# Turkey Talk **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 24, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478 "2014-11-24T13:05:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cush](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@cush](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cush)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/1 "2014-11-24T13:05:49Z")
Just need a reality check. I got a free turkey, didn’t need it, so offered it to a friend. Friend asked if I could keep it in my freezer until they could pick it up. No problem, I have a standalone freezer. Friend calls on Friday and asks if I could take the turkey out of the freezer and move it to my fridge to start thawing on Saturday. I do not have a big fridge, and mine is full up with my own stuff. I ask if friend would like me to cook it for them as well. Friend gets pissed and tells me they will just buy a turkey. So I admit my response may have been rude … but was friend presumptuous to ask in the first place? I felt imposed upon. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/2 "2014-11-24T13:21:18Z")
No good deed goes unpunished. You may have been snide, but your friend should have come and got the turkey. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/3 "2014-11-24T13:23:05Z")
> [@cush](#): > > I felt imposed upon. Yeah, but that’s what friends are for. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/4 "2014-11-24T13:27:52Z")
That’s nothing compared to what I would have said, it would have involved at least one sexual innuendo. I think you held back _ **but** _ you have to know your audience. My friends and I joke with each other all the time but I’d never say something like that to someone I didn’t feel comfortable with. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/5 "2014-11-24T13:28:46Z")
It wasn’t a preposterous request on their part, since they couldn’t know you didn’t have space, but nor was your answer that offensive. Maybe there is a food bank or church that would be interested in getting your turkey into the hands of someone that will appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/6 "2014-11-24T14:05:36Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > It wasn’t a preposterous request on their part, since they couldn’t know you didn’t have space, but nor was your answer that offensive. Maybe there is a food bank or church that would be interested in getting your turkey into the hands of someone that will appreciate it. I don’t know very many people who would be likely to have enough free space in their fridge for a turkey at a moments notice. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/7 "2014-11-24T14:42:59Z")
We have a pretty big fridge, and I’d have to move stuff around and take stuff like soda out to make room for a whole bird. Freezer… fuhgedaboudit. Which is one reason, and the least, I don’t buy frozen birds… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/8 "2014-11-24T14:50:14Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > No good deed goes unpunished. Sadly, I am finding this to be more and more true as I get older. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/9 "2014-11-24T15:02:52Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I don’t know very many people who would be likely to have enough free space in their fridge for a turkey at a moments notice. I don’t think it’s so rare that the idea is too preposterous to even ask, and thus offensive. I have a mostly-empty garage refrigerator, though I don’t want to thaw anyone’s turkey in it and have to clean up any dripped fluids. I’d ask if they’d like me to cook it, bring it and some homemade side dishes to their house, mince it into tiny bits to save them the trouble of chewing, and fork it into their mouths for them. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/10 "2014-11-24T15:21:54Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I don’t know very many people who would be likely to have enough free space in their fridge for a turkey at a moments notice. This for sure. The friend was not being the least bit considerate of the OP, otherwise this would have occurred to them. The rational response would be to point out the impracticality of this request. I have seen better people than myself react like this in similar situations, but I probably would have told the friend to stuff it. The OP has every right to be offended. I suspect the friend has had second thoughts by now about how reasonable their request was. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/11 "2014-11-24T15:30:57Z")
“I’d love to accommodate, but it won’t fit in my very full fridge, sorry!” May have been a better way to go. Keep in mind for next time, maybe. Take comfort knowing if he tries to moan and complain about it he’ll not get much sympathy I should think. Plus he’ll definitely being regretting it when he’s laying down his cash for a bird. Maybe give him some time to realize his error, and possibly express regret to you about his requests. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/12 "2014-11-24T15:40:18Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I don’t know very many people who would be likely to have enough free space in their fridge for a turkey at a moments notice. Certainly, but a friend would _find_ room by clearing out old stuff, taking non-perishables out, maybe moving some things to a cooler with ice. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/13 "2014-11-24T16:08:08Z")
Its a space issue & neither of your fault. Best intentions. I hope you two can eventually mend your differences. “Funny, that turkey never reacted when I told it to get stuffed…” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/14 "2014-11-24T16:08:24Z")
Next time, leave it thawing out in the backyard and give them a spoiled turkey? If they think it smells funny, just lie to them and tell them you had stinky tofu in your fridge at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/15 "2014-11-24T16:13:25Z")
A good friend would laugh this off. If the person is really offended then time to get a better set of friends. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/16 "2014-11-24T16:26:44Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > I don’t want to thaw anyone’s turkey in it and have to clean up any dripped fluids. Most people would put a pan under it to catch said fluids. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/17 "2014-11-24T16:45:13Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Certainly, but a friend would _find_ room by clearing out old stuff, taking non-perishables out, maybe moving some things to a cooler with ice. Actually, a friend would do that in his own fridge and say, “Thanks, it was very nice of you to give us this free turkey.” Finding room in the fridge for the turkey to thaw is a perennial pain in the ass, and the fact that it’s a pain in the ass is presumably why the OP was asked to do it. Real friends don’t transfer their own pains in the ass to other people who are already doing something nice for them. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/18 "2014-11-24T16:55:22Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Most people would put a pan under it to catch said fluids. I don’t have a huge pan like that, so I’d probably use a trash bag. Then that trash bag would probably leak and I’d have to scrub out the fridge. I’d just rather not give myself a bunch of extra chores to do as part of the cost of giving someone something, especially when delivering a snarky reply is quick and free! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/19 "2014-11-24T17:00:49Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Actually, a friend would do that in his own fridge and say, “Thanks, it was very nice of you to give us this free turkey.” Finding room in the fridge for the turkey to thaw is a perennial pain in the ass, and the fact that it’s a pain in the ass is presumably why the OP was asked to do it. Real friends don’t transfer their own pains in the ass to other people who are already doing something nice for them. Maybe it’s just me and my friends, but if a friend asks me to do something that is obviously a huge pain in the ass, I assume it is impossible for them to do it themselves. I’ve done huge favors for friends, but I’ve also called a friend at 3 am, told them where I was, and asked that they come get me no questions asked. Cause, friends. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478/20 "2014-11-24T17:37:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve done huge favors for friends, but I’ve also called a friend at 3 am, told them where I was, and asked that they come get me no questions asked. > > Cause, friends. Oh, and bring a tarp and some shovels… cause, bodies. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turkey-talk/705478.md?page=2)