Times Are Changing

[RoyJackson]

I'll stop occasionally...more likely if it's a woman. I expect most men should be more self reliant (probably a sexist mindset, but I don't care).
Of course, that doesn't mean a woman can't be an evil doer too...
Pulling someone out of a snow bank can screw you though...any damage to their vehicle, there's a good chance they'll sue you for damages...so, mostly if I stop, it's to give them company (protection) until help arrives (I've also got a handgun with me most of the time)

 

[Oldoak]

Although it's not a guarantee against being sued for possible damages, when I pull someone out of a snow bank, I have them hook up the tow chain or cable to their own vehicle. And that's only if they just slid off the road, not over a steep embankment or other precarious situation.

By the way, Roy, I agree with your statement: "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch..."

The same could be said of "free" healthcare!

 

[GAFarmer2]

Odd, I've been stranded a couple of times wearing nothing but a ******, and the few drivers that did stop drove off in a hurry without helping. Go figure.

Well I WAS hungry....think I'll just skip supper now!

 

[Oaktree]

IMO it really doesn't matter where you're at per how people treat you. Yes, people from the north can be direct and to the point, but that doesn't make them any less friendly. I know some pretty rural places in New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont where the people are just as friendly as the people around me are now south of the mason dixon.

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.

 

[Creamer]

Lots of friendly folks still live in the country. The trouble is they are being inundated with the unfriendly types. A person can never tell what a stranger's intensions are, whether it be someone needing help or someone stopping to "help". Unfortunately, drug use and violent crimes are sky rocketing in our nation today, all over the country, not just in the cities. But I will say, South Dakota, where were spend a great deal of time every year, still has a majority of friendly farm folks living there.

I learned early on in life to be self reliant as much as possible. I always appreciated help but never depended on or expected help to change a flat tire on my truck or trailers.

Being from South Dakota I have to say Thank You for noticing. I think they are more willing to help out there. I have had numerous experiences and know others who have had many great experiences of being helped.

 

[weldingisfun]

Bell county is changing fast now....

Amen to that. And, not for the better.

 

[weldingisfun]

After reading the responses to my post it has become obvious to me that the times have changed. The mindset of the folks who passed me by is reflected in many of the responses to this post. I did get the tire changed, by myself. I did have a cell phone with me but I knew I could get the job done so didn't call for help. I just figured that a 72 year old man, sitting on the side of the road, with the emergency flashers on, a flat tire under a trailer loaded with hay, on a 35 mph country road, would get a offer of assistance, which, if I had, would have been graciously declined. This is testimony to the society we now live in. Sad to see.

 

[Sigarms]

After reading the responses to my post it has become obvious to me that the times have changed. The mindset of the folks who passed me by is reflected in many of the responses to this post. I did get the tire changed, by myself. I did have a cell phone with me but I knew I could get the job done so didn't call for help. I just figured that a 72 year old man, sitting on the side of the road, with the emergency flashers on, a flat tire under a trailer loaded with hay, on a 35 mph country road, would get a offer of assistance, which, if I had, would have been graciously declined. This is testimony to the society we now live in. Sad to see.

Not that it matters, but if you were on "my rural" road, on my way home for work, with your flashers on, I'd most likely stop no matter what your circumstance (I even move the slow turtles when it's safe lol). I missed the "35 mph" in the original post, but the impression I got by the "50 cars passing" was you were on more of a highway (it would take a while to see 50 cars go by on my road depending on the time of day). Kicker is, you would of declined my help anyways.

I would also agree with your opinion on our society differently if you were a 72 year old man ACTIVELY LOOKING for help on the side of the road, which apparently you weren't.

Overall, I sincerely believe we're progressed as a society. People are still people no matter what decade you're living in.

My father's 86 and he still drives 8 hrs to visit me regularly (he won't fly if he can still drive). However, 30 years ago he wouldn't of had a cell phone, added he wouldn't have the "life alert" that I picked him up a couple of years ago because he's living by himself. Technology may change people's habits, but it can be for the better, not worse.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

....So you're sad that you didn't get the opportunity to decline help from a total stranger?

If you'd have flagged me down, I would have stopped. If I see a guy changing his tire as I go by and it looks like he's managing, and he's not flailing around and waving his arms? Yeah, I'm going to leave him to it. Unless there's some other mitigating circumstances, hazardous weather, etc.

Nothing to feel "sad" about. And I've changed loads of tires by myself, on the side of the road, day or night, and 20-30 years ago as well. No one usually stopped 30 years ago either. Probably because I was a young guy (at the time), who had the tools to do it, and probably looked like I knew what I was doing. Things haven't changed as much as you think. Back then, as now, ask for help and you usually get it. Don't ask for help, and you likely won't.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Here is SC it gets to 100* QUICK.. I have a portable floor jack in my truck & help all the time.. lots quicker than digging the scissor jack out & trying to hook it up.. it takes 10-15 minutes out of my life.. but hey, that's just me..

 

[RSKY]

I did stop a month or so ago to help a couple ladies with four kids in the car. They would have never got it changed by themselves. But I would not have stopped if my wife hadn't been with me. I circled around and came back to them on the divided highway and my wife sat in the car until I made sure everything was on the up and up before she got out.

Our once proud and prosperous county is now overrun by methheads both local and out of state. You cannot be too careful. For example, our mail carrier told of covering for a vacation at a small post office about twenty or thirty miles from our house. One afternoon, on a beautiful day, she closed the office and drove down some roads just looking at the scenery. When she got back to the office the local preacher stopped her and asked her what she was doing and she said sight seeing. He told her to never drive down those roads because there were several meth houses and when high they would take pot shots at anybody driving by.

RSKY

 

[Sigarms]

Just last week 20 teenagers from our church came back from a local youth mission to Asheville.

The reality is the US has always been addicted to some form of drug.

You can find just as much good in our country as you can bad.

The good old days weren't always so good, tomorrow aint as bad as it seems.

 

[GAFarmer2]

You can find just as much good in our country as you can bad.

The good old days weren't always so good, tomorrow aint as bad as it seems.

My grandfather used to say the same thing. He was well known around here for saying, "let them have there good old days, I had a dang nuff!"

 

[CajunRider]

What ever happened to all the friendly folks who used to live in the country? Today, while towing a 20 foot tandem axle trailer loaded with four round hay bales, approx 8,000 lbs, the right rear tire on the trailer came apart. I saw the blue smoke in the mirror and found a safe place to pull off the 35 mph road. The temperature was pushing 100ｰ which may explain why no one stopped to offer to help change the tire, but it sure doesn't explain why roughly 50 cars drove by and no one stopped to even offer to call for assistance. Times sure have changed.

About the only time where I don't stop is when the one known drunk in my neck of the wood try to flag me down for a ride. For him I just roll the window down and yell at him: "Gordon, go home. You don't need more whiskey."

PS: When I first moved to the area years ago, I gave Gordon a ride and my truck stank afterward. I had to use a box of baking soda on the passenger seat and seat belt trying to get rid of the smell.

 

[NoTrespassing]

A few years ago a couple of men I know stopped to help a woman with car trouble that had the hood up on her car. As they were looking under the hood, a couple guys jumped out from behind a building and beat them and stole their wallets. All three of them drove away in the car the was "broken down".

If I see someone who is having trouble I will stop and ask if they want me to call someone, but that's all I will do.

Kevin

 

[CajunRider]

A few years ago a couple of men I know stopped to help a woman with car trouble that had the hood up on her car. As they were looking under the hood, a couple guys jumped out from behind a building and beat them and stole their wallets. All three of them drove away in the car the was "broken down".

If I see someone who is having trouble I will stop and ask if they want me to call someone, but that's all I will do.

Kevin

When I'm in a strange area, I will call for help but will take precaution. However, if I see an accident happening at the time it happens, I will always stop. I know it's a risk but oh well.

 

[Sigarms]

My grandfather used to say the same thing. He was well known around here for saying, "let them have there good old days, I had a dang nuff!"

Sincerely nice to know someone from a past generation agrees with me.

I remember when my mom told me her mother thought the country was going to heck when she first saw Elvis on TV.

I think every past generation thinks the new generation is going to heck in a handbasket LOL

 

[RobertN]

I don't stop to help.

Some years back, a cousin of mine stopped to help a couple folks with a broken down van.

He woke from a coma a few weeks later. Spent more weeks in ICU. And then months recovering.

The folks from the van beat the tar out of him till near death. They stole his wallet, money, and car. Someone finally called in after seeing him lying near the road.

I'll stop if I witness an accident. But that is about it.

 

[tjkubota93]

Haha amen.

Or that had enough money to move where they is "cool"

Oops that was poorly written.

How about: Or people that had barely enough money to move somewhere that they think is cool (b/c more property is what successful people get). Even though they don't have the skill or money to keep it up.

I am very leery about stopping to help. Like others said, a woman with a "broke" car could just be bait for her boyfriend to hit you in the back of the head or pull a gun on you. Or her cousins, isn't that what daisy duke would do?

 

[oosik]

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.