World, Writing, Wealth discussion

Growing up in a different time, I didn't hesitate to pick up a hitchhiker or pull over to help a stranded motorist. With so many bad things happening in the world, do you respond to strangers with trust or mistrust? Would you help a stranger in need?

I imagine you'll get different responses from men and women. If I'm driving alone, I might pick up a female hitchhiker but not a male one. However, I wouldn't hesitate to help out a child who seemed lost, whereas I know some men would be wary of doing so.

I would help a child too, but no one else if I am alone. It is too risky out there especially with all the gun violence out there right now. You just don't know what people have on them as far as weapons. They might look "normal", but now days looks can be deceiving. I have heard or seen many things on the news here in the U.S. where someone stopped to help someone and then they got shot or they disappeared.

Here is an example: A Lyft driver a little over a week ago got killed while he was inside his car. Someone had a gun on the outside of the car and he was shot. The police are still looking for a suspect.

People are just nuts out there and as sad as it is to not help someone, it is almost a death wish to help them as you don't know if you will be walking away or not.

It is barely safe inside your own home now days too and that is why so many people have their homes wired with security.

Here is an example of that statement: A friend of mine was in her home last week when she heard a ruckus on her front porch. Her husband went outside and someone was trying to steal their patio furniture off their porch! They were loading it up in a truck! Now that is being daring when they know the owners are home and they are still trying to steal stuff!

Almost nowhere is safe from crazy people! Especially what happened in El, Paso Texas this weekend and Dayton, Ohio.

People have guns and good Samaritans are just at their mercy when they go to help them out. Unfortunately it is the sign of the times.

Funny that it's hitchhiker situs that come to mind first. Of course, I'd be wary picking up a female hitchhiker in the modern age with all possible ramifications -:)
I regret that I wasn't quick enough to offer covering a haircut of an alleged war veteran (pretended or real), who came into the barber's when I was there asking for one and claiming to have no money. Equally regret that I was lazy returning home to bring out a few bottles of water to disabled protesters and police officers, engaged in the demonstration on different sides not far away from my house.
I'm also proud of a few things, but that'd be a bit self-promotional -:)

Some circumstances make it easy to help a stranger: the person in front of you in line who is short a dollar or two; the wheelchair-bound person in the grocery store who can't reach the top shelf; the shopper whose bag breaks on the way out of the store; just holding the door for the person behind you. Not big things, but important. I no longer help strangers when no one's around, though. It's a wild world. In some ways a sad world.

Scout wrote: "Some circumstances make it easy to help a stranger: the person in front of you in line who is short a dollar or two; the wheelchair-bound person in the grocery store who can't reach the top shelf; ..."

I agree with you on that Scout! Helping someone in situations like holding a door open or helping someone in the grocery store, yes I have done that, but out on the road in other situations I would not stop to help someone as it could be a scam as no one knows if that person really needs help or if they are there to steal your car and rob you. It is a sad world when stranger is afraid of helping a stranger.

Denise wrote: "I'd say I'm more open to helping people out in Germany than I was in the U.S. I don't know why, but it seems easier and I feel confident. In the States, I would help someone if they fell, but I usu..."

Hey Denise, delighted to see you back! -:)
Small good things are not less important than supposedly 'big things', like donating buildings to hospitals or universities while doing lots of bad things elsewhere

Seen and was moved by a TV report about residents of one of the neighborhoods here raising via internet announcement over 10K USD for their neighborhood 78 years old janitor

Good story. Giving money is great and solves the immediate problem. I was recently in a Goodwill store and a guy came to the counter and asked if he could have a belt for free, as he had a job interview. They said no, so I paid for the belt. That was easy for me. I didn't have to get involved in his life and problems. That would have been too much for me. So, I'll help a stranger out in the moment, but no further. Does that make sense?

Scout wrote: "I was recently in a Goodwill store and a guy came to the counter and asked if he could have a belt for free, as he had a job interview. They said no, so I paid for the belt...."

That's cool! Not something intangible, but immediately solving a specific problem of a specific person

Bravo we should all help each other when we can.