Have you ever helped out a stranger?

Something like changing a flat tire, or maybe something a bit more serious like calling the police for an emergency.

exexec · 61-69, C

Yes, a number of times. Once I was visiting someone in the hospital, and when I was leaving, there was a woman outside who asked if I could lend her the money for a taxi ride home. She lived in my direction, so I gave her a ride. When we got to her house, she told me that she had not been discharged from the hospital, but had escaped! Oh great!

Adogslife · 61-69, M

I helped a poor older woman who’d lost her car in the grocery store parking lot. I saw her wandering and looking confused for over a minute. She was starting to look scared.

I walked up and introduced myself. I told her I’d watched her look for her car. I said, I’ll show you how to find it. I took her keys and beeped the horn. Then I made her try it. She found her car immediately. She smiled and thanked me.

I just hope she remembers the simple trick.

latinbutterfly · F

@Adogslife Awww. I've done that a couple of times at the college I teach at. The parking lots are huge and it's so easy for people to get lost.

Nitedoc · 51-55, M

Oh yes, many times.

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

Yes. But today so many transients who play people. A police officer said most of the homeless are actually shiftless transients who want to mooch and not work and they go where the pickings are good which is this city. She separated homeless into genuine homeless victims of circumstance and the professional transient. So many churches and volunteers and individuals donating time & goods & money to the shelters, food pantries, clothing closest, etc. that the word has gotten out and they flocked here. They’ll threaten or intimidate people who refuse to hand them money they are begging for and the police have said not to give them money because it goes for drugs & alcohol and the police have to deal with more calls. Also we have groups of Gypsies coming here begging on street corners, always holding signs saying they have to feed their children and have no job. I could tell something was off because one group wore scarves like they were Muslim but they didn’t wear them the right way, the ends were flapping and barely on their head. Muslim women know how to secure a hijab and look very neat with them.

Thevy29 · 41-45, M

I lady once left her hand bag on the bus. I got the bus driver to let me out so I could return it to her. The bus didn't wait for me.

Another time I came across a big building and some people were trying to move some tables off of a trailer into the building. I gave them a hand. The were surprised when I offered and very quiet. I think the building might have been a Mosque.

Iwillwait · M

Yes.
Helped with car batteries
Gas
Food

ronisme1 · 61-69, M

Yes, push their car a few times, use my phone, give a ride to a few times. Most were greatful

Ynotisay · M

@ronisme1 And then if there's a time down the road when you need a little help like that, you'll have it. That's how it works.

ronisme1 · 61-69, M

@Ynotisay i didnt know any of them and it was over many years. Everyone could use some help once in awhile. I have bought gas for a few, drinks and food for homeless. They were very grateful. Taught a lesson to one. When i was about 40, a teenage girl came up to me and said she needed money for gas. I saw 3 boys hanging around her car, knew it was a scam because she had unbuttoned her buttons on her blouse. I bought $10.00 worth of gas and told her i knew it was for your friends but next time have them ask me. I would have given them the $10.00 too. No need to look like a slut. She got embarrassed and thanked me and said she would remember that.
But i guess you mean karma.

SubstantialKick · 31-35, M

Back in the summer of 2017, I helped a coworker jump start his old POS Honda Civic on the side of the road at 11:30 at night (he had a bad alternator).

Venturist

I dont help people anymore. I always felt dirty for helping others.

Not sure if it was there energy or what.. but the community here is disgusting

Umile · 41-45, F

Nmh.

I think it's a saying or a Bible verse.

Evil wins when people watch bad things happen and do nothing.

Also, if im in a bad situation, I'd like to be helped.

mindlessdrifter · M

Once I helped an elderly disabled lady to her car, helped put her groceries in the trunk too. Being a caregiver has its benefits

HootyTheNightOwl

An amputee once got her foot stuck between the strap at the back of the footplate on her wheelchair and the ground... so I helped her to get her foot out.

Looking back now, I could and should have approached that differently - but I was afraid that she might injure her only remaining foot and I wanted to get it out before she did because she was trying to yank it out not to gently.

As a carer, I just went into care mode when I saw that she needed help and didn't have her own carers with her.