Do you REALY want help?

United States
October 21, 2008 6:44pm CST
On my way home this evening my car just quit running on the interstate. Come to find out it was the alternator that just went kapooie! But while I was sitting there waiting on the auto club to come and check it out I had 3 different people pull over and offer their help. Every time they pulled up behind me I got so nervous I thought I was going to...well let's just say it scared me to death! LOL That's terrible that you hear so many horror stories that you would rather people didn't even stop. And you might know there was no highway patrol anywhere to be found. Now if I had been speeding...well uh..not hat I speed but anyway you get the point. If your car breaks down do you really want anyone to stop and assist you?
2 people like this
9 responses
@psspurgeon1 (1109)
• United States
22 Oct 08
That's a double edged sword. With the crime rate and all I would say no. But if I was sitting there without my cell phone, I don't know what choice I would have even though that would put me in the most dangerous situation possible. I always have my 2 girls with me also so essentially I would say no... and yes... gollie, I'm not sure which would be worse. I suppose I would want to get off the interstate asap but I definitly wouldn't want to be found a month later chopped into little pieces and my kids no where to be found...I'm just glad for the cell phone...
2 people like this
• United States
22 Oct 08
I'm hearing you loud and clear! LOL While I sit there (about 15 minutes that semed like 15 hours) I imagined every thing possible! LOL And I'm not normally paranoid about things but when you're sitting there going "why didn't they even stop and offer help?" and then all of a sudden you're going "Oh crap they're stopping! It makes you think! LOL I'm glad I had my cell phone!
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
21 Oct 08
Sometimes I forget my cell phone and I am so paranoid that that will be the time that I will break down. If I didn't have that with me, I would definitely want someone to at least stop and let me use their phone to call for help. I am not a member of an auto club, so if I broke down and I was out of town, I would have to make a few calls just to get help. First I hope I would know the area code, or at least have a map of area codes with me. Then I would call information xxx-555-1212 and ask for a towing service in that area. And finally call the towing service. Hopefully if I break down I will be close to home and can just call the old man. LOL Glad it was something simple with your car, and you didn't get hurt! Have a good evening!
2 people like this
• United States
22 Oct 08
You know the funny thing is that I just took the membership to this auto club thing about 3 months ago because my son had it and talked me into becoming a member under his plan so he could get a discount an all that good stuff. But they came and looked it over and got me a tow truck and took me home. It was great. All for one low price of $18.00 per month. I should do a commercial for them. LOL
@capirani (2497)
• United States
22 Oct 08
I would not roll down my window, but I would ask them to call for help if there had been no calls already made. But since you already knew help was coming, if I were in that same position, I would just tell them thanks but I had help coming and let it go at that. It is not really safe nowdays to trust just anyone who stops to help. Even if I see someone on the side of the road who is just sitting there, I do not stop. Instead, I either call myself for help for them, or I stop at the next place that might have a phone and ask someone there to call for help for them. It isn't safe either way to stop.
1 person likes this
@capirani (2497)
• United States
23 Oct 08
There are people who stop and pretend to have a breakdown so they can create a crime against whoever stops to offer help. It is just not safe anymore to take the chance to stop. But calling 911 for them from the safety of your own car will get them help and you can be safe too. At the same time, it is such a good thing these days to have a cell phone with you for just such cases as if your own car breaks down.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 08
I know its sad that you feel that way but I would be afraid now that if I stopped to help they might panic and shoot me or something. LOL
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
22 Oct 08
That is a toss up for me. I have had people stop and help me in the past but I was much younger, so the "fear factor" was not there then. These days I am not certain if I would feel safe and secure with anyone stopping. If it was during the day and the road was fairly busy I would not mind as much. There is never an officer around when you need one. They never stop these days anyway. Its a shame but it is so true! I am glad you are safe and sound!
• United States
22 Oct 08
Age does bring a little wisdom huh? And those officers are always around when you don't need them seems.LOL
• Philippines
22 Oct 08
Hello, Fasttalker! I understand what you mean. And I agree with you that it is not always easy to trust people, strangers to be specific. However, we really can't say no to people who stop and offer help. For me, I will just blindly put my trust and let them help me. In this times of needs, I will just gamble on the thought that they might be good people anyway.
• United States
22 Oct 08
I know and it is sad that we are losing trust in people because of the stupidity of others.
• Philippines
25 Oct 08
That's true, because of others' stupidity, we lost trust in most people. That's the sad part of dealing with strangers. And even make us hesitant in making friends with other people whom we just met. Regards to you! And happy posting!
1 person likes this
@Marie5656 (336)
• United States
22 Oct 08
Tough question these days. For me, it would probably depend on the time of day, and where I was broken down. Here where I live, there are HELP trucks that patrol the highways and pull up to offer help when someone is broken down. If it is something simple, they may offer help, but if nothing else they will stay with you and your car until the auto club or some help arrives.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 08
Well luckily it was evening but still daylight so that helped. I don't know what I would have done had it been dark and I had to watch those headlights pull up to me!
@EvrWonder (3571)
• Canada
22 Oct 08
Luckily (touch wood) my car hasn't just broken down on the highway. I do regular maintenance and keep the car in top shape. However, I have had some mishaps and have been in the position to want help when the car breaks down. Fortunately I keep a cell phone handy and have a few numbers I may call for help, if I can't figure it out for myself. I carry the cell phone primarily in case I break down. I understand how one could become scared and hesitant when people offer to assist you. Especially on the highway with no patrol in sight. I would be nervous also. I would rather call for help and just wait for them to arrive. On the other hand, I am the type that if I see someone broken down on the street or highway, I will stop and ask if they need any help. All with good intentions as I would hope someone (safe) would do the same for me. I would be very careful and hesitant. i would use my street smarts if I was in such a position. Regular maintenace is the best prevention.
• United States
22 Oct 08
I agree but the unexpectd happens sometimes. I too have stopped and offered a stranded person the use of my phone or whatever I can do but now I know how they feel when I pull up beside them! LOL
• United States
22 Oct 08
thats a good question. how many horror movies have started out with some nice and normal looking person stopping and offering to help of give you a ride, and then end up killing everybody after hours of running, hiding and bleeding?! a bazillion! i think...i think i would Not want someone to stop and help me, but ONLY if id been able to call AAA or whatever and was waiting for them to get to me. id just sit tight. i guess if i didnt have a cell phone and couldnt call anybody, id probably just roll my window down a tiny bit and ask to borrow their phone loL! i dont think id be wanting to get out of the car thats for sure. sad state of affairs when you cant even trust that a true good-samaritan is out there and willing to help!!
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 08
I know you hear all of this stuff and kind of dismiss it until you're the sitting duck! LOL All three that stopped were very nice (Thank goodness) but it was a scary situation for a while.
@kedves (728)
22 Oct 08
one day many years ago my car broke down on a junction and was an unbelievable hot day. while waiting for the AA to come about 3 cars asked if i was ok and one car actually pulled over. she was a woman about same age as me and my wife at the time. she offered to take my wife and kids to her place so they can be out of the sun as it was scorching and the kids were young. with some trepidation they went with her. my wife called me several times on her cell so i know she was ok and i was very thankful for the lady for helping as she gave the kids cold drinks and let them play in the garden until my car was fixed and i collected them. Good Samaritans do exist and i was so lucky to find one that day. BUT today ... I am not sure i would be so willing. Times have changed. It is so sad that even if someone is a Samaritan and is willing to help that these days we find it too hard to trust. What a sad world we live in when kindness is taken as doubt and we are losing trust in our fellow man. what is more dangerous trusting or not trusting ? my kids could have been hurt on junction so i chose to trust and was thankful on that occasion i was right.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Oct 08
And it is sad that you have these thoughts but you really cannot afford not to be cautious anymore. There are good people out there and all of the freaks make it hard for you to trust anyone. I'm so glad you had a good experience and everything turned out ok.