Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker?

Lando Griffin · 24-05-2013 07:36PM

Great topic.
Used to back when I was in college and remember being stranded manys the time at some junction outside the back end of beyond promising myself if I ever had a car I would always pick up hitch hikers.
For the 15 years I have not picked up and would not pick them up.
In this day and age when there is ample public transport at a ridiculous low prices I frown upon them as some sort of weirdos who if standing near a puddle of water I will drench with my 215 60 15 s

24-05-2013 07:39PM

Yes, only a month ago. A Czech guy was making his way home to a village 15 miles from the city after spending the day handing out CVs. Was just starting to rain when I picked him up. As reward for my generosity, he gave me one of his demo CDs of his Czech rock music that he recorded at home. It was fairly terrible.

Prodigious · 24-05-2013 07:42PM

carrig2 wrote: »

I once drove 40 miles to bring an israeli girl to catch a bus because I didn't like to see her hitching alone

So basically ...

*puts on sunglasses*

you gave her a ride?

AWWWWWWWW YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHH!

Los Lobos · 24-05-2013 07:46PM

Lando Griffin wrote: »

Great topic.
Used to back when I was in college and remember being stranded manys the time at some junction outside the back end of beyond promising myself if I ever had a car I would always pick up hitch hikers.
For the 15 years I have not picked up and would not pick them up.
In this day and age when there is ample public transport at a ridiculous low prices I frown upon them as some sort of weirdos who if standing near a puddle of water I will drench with my 215 60 15 s

So would I be right in assuming you know what that makes you?

looking_around · 24-05-2013 07:47PM

I don't drive, so no.
But,
my mom often picks up hitchhikers ..but only when her partner is in the car with her(seems to make her feel safer o0..)

looking_around · 24-05-2013 07:49PM

Lando Griffin wrote: »

In this day and age when there is ample public transport at a ridiculous low prices I frown upon them as some sort of weirdos who if standing near a puddle of water I will drench with my 215 60 15 s

Wait, what low prices ????

I take it you don't use the public transport often?

Cause in some areas it's pretty crappy. And often quite pricy.

carrig2 · 24-05-2013 07:51PM

Prodigious wrote: »

So basically ...

*puts on sunglasses*

you gave her a ride?

AWWWWWWWW YEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHH!

No ride, but ya know what? I would have if she would have

wonski · 24-05-2013 07:54PM

I always stop, used to hitchhike when young and poor, travelled from Netherlands to Poland faster than regular bus. It works sometimes.

Funny story - my ex(back when i was young) was with one of her friend in town when her father stopped and asked "Do you want a lift kids". Her friend, who apparently didn't know the guy promptly replied with "**** off you old prick!", or something like this. They were 17, maybe 18 at that time.

Rubberlegs · 24-05-2013 08:05PM

I rarely see anyone thumbing these days anyway, but have never picked up anyone. Only the other day I saw a man thumbing on the main road into town, felt a cow for not stopping, but not a chance when it's just me and my baby in the back.
I would have thumbed with himself a fair bit years ago. I always remember the time this fella picked us up, and proceeded to drive really fast. The topic of conversation was the crashes he'd been in:eek:. i was never so glad to get out of a car in my life....

Lando Griffin · 24-05-2013 08:20PM

Los Lobos wrote: »

So would I be right in assuming you know what that makes you?

A big man?

wonski · 24-05-2013 08:34PM

What exactly is the risk of giving someone a lift btw. Most people seem to think it isn't safe anymore. Heard of people being attacked on the street, regularely in some areas. Where does the fear of letting someone into the car comes from? Surely if they do somethink stupid, i can do something stupid behind the wheel, too. Quite risky, unless they have a gun...
Edit: Shooting me while i am driving is risky too.

The_Nipper_One · 24-05-2013 08:35PM

73Cat wrote: »

I rarely see anyone thumbing these days anyway, but have never picked up anyone. Only the other day I saw a man thumbing on the main road into town, felt a cow for not stopping, but not a chance when it's just me and my baby in the back.
I would have thumbed with himself a fair bit years ago. I always remember the time this fella picked us up, and proceeded to drive really fast. The topic of conversation was the crashes he'd been in:eek:. i was never so glad to get out of a car in my life....

Similar thing happened to me when I was younger.

Myself and 2 other lads were hitching to another town, and this guy pulled up.
When we opened the back doors of the car, there were two big tool boxes on the seats, so we couldn't get our seat belts on. I was in the seat behind the drivers seat, and because I was sitting on the tool box, I could see the speedo going up to 130! Mind you this was on a badly maintained bumpy national road with alot of gentle hills, I swear we got some air time occasionally.

Czarcasm · 24-05-2013 08:37PM

73Cat wrote: »

I rarely see anyone thumbing these days anyway, but have never picked up anyone. Only the other day I saw a man thumbing on the main road into town, felt a cow for not stopping, but not a chance when it's just me and my baby in the back.
I would have thumbed with himself a fair bit years ago. I always remember the time this fella picked us up, and proceeded to drive really fast. The topic of conversation was the crashes he'd been in:eek:. i was never so glad to get out of a car in my life....

Sounds like you got a lift from my brother, I wouldn't trust the fcuker with one of them kids bubble cars! :pac:

biko · 24-05-2013 08:37PM

Lots of times, it's nice to have someone to chat to if you're going far.

The_Nipper_One · 24-05-2013 08:38PM

wonski wrote: »

What exactly is the risk of giving someone a lift btw. Most people seem to think it isn't safe anymore. Heard of people being attacked on the street, regularely in some areas. Where does the fear of letting someone into the car comes from? Surely if they do somethink stupid, i can do something stupid behind the wheel, too. Quite risky, unless they have a gun...
Edit: Shooting me while i am driving is risky too.

Once you stop the car, depending on where you are it would be very easy for someone to car jack you when you think about it.

Even the people who say they wouldn't pick up anyone but a woman at night should imagine what would happen if she jumped into the back seat and pulled a knife to the back of your kneck and held you there until 2 or 3 lads appeared from behind something.

carrig2 · 24-05-2013 08:42PM

The_Nipper_One wrote: »

Once you stop the car, depending on where you are it would be very easy for someone to car jack you when you think about it.

Even the people who say they wouldn't pick up anyone but a woman at night should imagine what would happen if she jumped into the back seat and pulled a knife to the back of your kneck and held you there until 2 or 3 lads appeared from behind something.

Don't be sexist. Maybe she need not call lads. A woman with a weapon could take a man.

wonski · 24-05-2013 08:43PM

The_Nipper_One wrote: »

Once you stop the car, depending on where you are it would be very easy for someone to car jack you when you think about it.

Even the people who say they wouldn't pick up anyone but a woman at night should imagine what would happen if she jumped into the back seat and pulled a knife to the back of your kneck and held you there until 2 or 3 lads appeared from behind something.

When i think about this it is actually easier to nick the car when you are outside. Just my opinion.
One of the guy who picked us in Germany asked us to drive as he was bit tired. Friend of mine had license so took over, but after 20 minutes we changed again - owner said he was a bit too slow...

The_Nipper_One · 24-05-2013 08:46PM

carrig2 wrote: »

Don't be sexist. Maybe she need not call lads. A woman with a weapon could take a man.

it's not sexist, it's realistic.

Their aim is not to commit a murder, it's to get you out of the car.
Once you're out of the car you're in a much better position to fight back, so it's safer for them to have two or three men there to subdue or deter you.

wonski · 24-05-2013 08:49PM

The_Nipper_One wrote: »

it's not sexist, it's realistic.

Their aim is not to commit a murder, it's to get you out of the car.
Once you're out of the car you're in a much better position to fight back, so it's safer for them to have two or three men there to subdue or deter you.

Is it true story? Does it happen a lot?
Because i am out of my car ~10 times a day. Feel vulnerable now.

carrig2 · 24-05-2013 08:50PM

The_Nipper_One wrote: »

it's not sexist, it's realistic.

Their aim is not to commit a murder, it's to get you out of the car.
Once you're out of the car you're in a much better position to fight back, so it's safer for them to have two or three men there to subdue or deter you.

Why is their aim to get you out of the car. Is their aim not to rob you?

Los Lobos · 24-05-2013 08:51PM

Lando Griffin wrote: »

A big man?

I assumed wrong so.

wonski · 24-05-2013 08:53PM

carrig2 wrote: »

Why is their aim to get you out of the car. Is their aim not to rob you?

There are two types - some rob you and the others kill you.
True story:D

The_Nipper_One · 24-05-2013 08:53PM

carrig2 wrote: »

Why is their aim to get you out of the car. Is their aim not to rob you?

I'm talking about being car jacked; would be a little hard to steal your car with you still in it

Busted Flat. · 24-05-2013 08:54PM

Jim Halsey, picked up a hitcher in the mid eighties, I believe he is still going to counseling. It put me off giving anyone a lift, even family members.

Mariasofia · 24-05-2013 08:55PM

My dad used to stop for hitch hikers years ago and pull off just as they reached the car pissin himself laughing (sick fecker that he was). To be fair to him it used to be funny though:)

wandatowell · 24-05-2013 08:55PM

PERSONAL SPACE GTFO!

Kerrigooney · 24-05-2013 08:55PM

Saw hitcher...pulled the car over....got out...picked up hitcher...put him back down...got back in car...drove off...I was very,very drunk.

Dtp79 · 24-05-2013 08:58PM

The_Nipper_One wrote: »

I'm talking about being car jacked; would be a little hard to steal your car with you still in it

Not if they instructed you to drive and not go below 55 mph and it was a bus

wandatowell · 24-05-2013 08:59PM

Busted Flat. wrote: »

Jim Halsey, picked up a hitcher in the mid eighties, I believe he is still going to counseling. It put me off giving anyone a lift, even family members.

ffs I googled "Jim Halsey" and spent 10 minutes reading about some American music manager on wikipedia with no mention of any hitchhikers :P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Halsey#Personal_Life

Busted Flat. · 24-05-2013 09:01PM

Mariasofia wrote: »

My dad used to stop for hitch hikers years ago and pull off just as they reached the car pissin himself laughing (sick fecker that he was). To be fair to him it used to be funny though:)

Done that to a cop, back in the seventies, he was standing at a bus stop at the end of Grange road, I had read something about him in the papers about him being in the heavy gang. I passed the bus stop about 30 yds when he reached near the back of my van I drove off. I paid for it dearly.

Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker?

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