So I Did Something Kinda Dumb....

[Misty_Morning]

I was working late and ran to the corner store for some cigs.

While standing at the counter, there was a guy in front of me buying a 1 gallon gas can and 1 gallon of gas. He had run out of gas...obviously.


So it was really cold and he needed a ride back to his car. At first when he asked me I was thinking ...No fucking way! Especially cuz he was sniffling like he had been doing coke all day. But it was REALLY cold and he had walked to the store.

Then he said while pointing to the clerk, "This guy knows me, you'll be ok."

"Yeah, he's OK", was the clerks reply.

I asked the dude if he had any guns or knives or such, then said OK.

So I gave him a ride about 2 miles away. And, man, was he thankful.

And it got me to thinking. I used to stop and help folks in distress all the time. But not any more.

There's alot of evil out there.

I miss being a good samaritan. Maybe that time in the 80's when I actually had to pull a gun on a dude I gave a lift to started fucking with me. I just calmly reached into my drivers side door compartment and retrieved my gun, pointed at him as I pulled the car over and said, "I think it's time for you to get out."


But there's aot of good folks out there, too. And when they are stranded and no one helps.

I dunno.

I wish I still had faith in humanity.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I've always advocated something like a GOOD SAMARITAN CLUB where people could be checked and get a photo ID card to show to others for emergencies such as you report.

Otherwise stand in front of the video-cam so its gets a good copy of your hitch-hikers mug.

 

[tickledkitty]

I've often thought about this too, especially if I'm driving with my daughter in the car. I can't stop to help anybody or give someone a ride. I think about it, then look back at my sweet kid and think it's just not worth it.

On the other hand, what am I teaching her? To be safe, right? Super. I'm also teaching her never to help anyone. It's sad.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Sometime back in the late '90's, I stopped to give a guy a ride. It was raining, he'd just pulled his motorcycle off the freeway and was obviously in some kind of trouble. He was black, and big-- big enough to ride a Kawasaki, anyway.

I had my little son with me in my ratty old station wagon. The guy said; "How do you know I'm safe?"

I said; "Are you dangerous?" and he said; "What? Hell no!"

 

[OneLustyWench]

I've often thought about this too, especially if I'm driving with my daughter in the car. I can't stop to help anybody or give someone a ride. I think about it, then look back at my sweet kid and think it's just not worth it.

On the other hand, what am I teaching her? To be safe, right? Super. I'm also teaching her never to help anyone. It's sad.

It's OK to teach them to be safe and to want to help. I won't usually stop at night or if it's too deserted but there have been times I have been glad I stopped to help others. Just the way I was raised.

But I would never have stopped with the kids in the car. They are my first priority. If I saw something where they needed help, I've called the police to ensure they are safe. Hopefully I wasn't cussed out for that because they didn't have insurance!

I know I had the lovely experience of changing a flat tire along a 2 lane rural highway in the late spring in heels and a skirt. No one stopped and I was having problems loosening the bolts. I guess if you are seen to be capable enough to have jacked up the car, gotten the tire out then you're on your own?

At least 50 cars and trucks passed helping to spray dirty mist up with the wind. My dad was appalled but then again, he's come to my rescue several times.

 

[JagFarlane]

Its the sad truth these days, that its hard to trust anyone. You may have good intentions, but the person asking for help may not. And visa versa, thats why its dangerous to hitchhike anymore, the person that pulls you over may just see you as an easy target.

I still try to be helpful, but these days I just go on by with what reputable charities do. Honestly, I have had enough with random people asking for a handout. It especially got irritating around here, I've been asked for money by people hanging out in the parking lots of stores. Its hard to go to the local Walmart, local Wawa, hell even got hitup by someone today as I went to dropoff clothes for donation. And it gets even more aggravating, cause I'll look over and they're asking a guy who drives an obviously older ['98] sedan thats in need of some minor bodywork, and in the meantime they're driving around in a new SUV, BMW, Mustang, something like that, or have the $5K of shiny new rims on their car.

Had one time, a guy pulls up next to me to ask for gas money [I was walking] in a Lincoln Navigator that was maybe 2yrs old, with nice rims, explaining to me that he was a former Navy chief and could I help out a prior Navy guy. I just looked at him, tilted my head and replied "And I'm a Navy E-4 not making BAH...so you know that my average paycheck could only barely buy one of your rims." He looked ashamed for a moment, then pissed and drove off.

ETA: Sorry for the rant, just happens way too often in this area.

 

[Sweetheart25]

Well, dont beat yourself up for being a caring person but you also have to keep in mind that unfortunatly these days, you have to think about your own safety. It wasn't a dumb thing to do but I advise you that next time, you should be more cautious. It's terrible that the bad peope make it hard for the others who may actually need help because not everyone who is stranded is a killer.

 

[neonlyte]

Back in the day... I used to hitch lifts everywhere, and give lifts later when I had my own wheels. I've hitched from Norway back to England, England to south of Spain. Great fun and met some fantastic people on the way.

Only had trouble once, from a couple of guys who picked me and my girlfriend up in Germany, luckily a tractor emerged from the woods where they'd pulled over and the drove off.

Times have changed, back then it was the drivers you worried about. Now it's the hitch hikers. The only time in recent years that we've offered lifts is to young couples... never to a single male.