...guess this wasn't clear enough, but i lent this bike to a friend.
for the record, i wasn't the one who left it locked for 2 weeks.
and yes, it does seem that the people who cut the lock thought nobody would care. -onceinalifetime Location: tallahassee, florida!!!!!

Some friend. I would think you would have at least an offer by now from your friend about replacing the bike. Instead of squabbling about who is at fault here, let's take a closer look at what is to be learned from your unfortunate experience.

*don't let others use for short or long term time period your highly valued bike. They usually don't value it as much as you do and would not take even basic percautiouns about securing the bike or whatever.

*As for the theif's frame of mind, who can say? My bet is they simply don't care one way or another about your feelings or personhood. They just want the bike.

...we were volunteering in the 9th ward...

Your intentions are very nice and all. Unfortunally, volunteers are usually the ones screwed in these types of situations. You (or rather your "friend") left a nice bike for a long period of time in an, even before the disaster, a problem area where you may or may not be familiar with since you are from out of town and previously tended to be crime ridden. You have no recouse for assistance for yourself in an even of a major problem (bike theft consitutes a major problem). You have no legal or employment protection since you are not paid to do the clean-up work that other agencies are contracted to do. I think you are very lucky to come out of it with no physical danger or violation of your body (getting shot or knifed).

Our country begs it's citizens for volunteering in all types of situations that may not be in the person's best interest. The middle class sometimes tend to get caught up in well meaning good intentions-then get screwed by the people they are trying to assist, as well as even their own goverment! What's wrong with this picture?