Times Are Changing

[Sigarms]

Just yesterday I filled up at the local gas station. There were two young adults (boy & girl) trying to catch a ride west to Seattle. I told them I could get them about 50 mile in that direction. They threw their knap sacks in the back of the pickup and hopped in. About ten miles down the road, one pulls out a pipe and without even asking - lights up his marijuana. End of the trip for them. I don't care that its legal in the state of WA. Not in my vehicle.

I once picked up a girl on a blind date in my younger years. She was SMOKIN hot in shorts as I was excitedly surprised.

She gets into my car, and without even asking me, she lights up a cig. I said "excuse me", reach over her, MANUALLY (LOL) roll down her car window, I grab the cig out of her mouth and flick it out the window and let he know it's not polite not to ask first if you plan on smoking in someone elses car.

She then proceeds to grumble, and gets out of my car and walks back to her parents house.

I was watching her cheeks bouncing back and fourth in those shorts as she was walking away, and was wondering to myself if I did the right thing?:laughing:

 

[Gary Fowler]

I will stop and ask if a person needs help when out in the country but if on the freeway, never. Too many weirdos out there that may just be faking a breakdown. Everyone has a cell phone now days so a quick call to an auto club or even the cops will get you some help if you really need it.
As for myself, I try to be self sufficient in all but the worse emergencies and that is when I call the tow truck. Knock on wood, that hasn't happened to me yet. As for flat tires, I have a 14 year old car that has never had the spare removed, same with my 10 year old truck. NOTE: I have had flats but always while at home and a quick air up gets me to the tire repair place without removing the tire. I have had to take off a couple of tractor tires for repair at home. I used a home repair plug to stop the leak in my B26 rear tire, it is still holding fine.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I was reared in the deep south and when I was a child, we knew everyone for miles around and took the time to visit with most of them occasionally. Almost everyone had a porch that you could find them sitting on in the evening and could just stop by for a visit
When air conditioning became popular, folks no longer sat on the porch and those friendly visits became less frequent, not that folks became less friendly, just more reclusive due to the comfortable inside temps.

The friendliest place I ever lived was on Grand Island, N.Y. While the moving van was unloading neighbors came to visit and bring cakes, cookies etc. We knew everyone on the block in short time. While living in the Houston Tx. area for 5 years, I only knew my neighbors next door and across the street, never saw anyone more than 2 houses down. People would drive into their garage, close the door and not come out till time to leave for work the next day. All my friends were folks from work.

 

[ch1ch2]

In my travels I haven't noticed people being any friendlier or more hospitable in one area than another. Sure, cultures vary in different parts of the country, but I've found that if you're friendly others will usually respond accordingly.

Actually, despite all the "southern hospitality" hype, I've experienced plenty of rudeness in the south especially when someone finds out I'm a northerner...being ignored or having my order or change sort of thrown at me in a diner for example.
C'mon people, the Civil War ended 150 years ago. No one alive today had anything to do with it.

Southern Hospitality is real!
It is changing though. As more and more people move in from the other parts of our great country, the hospitality is diluted.
I was visiting Arlington National Cemetery a few years ago and when people heard I was from the South their friendliness went away.
I suspect here in the South the same might be true, with the influx of non-southerners trying to change our states into the states they are running from. As well as the great divide in politics causing a huge amount of resentment between people.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

roughly 50 cars drove by and no one stopped to even offer to call for assistance. Times sure have changed.

Yes, they sure have. Almost everybody has a cellphone now. Why stop to offer to call for assistance? :confused2:

I've had a cellphone longer than most people, because I've been in the business almost since it started (1984). I used to call in every accident I saw, and stopped frequently to offer to call for help for breakdowns and minor accidents.

(One time I offered to call for help with a breakdown, and the guy said, "You're just trying to show off you have a car phone!" So I said, "Okay." and drove away. )

Now, I'd be wasting my time and theirs to stop to offer to call.

I still call in serious accidents if I see them happen, but not if I come on them and it's obvious it happened a few minutes ago. It's already been called in.

I still call in drunk drivers, too. I love to see them in handcuffs. Too bad it doesn't end up at a whipping post, like it should.