Thank you, kind stranger

Khannie

What kind things have total strangers done for you?

I had a lovely incident yesterday. I was not having a super day - had to bring my mum to A&E. When I was leaving many, many hours later I discovered that I had no way to pay for the parking. I had a credit card, but the machine didn't take credit cards. My wife had the bank card at home and I only had a fiver left in my wallet. Looking like a sh*tty end to a sh*tty day.

I went into reception and spoke with a nice lady in there. She told me I could get cash back but I explained this wouldn't work because it wasn't a debit card so she told me to check with the security guard. With hindsight this was obviously "the nod" though I didn't cop it at the time.

So I go out to him and ask him if he knows how I can pay with the credit card or get to an ATM. He said the nearest ATM was quite far away and that it sounded like a lot of hassle for me. He took the parking ticket off me and validated it.

I was really touched.

Thank you, kind stranger.

So let's hear your stories.

YbFocus

The latest one I can think of I done for someone else.

I got a notification that I had something in parcel motel waiting for me, I had stuff on the way but this was a bit early. I collected it and it had my pmid and all but was mad heavy.

Got it home and knew it wasn't mine.

Twas expensive enough, the chap had the same name as myself and this is how it ended up with me.
Anyway I felt bad and hoped it wouldn't happen me so I contacted parcel motel to collect it and gave the man himself a text to say what had happened and why it was late.
He was really happy, I wrapped it up again and met the nightline man later that day.
Hope someone may do the same for me if it happens!

I Heart Internet

That's a nice story OP. People can be very good like that....especially in a hospital setting where they know people have more on their minds!

I can't think of an example right now.....let me think about it.

dan1895

Nice man about 20 years ago who pulled me out of the Dodder river. I wasn't going to drown or anything but I wasn't getting out either despite the best efforts of one of mate's older brother. What was really nice was him popping by where we were playing football on the street to see how I was a week later.

Legs.Eleven

That's one great thing about Ireland - people are flexible; that wouldn't have happened in many countries. Very often, doing the decent thing often comes before rules. I couldn't live in a country where that wasn't the case.


Great story, OP.

AnonoBoy

dan1895 wrote: »

Nice man about 20 years ago who pulled me out of the Dodder river. I wasn't going to drown or anything but I wasn't getting out either despite the best efforts of one of mate's older brother. What was really nice was him popping by where we were playing football on the street to see how I was a week later.

Sounds like you were having a nice swim and some dude tried to abduct you.

dan1895

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Sounds like you were having a nice swim and some dude tried to abduct you.

Ha not at all. Fell about 6 metres into the river and cut my head open.

frag420

When I was about 10 or 11 I was walking home after playing football with my friends all day. I was walking down an alleyway in the town and I heard crying and shouting coming from over a wall. I climbed up a little and looked over and saw two older boys trying to snatch an elderly ladies purse!! I wasnt sure if I should help as they were bigger than me and if I did interupt they may kick the crap out of me but in the end I decided it was the right thing to do...........

We got £110 between the three of us and the last of her cigerettes, result eh!!

I Heart Internet

frag420 wrote: »

When I was about 10 or 11 I was walking home after playing football with my friends all day. I was walking down an alleyway in the town and I heard crying and shouting coming from over a wall. I climbed up a little and looked over and saw two older boys trying to snatch an elderly ladies purse!! I wasnt sure if I should help as they were bigger than me and if I did interupt they may kick the crap out of me but in the end I decided it was the right thing to do...........

We got £110 between the three of us and the last of her cigerettes, result eh!!

Funny

Gongoozler

At the security in an airport, and woman way in front got told her liquids plastic bag was too large and that she had to buy one of the airport provided ones. She was a bit bothered, and she went looking through her purse to pay. She only had notes left in the currency. We had no use for any of the coins we had at that point so I went over and gave her some to pay for it.

About twenty minutes later she caught me at the other side and insisted on giving me it back.

Agricola

Just entering a parking spot, an old guy gets out of his car, knocks on the window and tells me theres about a half hour left on his parking ticket and that I could have it. I think things like that might be gone in the years to come. Its hard to see young to middle age people even thinking of doing something like that. I know I wouldnt. Very nice gesture.

Seedy Arling

I was working in a record store in Galway city many years ago and was waiting for my lift home in Eyre Square when a gentleman approached me and asked me would i like a blowjob.

I politely declined, but thanked the man nonetheless.

The kindness of strangers indeed...

Shanotheslayer

Agricola wrote: »

Just entering a parking spot, an old guy gets out of his car, knocks on the window and tells me theres about a half hour left on his parking ticket and that I could have it. I think things like that might be gone in the years to come. Its hard to see young to middle age people even thinking of doing something like that. I know I wouldnt. Very nice gesture.

Reminds me of a woman coming up to a group of people asking if anybody would like her bus ticket as she didn't need it anymore.

CTC_Wallace

Doesn't take much to be kind

Muise...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSTd1LuiVUs

LoonyLovegood

I've done it often when I'm in one of my (all too frequent hospital visits). If we're finished and there's still time left on the parking ticket, it gets handed over to someone in the car park, they're expensive enough.

When I did my ankle in there was one guy who was always on the same train home as me, we both got off at Heuston. He'd help me with my case getting on the train, and help me with it off when we got in. He wouldn't take anything from me for it, despite me offering each week. Ended up getting to the station before he did one week and buying him the train ticket as a thank you.

Agricola

Agricola wrote: »

Just entering a parking spot, an old guy gets out of his car, knocks on the window and tells me theres about a half hour left on his parking ticket and that I could have it. I think things like that might be gone in the years to come. Its hard to see young to middle age people even thinking of doing something like that. I know I wouldnt. Very nice gesture.

I see this a lot in a carpark near where I work. From both young and older people alike. Would you do it now that you've seen it done?

I was up in Norn Iron last week and there was a group of spanish girls ahead of us to cross the rope bridge at Carrick a rede. One of the girls was too scared to cross so waited for her friends "land side". On her way back up she gave her ticket to a person heading for the ticket booth

whats_my_name

Agricola wrote: »

Just entering a parking spot, an old guy gets out of his car, knocks on the window and tells me theres about a half hour left on his parking ticket and that I could have it. I think things like that might be gone in the years to come. Its hard to see young to middle age people even thinking of doing something like that. I know I wouldnt. Very nice gesture.

I always give my parking ticket to someone else if there is time left & Im 26! I actually drove round the carpark on Saturday looking to give my ticket away, after 5 mins I eventually met a person who hadn't already bought one...us young people aren't all bad!

MurdyWurdy

I find people kind in general. If I take the buggy/pram on the dart or am out and about in town people are extremely helpful lifting it on/off the train or up and down steps. Often they don't ask but just do it or ask me and then do it without waiting for a response. I was impressed the first time I took the pram out and about.

I also give parking tickets or bus tickets to people if I don't need them anymore.

Billy86

Khannie wrote: »

So I go out to him and ask him if he knows how I can pay with the credit card or get to an ATM. He said the nearest ATM was quite far away and that it sounded like a lot of hassle for me. He took the parking ticket off me and validated it

Did he happen to look anything like this?



(despite the URL it is work safe!)

whats_my_name

We were at the ladies All Ireland Final & two of my friends didn't have tickets, you could buy them up there so it wasn't any hassle. I was about to head in with a few of my other friends & was arranging where to meet the other two when a woman came over & handed my friend 2 premium level tickets refusing to take any money for them. I thought it was so nice that she took time out of her day & went out of her way for absolutely no gains whatsoever.

silly

I had a voucher that was well over a year out of date for a well known high end department store. Didnt think there was much i could do, but i chanced sending off an email to them regarless, only to get an email back saying that the money had be validated onto the card until Dec 2015. delighted i was! and i told her so, and she said she was happy to put a smile on my face..

Khannie

Billy86 wrote: »

Did he happen to look anything like this?



(despite the URL it is work safe!)

HAHAHAHA. No. He was a reasonably tall, semi-burly, eastern european man.

foxyboxer

I think donating blood is an incredibly kindly act. You never know who will benefit from your blood and it could potentially save peoples lives.

I should start giving more often.

whitewave

MurdyWurdy wrote: »

I find people kind in general. If I take the buggy/pram on the dart or am out and about in town people are extremely helpful lifting it on/off the train or up and down steps. Often they don't ask but just do it or ask me and then do it without waiting for a response. I was impressed the first time I took the pram out and about.

This is something that doesn't happen everywhere, was in Holland recently and when getting on a train, a load of people pushed past one poor lady who was struggling with a pram. I gave her a hand but couldn't get over how rude people around us were, shoving past us while we tried to lift the pram up steps onto the train. I find most people in Ireland are good to lend a hand if needed.

Flaker

Agricola wrote: »

Just entering a parking spot, an old guy gets out of his car, knocks on the window and tells me theres about a half hour left on his parking ticket and that I could have it. I think things like that might be gone in the years to come. Its hard to see young to middle age people even thinking of doing something like that. I know I wouldnt. Very nice gesture.

I would always do that if there is some-one around, and if there isn't I put the ticket back into the slot in the machine so that the next person to use it will get the ticket.

And I know a lot of people who do this. It's not that uncommon, which is even nicer I supppose.

kitnan

Went to buy a value multipack bag of crisps at the shop the other day. When she scanned it in I took no notice but the cashier thought it should not have been as expensive as it was. She went out of her way to find the proper price and when she came back I got a quid off. Now, I know its not much and not as deep or meaningful as other posts here but little things like this stand out.

vicwatson

I happened upon €50.00 and want to give it away in RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) but how, and to who? Should I just buy coffee and a muffin for all the homeless people I see ??

(The €50.00 was given to me as a gift for something I did, but I didn't want payment, it was a favour but person insisted I took it)

kerry4sam

Khannie wrote: »

What kind things have total strangers done for you?

I had a lovely incident yesterday. I was not having a super day - had to bring my mum to A&E. When I was leaving many, many hours later I discovered that I had no way to pay for the parking. I had a credit card, but the machine didn't take credit cards. My wife had the bank card at home and I only had a fiver left in my wallet. Looking like a sh*tty end to a sh*tty day.

I went into reception and spoke with a nice lady in there. She told me I could get cash back but I explained this wouldn't work because it wasn't a debit card so she told me to check with the security guard. With hindsight this was obviously "the nod" though I didn't cop it at the time.

So I go out to him and ask him if he knows how I can pay with the credit card or get to an ATM. He said the nearest ATM was quite far away and that it sounded like a lot of hassle for me. He took the parking ticket off me and validated it.

I was really touched.

Thank you, kind stranger.

So let's hear your stories.

Hope your mom will be okay Lovely story here btw and Thanks for starting this thread.

The one that really stands out to me right now:
I went through mental hell volunteering for one particular organisation. These alleged 'professionals' almost destroyed me in every way possible with bullying.
One day after working a shift, I just could not facing going home crying so bought myself a coffee in town and just sat outside the coffee shop pondering with my eyes welling up.
Next thing I know their is a plate landed in front of me with a lovely creamy bun. It was just put there with a smile and a wink.

Never saw that person again, but wonderful timing

Thanks again,
Some lovely stories in this thread,
kerry4sam

ruthloss

A stranger changed the wheel on my car one dark and wet night recently.

My faith in the kindness of strangers was renewed.

Ace Attorney

Agricola wrote: »

Just entering a parking spot, an old guy gets out of his car, knocks on the window and tells me theres about a half hour left on his parking ticket and that I could have it. I think things like that might be gone in the years to come. Its hard to see young to middle age people even thinking of doing something like that. I know I wouldnt. Very nice gesture.

my dad does this and because of his example i do this too, its kind of a tradition now , if your kids see you do this they will pass it on too!

Local-womanizer

The car broke down on me one night in the middle of nowhere. It was 3am and the weather was blowing a gale and hailstones. Was told it would be a few hours for the tow truck to arrive.

While sitting there a car drove past, stopped up the road to turn around and came back down the road and pulled in in front of me. At this stage I was a little nervous as to who or what this was, when out of the passenger side jumped a man in his 50s, with his shirt open and quite visabily drunk. I got out to see what the story was, and to keep him away from the car if needed be.

Thankfully he explained to me that his wife just picked him up from the pub and he insisted on stopping to see if there was anything he could do!

My stories are a bit morbid so apologies in advance.

I was involved in a car crash in which two of my family were killed. The kindness I received from strangers was humbling.

The crash was outside of dublin, and one member of my family died instantly, they had to be taken to waterford for a post mortem. The other, her brother, was taken to beaumont in Dublin as he had a head injury. He died two days later. The well wishes, the prayers, the flowers, it was unbelievable that people cared so so much for complete strangers.

The staff in beaumont hospital were angels on earth. They went above and beyond in every way. They arranged for the body to be brought from waterford to beaumont so that she could be laid out with her brother, that they could be together before being taken to the funeral home. They did not have to do this and there was a lot of red tape to get through, but they fought for it and it happened.

The funeral home did not charge for the funeral. Nothing. Not a penny. The only thing that cost money were the the grave, and the headstone.

The letters of condolence just kept coming, even a card from The Frames!, one man sent me €500 "to help with things". My landlord refunded my month's rent "to make things a bit easier".

My sister's company offered to pay for me to go to counselling.

The priest in the parish where the accident happened, has anniversary mass every single year on the sunday of the anniversary weekend without being asked to.

People are just brilliant, really really brilliant.

razorblunt

Deleted User wrote: »

People are just brilliant, really really brilliant.

First of all, sincere condolences to you.
But I've seen this countless times always around funerals, it's when people really show their true colours and provide help and support even when it's not asked for.

[-0-]

I hope your Ma is ok Khannie!

razorblunt

razorblunt wrote: »

First of all, sincere condolences to you.
But I've seen this countless times always around funerals, it's when people really show their true colours and provide help and support even when it's not asked for.

Thanks

Yes, certainly illness and death are the times when people tend to rally around the most.

I genuinely feel that most people are kind, just that the world moves so fast these days that is can seem a little cold, but underneath that, there are people there always willing to lend a hand.

FouxDaFaFa

A stranger bought me lunch a few days ago because it was Diwali. It was so nice and unexpected.

FouxDaFaFa

FouxDaFaFa wrote: »

A stranger bought me lunch a few days ago because it was Diwali. It was so nice and unexpected.

I got a free drink for Diwali

astrofool

Deleted User wrote: »

I see this a lot in a carpark near where I work. From both young and older people alike. Would you do it now that you've seen it done?

I'd usually stick them back on the machine for the next person to use

Itwasntme.

I hope your mom is better OP. This is a lovely, heart warming thread and I've been attacked by ninja onions while reading it .

dan1895 wrote: »

Ha not at all. Fell about 6 metres into the river and cut my head open.

For future re-tellings, I would advise that you go with Anonoboy's kidnap version - it makes for a better story. You can always say you jumped back in to escape him and that's when you hit your head.

Tasden

In a shop one day I was given ten euro change instead of one euro. I realised what happened a couple of minutes later and brought it back to explain and after laughing in my face first the guy at the til gave me back one of the fivers and said "here, for your honesty!" Was really kind of him cause it almost killed me to hand over money that I got for nothing when I could've kept it- felt good for doing the right thing and got a fiver for nothing!

SteM

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

Reminds me of a woman coming up to a group of people asking if anybody would like her bus ticket as she didn't need it anymore.

I used to do this all the time in the airport when travelling to the UK. I'd travel up on the 747 using a 1 day rambler ticket because it was cheaper than cash and when I got off the bus I'd give explain the situation and give the ticket to someone that was waiting on the 747 into town.

Funny but the foreign people would always thank me but the Irish people would generally treat it as suspicious behavior.

Agricola

Deleted User wrote: »

I see this a lot in a carpark near where I work. From both young and older people alike. Would you do it now that you've seen it done?

Eh, I certainly wouldnt drive around the park looking for people to give it to but if someone just pulled in beside me as I was going out, I probably would if I thought of it.

I did my good deed last week actually. Was coming up to a roundabout when a woman in front of me stalled the engine while halfway out on the roundabout and couldnt get it started. Queue much blowing of horns. I waited maybe slightly too long to see what would happen so a couple of cars behind me overtook. I was overcome with feelings of civic duty, (unusual believe me), put my warning lights on, got out and pushed her car around the roundabout over to the next exit road and kept pushing til her vehicle was no longer causing an obstruction. :pac: It was a fúcking Passat too, I nearly had an aneurysm. Thats got to be worth alot of parking tickets?

SurferRosa

A few years ago I was driving home on a country road, and running a little low on petrol. According to some serious miscalculations, I thought I would make it to the next petrol station. Suddenly my car started slowing down,and came to a gentle halt.
Somehow - stupidly enough - I couldn't understand why, squinting at the petrol gauge, I was sure the needle was not quite at the second red line.
As I was standing outside the car calling AA, a car with 3 men pulls over, They had just come from a nearby house. The older guy suggested that I move the car further into the ditch so that other cars could pass more easily. I must've had some look on my face, as 2 seconds later, the lads came and pushed my car over themselves. They asked what happened, and I said the car had just stopped driving. They asked could it be out of petrol, and I did admit the tank was a little low so the guy went home,and came back with a canister of petrol, and poured a fair bit in my tank. The guys were very kind, despite probably thinking what a bimbo I was!
Sure enough, the car started, and I made it to the next petrol station. I was so grateful. The next day I drove back down to the house (about a 20-30 min drive from my house) and left a card, bottle of wine and box of roses as a thank you.

Khannie

Deleted User wrote: »

I genuinely feel that most people are kind

Strongly agree with that. I've been burned in the past for assuming that people are good, but the rare occasion that it happens isn't enough to even nearly make me lose faith. People are great.

astrofool wrote: »

I'd usually stick them back on the machine for the next person to use

That's a really good idea. Hadn't thought of it. I have gone around looking for potential recipients of my parking ticket like a tool.

GAAman

I am on my phone so will just link to my thread on it

http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057024666/1/#post86212500

MurdyWurdy

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Thanks

Yes, certainly illness and death are the times when people tend to rally around the most.

I genuinely feel that most people are kind, just that the world moves so fast these days that is can seem a little cold, but underneath that, there are people there always willing to lend a hand.

I believe this too, that most people are inherently good. The same way that I believe that I am truly blessed with what I have and am very lucky with where I was born and brought up. It astounds me when posters on AH moan and claim we live in a third world country because of really trivial things. Most of us don't know how lucky we are.

Thanks for sharing your story. It brought tears to my eyes, in particular how in an awful situation you are still positive and see the good in the world.

paulbok

foxyboxer wrote: »

I think donating blood is an incredibly kindly act. You never know who will benefit from your blood and it could potentially save peoples lives.

I should start giving more often.

Yes, me too. I must go in the next week or so. Haven't been in well over a year because of having travelled to a malarial(?) area.

krudler

Few years ago I was flying to Toronto to stay with a friend, had a flight from Shannon to Heathrow then onto Toronto, asked in Shannon if I needed to check in my bag again and they said no it was a connecting flight so it'd be fine, asked again in Heathrow just to be sure, nope, don't worry. Get to Toronto, bag left in Heathrow, sigh.
To make it worse I stupidly deleted a text from my friends Canadian number so had no number to contact him on, I was meant to text him when I landed and arrange a time to be picked up from the airport.
So I'm in a country I've never been in before, with no bag and no idea where I'm supposed to be going. The guy who was sitting next to me on the flight saw me at the desk asking about my bag and when I explained what happened he gave me his contact details, rang his wife and said they might have a guest for the night and said if I didnt sort out meeting my friend to get a taxi to his house and I could crash on his couch, he even offered to pay for the taxi.
I got it sorted in the end but it was cool how a total stranger offered to put me up like that, some random guy who just happened to be sitting on the same flight, he just told me to pay it forward so I did one night we were out for dinner and got a pizza, they gave us a wrong one by accident but said we could keep it and not be charged, so I just gave it to the homeless guy sitting near the restaurant and he was over the moon, saw him going over to split it with another homeless dude.

weisses

Legs.Eleven wrote: »

That's one great thing about Ireland - people are flexible; that wouldn't have happened in many countries. Very often, doing the decent thing often comes before rules. I couldn't live in a country where that wasn't the case.

Great story, OP.

Khannie wrote: »

HAHAHAHA. No. He was a reasonably tall, semi-burly, eastern european man.

oops

Call Me Jimmy

Is someone chopping onions in here or what?!