Good Samaratin Tendency

[Jumping Frog]

I am quite grateful to the good Samaritan who stopped and helped me change a tire on Sunday, I was on I-45 in Houston.

I had the wife, kids, dog and it was 100 degrees. I was unable to get the Suburban to lower the spare tire properly and he knew how to do it.

So now, I guess I am more interested in being the good Samaritan next time.

[retrieverman]

I am not saying I won't ever stop to help, but I had a guy attempt to car jack me in the late 80's and another in the mid 90's which kind of broke me from sucking eggs.

If I see a single lady or a Mom with kids, I MIGHT stop, but if it is a health looking man, ain't no way.

[speedsix]

...PRAY FOR WISDOM...then decide...a whole lotta things can go wrong, no matter how pure our motives are or good our intentions...it's good to have a heart to help people...but don't think others' hearts are so good...and watch yerself!!!

[karder]

I will generally stop if the person looks like they need help. As others have said, if it is a well populated area with shops and gas stations nearby, I generally keep going, but if services are a few miles away, I will almost always stop.

It has been my experience that when I stop, the people who are stranded are very apprehensive about me. No one ever accepts rides anymore. Not too long ago I stopped for a young lady who was stranded at night. She unrolled the window about 1/2 an inch and slipped me a phone number on a piece of paper so I could call her Dad. She must have been the only girl her age in the county without a cell phone. I placed the call and a very concerned gentleman on the other end told me he was on his way and would be there in a few minutes. I try and do what I can, and have been blessed to never have a problem so far. Our society has eroded so badly that people are more worried about accepting help than they are about being broken down. It is a shame.

[Terlingueno]

I stop for everyone who looks like they need help. Others stop for me. It's just that way down here in Terlingua

[alvins]

i am very leery of stopping to help anyone in poor areas of town.i live in a nice neighborhood surrounded by the hood. I stop for no one around here.


I have mainly stopped because of people saying they are out of gas. I offer to go get them some and then they just say i can give them the cash and they get it themselves.lol right i wasnt born yesterday.

[tallmike]

If I see a wreck happen, I will stop if I am in a position to get there safely. If I cannot stop safely I will call 911. Wrecks are something I can help with, are not staged, and it is a situation where immediate assistance can make the difference.

If I see you on the side of the road with mechanical problems it will depend on lots of things. Are my kids with me (I won't get into a situation if they are with me)? Is it on the highway (fast traffic is very dangerous)? Does it look like I can help (I can barely change my own oil, if your hood is up I am useless)?

Basically, I am less useful for a mechanical issue so I am less likely to stop.

[zero4o3]

I will almost always stop for a older person, anyone on a motorcycle, or a younger person, and by younger I mean under say 20, I will almost never stop for a couple and would definitly never stop for a group of more then 2 or for a car that was "broken down" in an area that looked like could be a good place to get ambushed, not gonna stop for a car in an area that I would be the only person around and that has a lot of places some one would be hiding waiting for me.

[baraco01]

I still help even after I got my CHL. Like everything else, helping involves risks. The only difference since I got my CHL is that I am better prepared. I hope that those who do not help at all won't be in a situation where they would be disappointed that no one stopped and helped them before they learn.

[Dragonfighter]

With almost universal cell phone usage these days, unless it's a possible life or death situation I don't get involved. I will make an exception for elderly drivers.

Gringop

I rarely stop unless I'm alone. But if they are standing up and on the cell phone I'm assuming they have help on the way.

When I stop I always pull past them to the front, two reasons:
1) I am not an emergency vehicle with warning lights and if one is going to be hit, I don't want it to be my vehicle.
2) Rapid egress should red flags go up.

I rely on intuition as well. I will more likely stop for a young or elderly person stranded in Oak Cliff than in North Dallas. This makes them a less likely target of nefarious ne'er do wells.

I have been a firefighter for 25 years and was a medic for 15. I still stop at crashes and what not...can't help it. There have been times when I turned around to help and without being to self aggrandizing, life would have been lost had I not in one instance.

Added in Edit: I have carried in my vehicle as long as I have been driving and was the first kid on my block with a CHL. Not sure if that emboldened my internal "Good Samaritan" but it doesn't hurt.

[b322da]

For a little change of pace, hopefully not off-topic:

A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?"

A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up.'

Elmo

[kjolly]

This is a good question and requires further thought. In the 100+ temperatures this summer being stranded on the side of the road could be life threatening. Each situation requires its on response. As stated it depends on the immediancy of infrastructure and the potential of it becoming a trap.

[Weg]

[quote="FastCarry"]I will and haved stopped for elderly folks, young hot women, and also to help move disabled cars.

" young hot women", you sir, just made me have the first good laugh i've had all day. Thanks

[cheezit]

Im one that basicly wont stop...
If your old enugh to be amy grandparent Ill hep ya.
if your in a parking lot and I can see you need a jump start I will do it gladly with a smile.
if your female with a little one or pergo I will help.
If your car is in my way I will offer to get it out of the road so myself and other can pass.
If I look at my phone and I have no service depending on what I see I will stop.
I have spent most of my life working on cars. the number of car/trucks on the road that should not be on there at all is amazing. I will not assist any person with a non road worthly car.