| Isn't it interesting that some items just simply seem | | | | sign something, they would quickly borrow one of |
| to always disappear from your pockets, your desk | | | | my pens. My office is a well-known haven for pens |
| or your surroundings with nowhere to be found? Did | | | | and I have an extensive collection of promotional |
| you misplace it, or did somebody take it? | | | | pens, high end fountain pens, designer pens, laser |
| I used to be a cigarette smoker and was notorious | | | | engraved pens - you name it. |
| for always borrowing someone's lighter and never | | | | Over the last few months I noticed that my pen |
| returning it. After casually lighting up, absent minded | | | | collection had dramatically shrunk and I had no |
| and accidentally I would slip the lighter into my own | | | | reasonable explanation of what had happened or |
| pocket. I had no idea of what I did, or that I had | | | | where the pens were going. It was very frustrating |
| just gotten one lighter richer. | | | | and my secretary was constantly refilling my pen |
| The chain of events was so miscalculated that | | | | holders with new promotional pens. |
| neither I nor the owner of the cigarette lighter would | | | | One day I stumbled upon an article about a concept |
| even reflect on what had happened. It didn't take | | | | of "Acciborrow" which is one of those new words |
| long for me to build a collection of accidentally | | | | made up from "Accidentally" and "Borrow" which is |
| "stolen" lighters. It's not as bad as it sounds - most | | | | the term used by people who are more equipped to |
| were typical disposable lighters that had little value. | | | | absent-minded slip a pen or a lighter away without |
| Over the years it became a joke between me and | | | | thinking about it. |
| my friends and they would alert me before the | | | | It turns out that in some countries, studies have |
| "theft" could occur. Since I no longer am a smoker, I | | | | been made on Acciborrowers and why they take |
| am not involuntarily stealing people's lighters. | | | | items. It is simply a psychological protective instinct |
| Now I am paying for my old sins - people are taking | | | | that kicks in when the user identifies an object they |
| my beloved office pens! | | | | feel may be useful for later use. According to the |
| As I grew older and moved into business world | | | | research I came across, the most common items to |
| environments, I noticed that I was surrounded by | | | | Acciborrow are pens, lighters, keys and bottle |
| individuals who were suffering from the same | | | | openers. |
| involuntary disorder as me. But the target of their | | | | So now you where all those things are going you |
| choice was always the pen. Whenever these | | | | can't find anymore! Your pens are being |
| individuals would step into my office, and needed to | | | | Acciborrowed by an Acciborrower! |