Act of kindness

JustShon · 03-03-2016 10:13AM

kylith wrote: »

He didn't seem keen on them.

Actually, does anyone know if more than one rowing club is in the Memorial Park in Dublin? Maybe I could drop in a cake.

A quick google shows that multiple clubs use the memorial park. Maybe you could drop a single soft mint into each club?

kylith · 03-03-2016 10:27AM

JustShon wrote: »

A quick google shows that multiple clubs use the memorial park. Maybe you could drop a single soft mint into each club?

Good idea!

cruais · 03-03-2016 10:32AM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Where the story involves any element of identification, names, pics, I think the first act of kindness and thoughtfulness should be to ask all those involved if it's okay to go on the radio or to Facebook with it.

There was a story recently of a bus driver in Cork who helped an elderly passenger in some way or other with a pic of her on the street...my first thought was had anyone asked her did she want her face plastered all over social media with "bewildered vulnerable old dear" stuff.

Or remember this one that went viral...no one really wondered whether the man with special needs wanted to be part of a story doing the rounds. It seemed like he was the afterthought, his family were contacted after someone decided they would use it to harvest "likes"...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/man-praised-for-holding-hands-with-stranger-with-disabilities-on-the-bus-to-comfort-him-a6689741.html

The story that i came across yesterday was already on the radio so it wasnt put up without permission

03-03-2016 10:47AM

cruais wrote: »

The story that i came across yesterday was already on the radio so it wasnt put up without permission

Oh no no, in fairness to you wasn't suggesting that.

It's the person who initially rushes to the www that has me going "hmmmm". But particularly so if they give info (usually a photo) identifying the parties. This was another one where someone was hijacking another person's life for warm and fuzzy feelings and likes...with no evidence that the parties involved consented to the publication of what was a nice but private moment.

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

Penny Tration · 03-03-2016 10:54AM

Was in the shop buying a drink a few years back. I had headphones in.

Walked off after paying, not hearing my purse (with over €600 rent money in it) drop from my bag to the floor.

Rather than nick it, some bloke chased me down to hand it back to me, everything still inside. Wouldn't take €20 when I tried to offer it as a thank you.

Hope the man experienced some good luck for his kindness

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 03-03-2016 10:54AM

Sweet baby Jesus.

each time I see AVB has posted I know it's going to be a cracker!!!

A few months ago I was around town when this frail old man was shuffling ahead of me. He was huffing and puffing and you could tell it was taking a lot out of him. I walked on and was sitting on a bench when the same old man, now with his son came shuffling towards me. The old man sat down next to me, out of breath and clearly unwell.

The son is trying his best to make him a bit comfortable. I asked the son if his dad was ok or if he needed help but he said no he didn't need help, his dad had cancer and was just a bit light headed.

Now I have a soft spot for most older people, and seeing him so unwell kind of frightened me, so I got up to walk away. I decided id just walk down to the shop, get him something with sugar in it maybe it would help. I picked up some chocolate and walked back to see if they were still there. I felt like such a weirdo giving him the chocolate but just handed it over and walked on.

Didn't wait around to see if he was ok but I hope he got home ok.

After that, just the regular stuff. I'll never give cash to homeless but I'll offer to buy tea/sandwich if I have money.

armaghlad · 03-03-2016 11:07AM

Penny Tration wrote: »

Was in the shop buying a drink a few years back. I had headphones in.

Walked off after paying, not hearing my purse (with over €600 rent money in it) drop from my bag to the floor.

Rather than nick it, some bloke chased me down to hand it back to me, everything still inside. Wouldn't take €20 when I tried to offer it as a thank you.

Hope the man experienced some good luck for his kindness

I think that's a basic moral obligation rather than kindness! And pure luck that it wasn't someone more sinister that picked it up.

JustShon · 03-03-2016 11:09AM

armaghlad wrote: »

I think that's a basic moral obligation rather than kindness! And pure luck that it wasn't someone more sinister that picked it up.

Offering him the €20 was an act of kindness on Penny's part though.

Penny Tration · 03-03-2016 11:10AM

armaghlad wrote: »

I think that's a basic moral obligation rather than kindness! And pure luck that it wasn't someone more sinister that picked it up.

I think it's kindness because there's no real recourse if someone picks it up and empties it. He didn't HAVE to give it back to me, he chose to.

I'm lucky he was nice enough to give it back.

SterlingArcher · 03-03-2016 11:15AM

Was having a weekend away with some friends. Anyway was late and us being greedy not wanting the night to be over went looking for somewhere we could aquire more drink. which we got. Heavens opened up. You know that you can barely hear someone beside you talk type downpour.

Walking back could hardly see 10 ft infront of us because of rain. Was then noticed someone lying down on a bus bench. My friend and I looked at each other. I said god damn you mam( because I heard her voice telling me to be nice. not drink related

).so we went over. turned out was an older woman. Asked her wtf she will get washed away. she explained she missed her bus home and didn't have any money other than a bus pass. Was a bit strange but getting soaked right about then.

We invited her back to the apartment we had rented for weekend. trying all the while to make her feel comfortable as possible being around 6 guys all pretty wasted. Gave her a towel and made her tea, gave her biscuits. offered her one of the rooms.she insisted she was happy with the pull out bed in the dining area. After chatting with her turned out she was released for the weekend.... What ever that ment.... Didn't want to be rude prying. Although trying not to judge. some of the guys slept with the doors locked

.

Lady was gone next day.

snowgal · 03-03-2016 11:19AM

Just before Christmas, I had 5 of those Dunnes spend 50 get €10 off vouchers. I had already done my 'big' shop so I went around looking for people with big trolleys and gave them the vouchers to put against the shop.They were delighted! Not that it cost me anything so not pure kindness but the thought that counts!

Me and OH found a wallet on the way home a few months ago (think it was also Christmas actually) alot of money in it. We brought it home (it was 4am) and tried searching for the name on facebook. Rang the credit card ppl to tell them if he rang we had it and not to cancel cards. Eventually got his number through a friend of a friend on facebook! He turned up the next day, muttered 'thanks where was it' and left...

JustShon · 03-03-2016 11:19AM

SterlingArcher wrote: »

After chatting with her turned out she was released for the weekend.... What ever that ment...

Pretty sure that means mental home (not sure of the politically correct phrase) patient who can be trusted to care for herself for a few hours who was let out for a day of shopping / walking / whatever.

Not like an insane asylum, just people with mental health issues who need professional help more often than can be provided at home.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 03-03-2016 11:22AM

snowgal wrote: »

Just before Christmas, I had 5 of those Dunnes spend 50 get €10 off vouchers. I had already done my 'big' shop so I went around looking for people with big trolleys and gave them the vouchers to put against the shop.They were delighted! Not that it cost me anything so not pure kindness but the thought that counts!

Me and OH found a wallet on the way home a few months ago (think it was also Christmas actually) alot of money in it. We brought it home (it was 4am) and tried searching for the name on facebook. Rang the credit card ppl to tell them if he rang we had it and not to cancel cards. Eventually got his number through a friend of a friend on facebook! He turned up the next day, muttered 'thanks where was it' and left...

Those vouchers have dates on them though, don't they. So say they send 5 vouchers, each one is valid for a week, for 5 weeks

whiskeyman · 03-03-2016 11:26AM

I was walking along when I noticed a woman on the opposite side of the road drop an envelope.
I tried shouting over but she didn't hear (had headphones) so I ran over and picked up the envelope.
It was stuffed full of cash (rent deposit maybe?) and I ran up to her to give it back.
She turned around as if annoyed, just took the envelope and kept walking.... never even said thanks!!!

eamonnq · 03-03-2016 11:28AM

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

a red-faced boy with the same unfortunate dental issues as his father.

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Sweet baby Jesus. each time I see AVB has posted I know it's going to be a cracker!!!

It's the little digs that do it.

snowgal · 03-03-2016 11:32AM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Those vouchers have dates on them though, don't they. So say they send 5 vouchers, each one is valid for a week, for 5 weeks

yea they do but I was giving them to the people to use on their shop that day. People who had big shops so they could use them there and then...

Boom_Bap · 03-03-2016 11:45AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Oh no no, in fairness to you wasn't suggesting that.

It's the person who initially rushes to the www that has me going "hmmmm". But particularly so if they give info (usually a photo) identifying the parties. This was another one where someone was hijacking another person's life for warm and fuzzy feelings and likes...with no evidence that the parties involved consented to the publication of what was a nice but private moment.

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

Can we just stick to the acts of kindness on this thread please rather than get into how social media/media works. Cheers.

valoren · 03-03-2016 11:46AM

I applied for a local sprint triathlon last year but due to procrastination I missed the cut off for entries and the race booked out. I speculatively put up a facebook post to see if anyone who couldn't race was willing to transfer their spot (this was allowed by the race organisers). I got a pm from a guy saying that he couldn't make the race due to unforseen circumstances, he contacted the organisers and transferred his spot to me. To top it off, he said to not worry about the race fee (€50) and just enjoy the race.

razorblunt · 03-03-2016 12:20PM

Leaving work one day last week, I saw an elderly lady struggling to use her ATM. I think she may have been partially sighted and given that it was dark, wet and the street occasionally gets a few unsavoury characters floating around. She had a wad of cash in her hand, so reluctant to leave here I went over and asked if she was ok. She said she withdrew cash already and explained there's no receipt printed but would like me to check her balance.
So I pushed her over.

Maximus Alexander · 03-03-2016 12:30PM

armaghlad wrote: »

Some people commit these random acts of kindness for the sole purpose of massaging their pathetic egos by plastering it on fb.

Does it actually matter why they do it? If the product of narcissism is random acts of kindness, then I think that's pretty much the best you can hope for. People do far, far worse to garner attention.

KERSPLAT! · 03-03-2016 12:32PM

A happy thread!!! We'll see about that! :rolleyes:

Ice Maiden · 03-03-2016 12:36PM

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

A happy thread!!! We'll see about that! :rolleyes:

armaghlad · 03-03-2016 12:38PM

Maximus Alexander wrote: »

Does it actually matter why they do it? If the product of narcissism is random acts of kindness, then I think that's pretty much the best you can hope for. People do far, far worse to garner attention.

Yes it does. There are doctors, nurses, firemen, volunteers who go above and beyond their call of duty every day. Some token gesture to massage your own ego is pathetic. I saw something last year where a couple had a spare ticket to a concert for some reason. So they invited a homeless person to attend. Obviously they took their selfies and posted it on fb and it went viral. I was left wondering two things after I heard about it: 1. Why didn't they just sell the ticket for face value and give the proceeds to the homeless person 2. What did they say/do at the end of the concert? Utterly patronising and disrespectful.

Maximus Alexander · 03-03-2016 12:40PM

It's often the simplest things that make me nearly well up with the kindness of people. Every day I walk / cycle / get the LUAS to work and there are thousands of people milling around, paying no mind to each other in their own little worlds. Everyone has a job to get to, everyone is in a rush, and other people are mere obstacles in their path.

One morning I was cycling along and a taxi pulled out in front of me when I was on a wet cobble street. I immediately learned that wet cobbles are more slippery than ice. I hit the brakes, the bike disappeared from under me, I supermanned a few feet through the air and hit the bricks pretty hard.

I was totally fine, and got up straight away, I just wanted to get out of there and spare the embarrassment. But there was instantly a crowd around me of concerned people asking was I all right and should I sit down and was there anything they could do. Total strangers, with their own busy lives, genuinely concerned. I find that pretty touching.

JustShon · 03-03-2016 12:42PM

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

A happy thread!!! We'll see about that! :rolleyes:

Yeah, seems to be going that way with the constant "PEOPLE ARE ONLY NICE FOR THEIR EGOS!" whingers in here. Oh well, it lasted a handful of pages before the argument brigade got involved.

cruais · 03-03-2016 12:48PM

My sister was in Dundrum shopping centre walking to the carpark. She noticed an elderly man, carrying a cake and looking lost.

She asked was he ok and he told her he couldnt remember where he parked the car. She asked did he know the level and he couldn't remember that either.

She walked with the man for a while and carried his cake as he was unsteady on his feet. Turned out the cake was for his daughter.

With no sign of the car, my sister brought him to the pay machine to get in touch with security. Eventually they managed to track down his parking spot and my sister brought him up to his car and off the man went.

Then she realised he never paid and knew he would be stuck at the barrier. She got in touch with security and told them, offering to pay his car park fee. Security told her not to worry they would lift the barrier for him.

Sound.

cruais · 03-03-2016 12:51PM

Kiwi in IE wrote: »

I was in a FatFace shop just before Xmas, buying pyjamas and outfit for Little Kiwi, an elderly woman approached me and told me that she had a €40 credit note, but didn't like anything in the store, she asked me would I take it from her as they would not give her a refund. I was standing in line waiting to be served with several items, and I assumed she wanted me to buy it from her. Since I was spending that anyway, I agreed and got out the money. She handed me the credit note, refused to take the money off me, said 'Merry Xmas' and walked away before I could stop her.

You should send in that story to the page i was talking about. They seem to be looking for stories!

Thats christmas spirit!

Your Face · 03-03-2016 12:54PM

JustShon wrote: »

Yeah, seems to be going that way with the constant "PEOPLE ARE ONLY NICE FOR THEIR EGOS!" whingers in here. Oh well, it lasted a handful of pages before the argument brigade got involved.

Well I'm not giving up on this thread because of the bitter life-losers with notions of importance.

eamonnq · 03-03-2016 01:01PM

JustShon wrote: »

" whingers in here.

Your Face wrote: »

the bitter life-losers with notions of importance.

Ahh.......that is more like it!!

Your Face · 03-03-2016 01:03PM

eamonnq wrote: »

Ahh.......that is more like it!!

Yeah I know.

Act of kindness

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