system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why do share owners lend their shares to short sellers?

This is in relation to the gamestop short squeeze & short selling in general.

Why do the original share owners offer up their shares to short sellers.  Aren't they getting the same amount in 3 months as if he just sold them himself three months down the line? Is there some sort of benefit for the original share owner I don't understand?

Bonus question: How / where do share owners list their shares for short sellers.

Maybe do a ELI4 instead of ELI5. Thanks!
gpt
When a share owner is lending a share out like this, they are being paid a fee for it.  Not a very big fee but...  That is still more than getting nothing during that same period from the share just sitting in your account.