The kindness of strangers

Fbjm

To the nice Australian man in Palmerstown who lent me his phone, I know you most likely don't use boards, but thank you so much for lending me your phone and for not accepting the money I tried to give you to make up for the credit I inevitably used.

People like this always make me smile, the type of people who would go out of their way to help another human being and ask for nothing in return.

So AH, when was the last time a stranger went out of their way to help you out? I'm in a great mood now!

cml387

30 years ago,some nice people gave me a lift home from Portroe (Co. Tipp)

As I was covered in vomit at the time from over indulgence it was a kind gesture (or an example of the beer scooter at work).

I have no idea who they were, I salute you now.

chin_grin

"One drop of kindness can spoil a whole vat of hate." Henry Rollins.

Yeah restores my faith in humanity for all of five minutes. But I like to be thankful too. Good karma.

Chuck Stone

I was captured and held in a prison camp and only for John Rambo I wouldn't be here today.

floutingmaxims

My brother lost his wallet outside my apartment the other day. A girl found it and handed it in to reception with everything intact. We found out her apartment number and name and my brothers getting her a thank you card and a lotto ticket. Nice to know there are plenty of decent people out there

DEFTLEFTHAND

A random dude donated 20euro to help me clear a bar tab that had gotten out of control in Milan. He genuinely could have saved my life as the proprietor of the establishment in question had begun to threaten physical violence and these weren't the kind of people who messed around.

I got he's details and as I'd cleaned out my bank account I sent him on the 20 plus interest when I got home.

My name is URL

Last year sometime I went on a mystery drive and got stuck on some country lane.. I walked a good mile looking for help and the first person I spoke to obliged. He had to walk another mile at least to get his tractor and he drove me down to where my car was and towed me out.

That mightn't seem like the most humanitarian thing in the world, but to me at that time, nothing could have been more humane =p

the groutch

A stranger's just a friend you haven't met

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NFBHuDDDT8s/S9OPwHLwXxI/AAAAAAAAAEg/HbMZV5cEwyQ/s1600/vlc+2010-04-24+17-41-11-64.png

El Guapo!

A friend of mine was in America recently and lost his driving licence. He searched everywhere but no joy. When he got home a couple of weeks ago he was gonna apply for a new one but a day or two later the licence arrived in the post. Someone found it in the street and posted it back to Ireland. Thought that was nice.

RachaelVO

Funnily enough, today in the supermarket, an elderly woman was short by 12 euro (her bill was 62 and she only had 50) she was trying to decide what to put back, I swear she only had the basics, nothing fancy in her trolley, and a young lad, I'd say about 18/19 just handed over a 20 to pay for the balance. I thought the poor woman was gonna have a heart attack, she was very grateful, cos she said all she has is her pension!

Nice to see such humanity in one so young!:)

Killer Pigeon

Why didn't you run off with his phone?

RachaelVO

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

Why didn't you run off with his phone?

We're not all hardened cynics like your good self Killer

Dotrel

Fbjm wrote: »

To the nice Australian man in Palmerstown who lent me his phone, I know you most likely don't use boards, but thank you so much for lending me your phone and for not accepting the money I tried to give you to make up for the credit I inevitably used.

People like this always make me smile, the type of people who would go out of their way to help another human being and ask for nothing in return.

So AH, when was the last time a stranger went out of their way to help you out? I'm in a great mood now!

What actually happened....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgEpp5fpGqs

Samich

I absolutely hate these kinda things "thanks to the person who..."

They're not gonna see it, make sure they know you're thankful at that moment!!!

Agricola

Met a girl, made a terrible first impression, but she still gave me the ride.

Theres some good in this world Mr. Frodo and its worth fighting for..... Lord of the Rings, thats where I went wrong.

Samich

RachaelVO wrote: »

Funnily enough, today in the supermarket, an elderly woman was short by 12 euro (her bill was 62 and she only had 50) she was trying to decide what to put back, I swear she only had the basics, nothing fancy in her trolley, and a young lad, I'd say about 18/19 just handed over a 20 to pay for the balance. I thought the poor woman was gonna have a heart attack, she was very grateful, cos she said all she has is her pension!

Nice to see such humanity in one so young!:)

He obviously got her number in exchange

Oranage2

I let some junky use my phone at the smithfield luas stop - Worst mistake of my life - I had some junky ringing me trying to sell me heroin for a whole week -

Pace2008

Was on my way from town at about 4am last Saturday, locked out my skull and forced to ride Shank's mare for miles as I literally hadn't a cent in my pocket, and without so much as a sprinkle of baccy to enjoy on the journey. I got stopped by a couple of alcoholics, in their 50's and homeless by the look of it, who asked me if I'd be so kind as to lend them a euro. I told them I had insufficient funds and then, perhaps rather greedily ,asked if they could spare me a smoke. The woman obliged and I stood smoking and chatting with them for a few minutes. As I I was bidding them farewell, they called me back and pushed two smokes into my hand because I "seemed like a lovely lad."

Pretty small thing, but it I still thought it was kinda generous coming from people with **** all, and put a wee spring in my step on the stroll home.

Diageio_Man

ehh i wasent australian i was from new zealand, but no probs

RachaelVO

Samich wrote: »

He obviously got her number in exchange

I'm delighted to say that no he didn't! He didn't really say much at all, he just said it was only a few euro, and that she wasn't to worry about it. If I was his Mammy, I'd be very proud of him!:)

SuperDude87

the groutch wrote: »

A stranger's just a friend you haven't met

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_NFBHuDDDT8s/S9OPwHLwXxI/AAAAAAAAAEg/HbMZV5cEwyQ/s1600/vlc+2010-04-24+17-41-11-64.png

STREETCAR!!!!

Shane-KornSpace

was runnin to catch a bus to work when suddenly a nice young woman driving by asked where i was goin so she droppEd me off at the bus stop

pudzey101

When i was 16 over in portugal got completly proper hammered untill i was nearly unconcious and a lovely couple got me a taxi back to my hotel and made sure i was alright, met them the next day and they woudnt take any money off me?? Said they only wanted to help me cause i was wearin a Tipp jersey and thats where the wife one lived for over 20 years!:)

God bless ye wherever ye are now!!:)

IcedOut

pudzey101 wrote: »

When i was 16 over in portugal got completly proper hammered untill i was nearly unconcious and a lovely couple got me a taxi back to my hotel and made sure i was alright, met them the next day and they woudnt take any money off me?? Said they only wanted to help me cause i was wearin a Tipp jersey and thats where the wife one lived for over 20 years!:)

God bless ye wherever ye are now!!:)

Hon Tipp

hangon

Fbjm wrote: »

To the nice Australian man in Palmerstown who lent me his phone, I know you most likely don't use boards, but thank you so much for lending me your phone and for not accepting the money I tried to give you to make up for the credit I inevitably used.

People like this always make me smile, the type of people who would go out of their way to help another human being and ask for nothing in return.

So AH, when was the last time a stranger went out of their way to help you out? I'm in a great mood now!

Good for you Fbjm that you highlighted this,too many of us have got way too cynical.
lets fight against cynics who do not realise how many people actually do things out of decency.
the Garda who died redirecting traffic from a dangerous bridge is a recent high profile example.

Ficheall

Samich wrote: »

I absolutely hate these kinda things "thanks to the person who..."

They're not gonna see it, make sure they know you're thankful at that moment!!!

You've a fair point, but I like reading that there are some nice people out there. It wouldn't do if all we heard about were the arseholes.

Pace2008 wrote: »

Was on my way from town at about 4am last Saturday, locked out my skull and forced to ride Shank's mare for miles as I literally hadn't a cent in my pocket, and without so much as a sprinkle of baccy to enjoy on the journey. I got stopped by a couple of alcoholics, in their 50's and homeless by the look of it, who asked me if I'd be so kind as to lend them a euro. I told them I had insufficient funds and then, perhaps rather greedily ,asked if they could spare me a smoke. The woman obliged and I stood smoking and chatting with them for a few minutes. As I I was bidding them farewell, they called me back and pushed two smokes into my hand because I "seemed like a lovely lad."

Pretty small thing, but it I still thought it was kinda generous coming from people with **** all, and put a wee spring in my step on the stroll home.

Homeless folk can often be surprisingly generous. I've been offered money, alcohol and cigarettes by homeless folk on various occasions. I suppose it's possible they thought I was one of "them" too, but still - generous nonetheless.

Mountainsandh

I've been in Ireland 15 years, driving at least 10 years, and have lost track of the number of punctures I've had... but I'm still terrified of getting one, because never once was I able to change the tyre myself, there was always a gentleman to stop and do it for me ! And no, I'm not a Claudia Schiffer lookalike.
To all my puncture fixers, thanks again.

pudzey101

Mountainsandh wrote: »

I've been in Ireland 15 years, driving at least 10 years, and have lost track of the number of punctures I've had... but I'm still terrified of getting one, because never once was I able to change the tyre myself, there was always a gentleman to stop and do it for me ! And no, I'm not a Claudia Schiffer lookalike.
To all my puncture fixers, thanks again.

Are you Dana?

hangon

Ficheall wrote: »

Homeless folk can often be surprisingly generous.

How generous of you to say so Fichell even if somewhat patronising.

i think they were folk(s) even before they became homeless and are equal to the rest of us.

they are not our pets.

strobe

hangon wrote: »

How generous of you to say so Fichell even if somewhat patronising.

i think they were folk(s) even before they became homeless and are equal to the rest of us.

they are not our pets.

Oh shite off. You know perfectly well what he meant.

RachaelVO

hangon wrote: »

How generous of you to say so Fichell even if somewhat patronising.

i think they were folk(s) even before they became homeless and are equal to the rest of us.

they are not our pets.

I'm pretty sure that's NOT how he meant it!

Don't mean to speak for ya Fichell, but I think he meant that people with very little will always share quicker that people with a whole lot! It just happened in this context it was someone who were unfortunately homeless!

RachaelVO

strobe wrote: »

Oh shite off. You know perfectly well what he meant.

You said it better than I did

Mountainsandh

pudzey101 wrote: »

Are you Dana?

How dare you ? it's my fundamental right under this constitution to post here anonymously ;)

ynul31f47k6b59

Was sitting in the car (window down) with my Mum a while back and had a fit of sneezing, asked Mum if she had any tissues, she said no - the woman in the next car said 'here, I have some' and threw a little pack of tissues in my window. Fair play to her, even though she was earwigging.

hangon

strobe wrote: »

Oh shite off. You know perfectly well what he meant.

Indeed i did but i have read so many posts that patronise the homeless as if half the Country could not end up in the same boat.
it was a sample case of many threads not directed at Fichell in particular but rather the patronising superior attitude so many have.
it used to be used in another time and another place by people who thought they were Liberal compared to others, the saying was:

"Some of my best friends are black"

MidnightQueen

This summer in Reus airport in Spain. My housemate and i were heading home after a short trip away, we ran out of money (kinda drank most of it, stupidity LOL). We had to wait in the airport overnight for 10 hours for our flight. The security guard there told us the airport closes at 12 and we would be kicked out. We told him our story and we had no where else to go, so he informed his manager to leave us stay. He also bought us food and tea. He probably doesnt be on boards but he was so nice, thank you so much!

FruitLover

Mountainsandh wrote: »

because never once was I able to change the tyre myself, there was always a gentleman to stop and do it for me !

I hope you mean that these men offered to change your tyre before you had a chance to do it yourself, rather than that you're actually not capable of changing a tyre yourself. Because the latter would be pathetic situation for a grown woman to be in in this day and age...

Mountainsandh

FruitLover wrote: »

I hope you mean that these men offered to change your tyre before you had a chance to do it yourself, rather than that you're actually not capable of changing a tyre yourself. Because the latter would be pathetic situation for a grown woman to be in in this day and age...

Ouch.

maglite

Mountainsandh wrote: »

Ouch.

Without knowledge of your situation, if your physically capable of changing it you should learn.


It is really nice to be able to pay stuff forward.. Continuously surprises me how generous some people are.

castletownman

Thank you to the young gullible American girl who went all the way in the summer of 2009. Very kind

hangon

KittyKat wrote: »

My housemate and i were heading home after a short trip away, we ran out of money (kinda drank most of it, stupidity Lol

sounds like you's had fun.it's allowed!:D

Kindess of strangers Kittykat? Ah don't reproach yourself.

Pace2008

hangon wrote: »

Indeed i did but i have read so many posts that patronise the homeless as if half the Country could not end up in the same boat.
it was a sample case of many threads not directed at Fichell in particular but rather the patronising superior attitude so many have.
it used to be used in another time and another place by people who thought they were Liberal compared to others, the saying was:

"Some of my best friends are black"

Well, in that case would it not be better to start a thread on your observations rather than jump down the throat of someone and accuse them of patronising, even when you apparently knew they weren't being patronising?

hangon

Pace2008 wrote: »

Well, in that case would it not be better to start a thread on your observations rather than jump down the throat of someone and accuse them of patronising, even when you apparently knew they weren't being patronising?

I did not say that patronising was unique to the poster,just that it is sickingly common on sites to blame the victims,it was i admit a mistake to single out one poster above many others as a sample case,for that i am sorry.

i am not sorry about my core point that people who have not been destroyed by this recession could show a little more compassion though.
honestly did not think it would get enough notice to start a new thread Pace.

MidnightQueen

hangon wrote: »

sounds like you's had fun.it's allowed!:D

Kindess of strangers Kittykat? Ah don't reproach yourself.

Haha oh yea, that wasnt the half of what happened on that hol, it was a bit of a disaster from the second we got off the plane in Reus. LOL. but looking back now, it was a fun holiday. No regrets! Chrisies irish bar in salou was the business! :cool:

Ficheall

hangon wrote: »

How generous of you to say so Fichell even if somewhat patronising.

i think they were folk(s) even before they became homeless and are equal to the rest of us.

they are not our pets.

Eh? My point was that homeless people are often more generous than one would expect their means might allow. How, exactly, would you have phrased it in a "non-patronising" fashion?
Had I used "taxi-drivers" or "footballers" or "black people" or "Cavan folk" or "lesbians" instead of "homeless folk" - which of those would have been deemed as patronising?
If an old fat guy offered to help me carry a couch up a flight of stairs, would my surprise (or scepticism) be unjustified?

And what's this nonsense about pets?

Ficheall

hangon wrote: »

it was a sample case of many threads not directed at Fichell in particular but rather the patronising superior attitude so many have.

I'm not picking on homeless people - I think I'm superior to pretty much everyone else on the planet. When I do have time for moralistic reflection on others and pit a homeless man against a drunken student or business fat cat, the homeless dude often wins out - but then I must ask myself - had the homeless person been afforded the same opportunities, might he not have lost a serious moral advantage on many fronts? It's like sewing with camels.

hangon wrote: »

I did not say that patronising was unique to the poster,just that it is sickingly common on sites to blame the victims

i am not sorry about my core point that people who have not been destroyed by this recession could show a little more compassion though.

Who blamed what victims for anything?
Also, I missed where you mentioned your "core point", though it seems to run pretty much parallel to the general sentiment running though the entire thread.

hangon

Ficheall wrote: »

"taxi-drivers" or "footballers"

Then i would have labeled you a Liar!;)

howyanow

when driving one evening i saw an old woman franticly waving at me to stop.turns out she had just gotten off a bus but had left her handbag with keys,phone ect in it.i stopped,told her to get in and then went to go after the bus,after about 10mins driving i got ahead of the bus i.e bus -stop ahead and flagged it down,retrieved her stuff then drove her home.she was so releived and delighted with the help.its great to help someone as we all will need it one day.

cocoshovel

straaangeer thaaan kindnesss

07734

i went into town on saturday with the sole mission of getting some liquorice wheels to make the wheels on a fire engine birthday cake for my 3 year old. naturally, i left it till five oclock before remembering, and frantically went on a hunt around all the pic'n'mixes i could find. BUT, seeing as it was nearly hallowe'en, all the sweet shops had little or nothing left.

eventually, i remembered the olde fashioned sweet shop on duke street; even though the girl had the shutters half closed and the till turned off, she gave me the wheels. and nicest of all, i had only a twenty, and she had no change, so she said i could drop in the one euro it cost when i'm next in town.

it was only a tiny thing, but he was so so delighted with the cake. i doubt if the girl will know how happy she made a little (fire-engine-obsessed) boy on his birthday. sometimes thank you barely covers it

marty1985

I just returned to Ireland after being away in Asia for a few years. On my last day abroad, exactly one week ago today, I closed my bank account, withdrew the balance in cash. I had a hectic day sorting things out, and went out to have a beer with friends at the end of the day. I ordered the first round at the bar and then realised I had lost my wallet. Panic set in. It had my credit card, laser card, and all my cash, as well as my residents visa. We retraced our footsteps but didn't find it. I got on to my bank here in Ireland to cancel the cards, but I was still really upset about all the cash.

I went back home really worried and stressed, and found the police there waiting for me, with the wallet, with everything inside, untouched. Some young lad had found it on the street, and took it to the police, who checked out my visa, contacted my employer and went straight to my apartment when they found out I was about to leave the country. I had no phone at the time.

They gave me the details of the guy who found it, he was due to start military service the next day. This weekend he sent me an update on how he's getting on in the army. A good soldier! I'm forever grateful to him.