Kindness of Strangers - More true in rural areas?

[MoKelly]

I think some of it may have to do with riding a Harley as well. I have been on the side of the road wrenching on my shovelhead and got too much help. I used to have many small issues with it that were easy roadside fixes. (young,broke). I would spend more time telling people I was ok than wrenching.

Funny that shifters were mentioned. I lost my lever twice before finally welding it on. If anyone has ever rode a rigid mount bike they know why I lost them. Anyway I was on the side of the road waiting for my friend who was looking for my lost shift lever on the road just traveled. Well this old farmer pulled up to check on me. Told him my woes and he pulled out some vice grips. I clamped them on and decided it would work. He said "yup, that'll do her. Probably last the life of the motor" I tries to pay him but he wouldn't take any money. Just said pass it on son.

Good story. I will say rural folks tend to be more resourceful and innovative than city folks.

MoKelly

 

[GGB]

Pay it forward.....

Makes you feel better about life in general. And like some others, I also tend to think there is a karma of some sort or another. I've been helped by folks who probably didn't have a pot to pee in, who wouldn't take a dime for their help. I've tried when I can to do the same for someone else.

Once in awhile, I get reminded by someone about some of the simpliest things I've done for others that I've totally forgotten about, probaly because I like to think that what I did is what anyone else would have done in that situation. But the person you helped probably doesn't forget, and may be more likely try to help someone else when they have the chance.

 

[AMR]

I have had more kindness shown to me in urban than in rural areas. My folks live way up in Maine and candidly some of the rural folks haven't been so nice up there, plus there is more theft and mischieve than I would have imagined. Now here are a couple urban examples.

I had a flat the other day on my truck and I pulled into, of all places, a pretty urban Hooters. So, I'm out there in the parking lot beating the rim of my tire with everything I can find and nothing, it ain't moving. Some 20 something appears out of nowhere, slides under my truck (on a jack, crazy) kicks the thing senseless, gets it free, and then just about runs away as I was trying to hand him a $20.

We go to baseball games at Fenway in Boston a lot, I can't tell you how many strangers have done stuff for us and the kids. Complete strangers have handed them baseballs, hats, bought them ice cream, given up seats on the train, etc. At one game our 3 yo daughter fell asleep and we passed her down the aisle for folks to put her in her stroller.

I agree, people are people everywhere, but sometimes I find more tolerance and acceptance in urban areas, folks will help you no matter who you are, but sometimes in rural areas I find that when you don't fit, you don't fit period.

 

[creekbend]

I think that people living in the Country or rural areas in this Nation exhibit more kindness toward others. Perhaps this is due to the relatively lower population numbers. The County that I lived and worked in Florida had a population of 400,000 +. There were many kind people there, but not as many as where we live now. A few examples: Whether you go to the main grocery store chain, country stores, post office, hardware store, tire store, garages, banks, credit union, or other businesses here, you are treated with "Genuine" kindness. Around 5 years ago, while I was still working in Florida and my Wife and Son were living here, one of my neighbors offered me the use of one of his trucks to use instead of taking the Greyhound. He knew that I was going to be gone, up wards to a year, but he handed me the keys anyway. I turned him down, and he offered to help my Family with whatever they needed in my absence. I would like to add one more example, and please don't misconstrue my entry, because I am not expecting any praise or accolades. Two days ago, while returning home from the grocery store, there was a Ford Ranger pulled to the side of the road with the door open and the driver sitting in the vehicle. I turned around and asked the driver if help was on the way. He advised me that he couldn't reach his wife on the cell phone because of his location between the hilly area. I told him to hop in and I would take him home. He lived in Mebane - 40+ miles round trip. I didn't think twice. After calling my Wife, and advising her that I would be late getting home, I made sure that he got back home. He was 78 years old, had a bum leg, and was originally on his way to the recycling center with a full load of scrap metal. I guarantee you that if, in the future he found someone broke down, he would help them also. That seems to be the way, in general, that "Country Folks" treat their fellow man. I really think that this is largely due to the way that their parents raised them. It was not my intention to be bias in any way, by posting this. I was only giving examples and my thoughts concerning the issue. Thanks for reading.

 

[Western]

To me it's pretty obvious, times have changed and for good reason.

When I was a kid, hardly anyone locked their house, you could go to the grocery store and half the cars in the lot had the keys in them. You could even go to school and not be a victim of a shooting.

It pays to be cautious, but help when you can. I can still see a bit of the old hospitality in rural areas, but also consider allot of people that move out to the country are coming from a metro-mess and conditioned likewise, so it's no surprise to me if they are overly cautious.

Things sure have changed as you guys have pointed out, like in the 60's when i was in school, all you needed to protect yourself from a Nuclear explosion was a small desk

 

[BoFuller]

I had a flat on my tractor a few weeks ago and when I backed it out of the container to air it up, I rolled it off the bead. I tried soapy water but I couldn't get it to seal. Went into town to buy some bead sealer but they didn't carry any. When I tried the garage next door, the guy handed me his can and said to just bring it back when I was done. I took it back the next day and thanked him, and then I ordered two cans online; one for me, and I took one and gave it to him. He looked surprised, but I told him that I would be hard-pressed to find somebody in Phoenix that would do that. It's not always the case, but I think it is more friendly in the country. :thumbsup:

 

[Larry Caldwell]

There are good people and bad people wherever you go.

 

[Artisan]

I ride a 2005 FLTRI, all shift linkages seem to eventually break. All stealers
seem to want big money to fix them, all owners should buy 2- CW-5S rod end
fittings from Aurora Bearing Co and stuff them in your toolkit. With JUST those
2 fittings, using all other stock nuts, bolts, rod etc, you will end up w/ a
lifetime linkage, all for about 12 bux. Looks store bought too!

Asking to go inside a strangers home rarely will work, I might suggest you ask
them to call this or that person / services for you... Imagine a 6-3 deuce and a thrid trenchcoated man walks up to your place and asks to use the phone! NOPE! Now imagine the same man asking you to call "X" for him? I think you will get a different responce...

 

[phiferpharm]

In many ways, having just left Miami after 50 years, I would have to say yes, or at least my perception of folks is different now. Frankly, it is partially due to language barriers in many cases in Miami. It is not unusual to get into certain areas where you just can't communicate unless you are bilingual.

I guess I should have learned a second language, but I didn't and in some ways, I never felt like I should have to. On the other hand, I must be honest and say I may be the one who is poorer for not doing so.

 

[yankeerider]

You might find that the helpfulness of individual folks varies depending on their particular situation that day. We live in a rural area on a state highway, so several times a year someone will have car trouble in the vicinity of our place. I have helped many people over the years, giving them gas, helping with a flat tire, and once making up a primary wire to bypass the ignition switch on a guy's panhead when it quit in front of our place. My wife, though, gets very nervous about strangers, and fears bad things happening. That means my helpfulness depends on whether she's home or not. Nowadays, most people have cell phones, so fewer people approach the house than they used to. For several years, though, I'd step outside and let them use my cell to call for help, to avoid them entering the house.