

I would probably loan it out. But only to avoid an awkward moment. Did you tell her you got a fondue pot for Christmas?

I never ask to borrow anything and I never ask for favors. It's not a part of my personality. I wouldn't ask to borrow a fondue pot. I would buy one or do without. I don't like to inconvenience anyone.

A family member would constantly ask to borrow my cooler for parties. I didn't mind loaning it, but if I needed a cooler that often I would buy one. Jesus H. Christ, buy a freakin' cooler you cheap-assed Yankee.

posted by LoriFLA 01 March | 15:13

Mmmm... fondue. It always reminds me of that Judy Blume book, Forever. Two things I remember from that book: sex and fondue.

posted by Pips 01 March | 15:18

Yeah, she knows that I got it as a Christmas gift. I could totally eat fondue tonight - the BF will be at work and I'm just going to be home studying. It'll be my own little party... The thought of a whole pot of melty cheese to myself gives me shivers down my spine. ;)

posted by youngergirl44 01 March | 15:20

sex and fondue

Is there any better combination in the world?

posted by tr33hggr 01 March | 15:22

buy a freakin' cooler you cheap-assed Yankee.

*reminds self never to borrow anything from the suthner*

posted by iconomy 01 March | 15:23

I like fondue.

On the one hand, an electric fondue pot has about two moving parts (thermostat and knob), and is virtually indestructible. More importantly, if you don't let her borrow it, she'll think you're rude or cruel or some damn thing, and you've got to work with this woman.

On the other hand, they've got fondue pots at Target for thirty bucks, and at the thrift store for next-to-nothing. Still, though, if it were me I'd probably let her borrow it. What's the worst thing that could possibly happen?

(Note--you said it was an electric fondue pot. If, on the other hand, it was one of those cast-iron Le Creuset ones, then too bad for you, toots, you can buy your own damn fondue pot.)

posted by box 01 March | 15:23

I wouldn't. 1) You're not even invited. 2) She'll break it or forget to clean it or something. 3) Don't YOU want fondu tomorrow? 4) They're really not that expensive, and I dislike cheapskates. 5) If she's an asker and you're a guesser, than she should be able to handle NO.

Really, I'm mean.

posted by muddgirl 01 March | 15:25

I wouldn't shared various things with coworkers and friends. My book covers normally end up bent, my fabrics stained and many items never make it back to me. Now I only "exchange" things with a trusted few, working it out so that if they want a book I ask for a suggestion, and loan from them. Generally, my stuff gets better treatment that way.

I'm relatively generous, but there's a reason I have the few material possessions I do. I enjoy and value them.

posted by jeremiahbritt 01 March | 15:27

I've never had fondue! But if I were in the same situation I would not loan it out. I completely understand wanting to break in new things yourself and you just work with her AND she didn't invite you to the party. It's just on that line of asking too much.

Is there such a thing as good vegan fondue? worth eating?

posted by Mrs.Pants 01 March | 15:29

Addendum: Tell her why you don't want to loan it to her: you haven't even gotten a chance to use it yourself yet. Even if you aren't planning on using it immediately, you should get first dibs. Would you ask to borrow a shirt/dress someone hasn't even gotten a chance to wear once?

posted by jeremiahbritt 01 March | 15:29

I would unless she has a history of not returning or breaking things. Like gaspode said, it's your decision.

posted by rainbaby 01 March | 15:30

iconomy, I knew that statement would come off as rude. Honestly, I was joking.

posted by LoriFLA 01 March | 15:32

electric fondue pot? does she want to borrow your hi-fi and Davy Crockett hat, too?

/feeling retro

posted by jonmc 01 March | 15:33

LoriFLA , so was I! I get called Yankee all the time by my sis, who lives in SC now and has disowned the rest of her family ;P

It's not for the co-worker's party, it's for a party she was invited to. Just to clear that point up. I would lend it. It's just a fondue pot, not a first edition book. I would lend it with the understanding that she had to have to back to me on Monday, and unless it came back looking just as good as it did when I lent it, she'd have to buy another one. If she was cool with that, why not?

But on the other hand, sounds like your mind is made up and you're dreaming of cheese.

posted by iconomy 01 March | 15:38

i've never had a proper cheese fondue either.
And i do love fondue forks.
i say you say you have plans to break it in, then fill yourself full of cheese and see if you want to lend it or fill yourself and friends with cheese all weekend.

posted by ethylene 01 March | 15:38

You could do a hot-oil fondue with veggies (or chunks of tofu or seitan, for that matter), or a vegan chocolate fondue. But I won't truck with fake cheese.

posted by box 01 March | 15:38

vegan fondue

Can vegans eat chocolate (dark chocolate)? Because chocolate fondue is absolutely to die for. There are also different fondues that use soy milk and things like mushrooms or beans.

posted by muddgirl 01 March | 15:40

I missed the "electric" up there. I've never set one of those on fire. The kind with the sterno, however, are like kindling in my hands.

posted by Hugh Janus 01 March | 15:42

Vegans can eat chocolate that hasn't been made with any animal products, yep. I love dark chocolate! I wonder how it would melt for fondue? I never thought of vegan choc fondue, with strawberries and bananas.....hmmmm.

posted by iconomy 01 March | 15:46

Yes, chocolate fondue is a must! I went to a party recently with dark chocolate fondue and it was too die for. It was served with pound cake, angel food cake, bananas, strawberries, and home-made coconut macaroons. Heavenly! I think the March issue of Bon Apetit has a chocolate fondue recipe. I would transcribe it, but I loaned it out!

*Iconomy, phew. I thought you were, but didn't want to be offensive. :-)

posted by LoriFLA 01 March | 15:48

Mrs. Pants - as far as vegan fondue, you can use the pot to heat some veg oil and use it to "fry" raw veggies and then dip them in a yummy spicy wasabi dijon or some other such dip-like substance.

Also. And. Again. Finally.

posted by tr33hggr 01 March | 15:49

She wants to bring your new fondue pot to someone else's party?!? Uh, no. That's really a bit much, coming from someone you haven't described as a friend. The fact that she even asked raises an eyebrow for me. If you haven't already told her otherwise, I nth saying you want to use it this weekend, then using it.

posted by elizard 01 March | 16:14

What elizard said.

And vegan-friendly chocolate melts just fine!

posted by Specklet 01 March | 17:03

No.

posted by matildaben 01 March | 17:09

The only time I've had proper fondue was at a restaurant in Quebec. It was delish, except for the finely sliced beef. Once cooked, it looked a bit too much like, um, well...how do I put this delicately...something he was happy to eat but I was not.

posted by jrossi4r 01 March | 17:10

I've never had fondue.

As for lending it, I would say "No, I'm sorry. I haven't used it myself yet." End of.

posted by essexjan 01 March | 17:16

Lend her a raclette machine instead. It'll confuse the hell out of her, and she'll never ask to borrow cheese-related items from you again.

posted by chrismear 01 March | 17:25

Wait, does that thing melt cheese out of the center of the giant, wax-covered wedges?!

posted by youngergirl44 01 March | 17:26

OMG my friends host a raclette evening every few months and then for weeks afterwards I dream of cheeeeeeeeeese. mmmmmmmmmmm.

posted by gaspode 01 March | 17:30

Try to get collateral, like a child or something.

posted by drezdn 01 March | 17:34

er, wheels

posted by youngergirl44 01 March | 17:42

I would lend it with the understanding that she had to have to back to me on Monday, and unless it came back looking just as good as it did when I lent it, she'd have to buy another one.

Anyone I felt I had to explicitly state this to is someone I wouldn't trust to keep that side of the bargain. What happens when she doesn't bring it back in brand-new shape or buy a new one? Do you have a big argument with your co-worker about something non-work-related? Sue her?

Just avoid the problem and don't loan her the thing.

posted by grouse 01 March | 18:21

I'm a yes. Lending things is nice. And yeah - there's a small chance you won't get it back or it'll be broken, but I wouldn't worry about it. It's better to be the sort of person that doesn't get hung up on material things than be the sort of person who has a clean fondue pot.

posted by seanyboy 01 March | 18:29

Tell her this isn't the fondue pot she's looking for and slowly wave your hand in front of you in a left-to-right motion as you say it.

posted by Hellbient 01 March | 18:39

Dude, you haven't used it yet. It's perfectly normal to want to get first dibs on ones own xmas gifts before loaning it to anyone. Just tell her that you wanted to get a chance to use it first and that's all.

posted by dabitch 01 March | 19:15

Things like this are meant to be USED, and you're not using it. And who knows when you'll get around to it? You may as well let it do what it was created to do. Otherwise, it's a paper weight. I mean, it's just THINGS. And how do you break a fondue pot? You're not loaning her your grandmother's crystal.

If you don't like your coworker that's a different story- then the point is to not make their life easier and it's not about the fondue pot at all. Q: Can I borrow your stapler? A: Sorry, that won't work for me.

posted by small_ruminant 01 March | 19:24

I've decided to break it in tonight. Whee!

posted by youngergirl44 01 March | 20:29

yum. fondue. Tell me it is strawberries and chocolate... Tell me, because I need someone to make me jealous.

posted by carmina 01 March | 21:14

lend it

posted by Wedge 01 March | 23:15

I wouldn't lend it. I've lent things and it's only ever ended in tears. Well, maybe not tears, but I've been really, really pissed off.

posted by deborah 02 March | 12:26

For sure I'd lend it, but I'd probably forget to take it in to work that day.

posted by Divine_Wino 02 March | 13:37

I've decided to break it in tonight. Whee!

Problem solved! YEay!

posted by dabitch 02 March | 15:28

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