Would you give a lift to a elderly man hitch hiking?
By littleone3
@littleone3 (2063)
March 5, 2009 11:23am CST
Today we were on our way to our favourite place for lunch, when we passed a frail looking elderly man leaning on a stick with his thumb out trying to get a lift. We did feel sorry for him but we did not stop as we have a rule to never pick up hitch hikers. As we will not take the risk, especially as we had our youngest son in the car at the time.
My partner did say that maybe he should pick him up on the way back as he felt sorry for him. But I did not agree with him on this.
He was gone by the time we were heading back anyway.
What would you have done?
Would you have felt sorry for him and give him a lift?
It's such a shame that because of the way the world is today you have to view most people with suspicion.
6 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
6 Mar 09
Even an old man with a stick can be a monster so, no, I wouldn't have picked him up. Aside from the possible danger it would have sent the wrong message to your son....that's it's okay to pick up a stranger if you feel sorry for him. It's never a good idea to take a risk like that.
@littleone3 (2063)
•
11 Mar 09
You do have to be careful and I would not want my son to get the wrong idea.
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
5 Mar 09
Me being a female and usually riding alone i just couldn't take the risk. It makes me feel bad but i just hear so many things and its the people you suspect the least that can do the most harm.
@littleone3 (2063)
•
5 Mar 09
I have to say that the thought crossed my mind as well that he could not be what he seemed.
@redhotpogo (4398)
• United States
5 Mar 09
yeah could have been a serial killer pretending to be a weak old man, knowing that someone would feel bad, and offer him a ride thinking he was harmless. and since he was gone so fast it makes me suspicious. a real old man would still be walking slowly along. unless someone picked him up. a serial killer. you could have saved the old man from a serial killer, but you just passed him by. tsk tisk. sweet dreams.
@daneg33 (1128)
• Canada
5 Mar 09
I know exactly what you mean. I have passed people countless times who were hitching a ride and then felt bad that I didn't stop and pick them up. You are right about having kids in the car and not stopping... you just can't risk your child's safety to help someone out. What sort of makes me mad though is most of the time I see people hitching while they are standing at a bus stop. So what am I? A bus? I would feel sorry for the old man, but why can't he get a taxi or something? Why do people assume that you will pick them up and give them a free ride? If someone was standing on the side of the road waving a $10 or a $20, then maybe I would stop! LOL
@littleone3 (2063)
•
5 Mar 09
LOL
Surely it is a lot safe to get a taxi than to risk it. I suppose he thought he would try his luck.
@asliah (11137)
• Philippines
15 Mar 13
for me its really hard to trust other people even if he/she showed very sad face because now a days they will use it to make crime in other people,if that will happen to me i will also not lift that person,instead i will report it to the police so that they will be the one to get him up.
