Thank you, kind stranger

Khannie · 05-11-2013 11:17AM #1

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 · 05-11-2013 11:25AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:28AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:33AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:38AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:38AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:42AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:47AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:51AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:51AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:52AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:54AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:55AM

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 · 05-11-2013 11:56AM

Doesn't take much to be kind

Muise... · 05-11-2013 11:56AM

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

LoonyLovegood · 05-11-2013 12:00PM

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.

05-11-2013 12:02PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:07PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:10PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:14PM

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?

6a0133f4950835970b019102ec4d36970c-800wi

(despite the URL it is work safe!)

whats_my_name · 05-11-2013 12:16PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:31PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:32PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:42PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:45PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:50PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:51PM

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 · 05-11-2013 12:55PM

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 · 05-11-2013 01:02PM

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 · 05-11-2013 01:03PM

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 · 05-11-2013 01:10PM

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!

Thank you, kind stranger

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