General Discussion

A real "pay it forward" is assistance to someone in need. For example, a friend of mine was traveling in Africa. In the morning of his departure, he was asked by a causal acquaintance that he had first met and visited with at the hotel. The man (Muslim) had been robbed the night before and asked for a loan of $30 to pay for the taxi to the airport. He had asked all of the men (Muslims) in the lounge for a loan and was refused. One mocked him and said "ask the American." So, he did. My friend had just enough cash for both to share a taxi to the airport. The borrower began a discussion on making arrangements to repay by purchasing a money order in Tripoli and sending it to my friend in the US. My friend said "no, the transaction costs to send $30 are too high -- promise to help others who are need and ask only that in return they promise to help others in need. That is the meaning of "pay it forward." "Pay it forward" is an act of kindness to someone in need that is repaid to another person in need, who repays ...