Volunteering has its benefits, but usually being paid isn’t one of them.

Imagine volunteering for a gig, and your friend chooses not to go because he wouldn’t get paid. Then you get there and find out you actually are getting paid. Would you let your friend know right away, or would you keep the news to yourself since it’s too late for your friend to volunteer anyway?

This man found himself in this situation, and his friend ended up getting really mad at him.

Read the full story below to find out all the details.

AITA for not telling my friend that the “volunteer gig” he flaked on was actually paid?

I (23M) and my friend Ryan (23M) are both in engineering.

Last month, our department posted a call for volunteers. It was to help run logistics at a local tech conference.

It sounded like a good networking opportunity, so I signed up.

Ryan didn’t want to volunteer his time for free.

I told Ryan about it, too.

He was like, “Eh, not worth the time, unless they’re paying.”

Fair enough.

This man found out the gig was paid.

I showed up the first day, and to my surprise, they handed me a badge and free food vouchers, and they said we’d be getting a “small stipend” at the end.

It was not huge, but still, it was $300 for two days.

Not bad at all.

He didn’t tell Ryan about it.

Ryan texted me while I was there like, “Yo, how’s it going?”

And I just said, “Not bad, chill so far.”

I didn’t mention the money because I didn’t know how long I’d be staying, and he already decided it wasn’t worth it.

Ryan found out about it after the event.

Anyway, after the event, I got the stipend, and I posted a picture of the staff group on IG.

Ryan saw it and asked, “Wait… you got paid?”

I just said, “Yeah, it ended up being paid after all.”

He flipped and said I was shady for not telling him. He said he would’ve come if he knew, and he said that I “knew” he needed the cash.

Ryan said he deliberately made him miss out.

He told a few people I “set him up” to miss out on it.

But he made his call.

I didn’t know it was paid either at first, and I never lied to him.

Ryan was probably under the false impression that OP knew it was paid before he got there.

Let’s see what others have to say about this on Reddit.

This user shares their personal thoughts.

Short and simple.

This person gives their honest opinion.

Here’s another valid point.

And lastly, it’s not your job, says this person.

Volunteering is the gift that keeps on giving.

If you thought that was an interesting story, check this one out about a man who created a points system for his inheritance, and a family friend ends up getting almost all of it.