Fate of the Genuine Help Seeker
Situation 1:
Your car just broke down and for some reason, you have no money in your pocket and you’re getting late for a job interview(or an important meeting, an exam, etc). You have no choice but to try and ask someone for a ride. What are the chances of someone stopping?
Situation 2
You’re driving down a busy road and someone beckons you to stop. You register the broken down car. But all the stories you’ve ever heard of car/mobile snatchings race through your head and you grow wary. What are the chances you will stop your car to help a stranger?
And that is the dilemma of living in a city with a high crime rate. Trust can become a liability and a good samaritan can end up losing his money/car/younameit.
It is considered common sense to not open your door to even give water to a thirsty man out in the street. People have stopped helping men on bikes with directions, in case a gun is secretly pointed at them. Criminals have exploited people’s sympathies for such a long time now, that the city dwellers have learnt to stop sympathizing with those in genuine need for help.
I hope I am wrong here, and I would love the readers to prove that with examples, but the question of who we can really trust is a hard one to answer.
havent been to karachi for a while…but i guess as far as getting a lift from someone…you can judge from looking at a person.
I guess we can generalize people who rob and people who are just asking for a ride….from the way they look and they dressed up…!!
You are giving a hypothetical situation for which there are as many questions as there are answers. And numerous varations thereof.
Well I have generously offered lifts in the past, but due to the current state, I won’t be able to provide the same gesture again.
Well, I have the above, and even continue to do so now, sometimes that is, all the while praying to God that I don’t become a statistic by doing the good deed.
Sid, by the way, an excellent post.
I’ve become reluctant to help and I noticed the same attitude from some people when I was lost in Defence. I unconsciously act the same no matter which city I’m in now.
Sid, I never could have expressed this predicament better than you. Thankyou for the post.
It is common sense not to give strangers a ride; regardless of which country you are in. I live in Arizona and I still don’t stop to give people a ride. COM’ON YA SILLY GOOSE!!!!
hey retard, it has nothing to do with hitch hiking. it goes to the smallest of things of giving directions.
For situation 1:
I will try for a lift although I know that nobody will stop but I’ll take chance.
For situation 2:
I will not stop my car at any cost untill someone come in front of my car.
Now after you guys read the comment by me on situation 2 you will realise that I am not wrong and in situation 1 when nobody will give me lift, although I feel irritating but I will not blame to that person.
dear author, here is my answer:
scenario#1 is invalid and unlikely to happen to anyone. how can you forget both your mobile as well as your wallet at the same time? and why didn’t you make a u turn as soon as you realized that? were you smoking crack or what?
scenario#2, No i won’t stop cos thats what my mom told. who would you listen to? your parents or the stranger?
#1:100%
#2:nil
Absolutely no chance of me stopping in either scenario. I’ll only stop to help old people or a family with children.
Wo Shahid Afridi ney tu Emaan Ali ko dekh kar car rokh di the..bechara afridi.. Shoaib malik apni bike par leygaya..yehi waja ha k shoaib malik captaaan hay aur afridi nahin.
Fear of GOD and act of kindness in that aspect never leave a bad patch.
I always STOP & Help, and I always take my chance with Concrete faith in The Supreme One., asking HIM help if the other person have some bad intention. And so Far Alhamdo Lillah I always gathered Duas and well wishes.
#1: If you are a decent looking man or a decent-looking woman without a burka, the chances of stopping are good. (i dont refer to the burka as a religious thing here but simply as a practical one—people are more likely to stop if they can see your face)
#2: If i am with my husband we might stop, judging on the apparent decency of the person hailing us. If i am alone, i will not stop under any circumstances, but i can still help by other means (such as calling a towing service, or calling 15 if the person needs police help, etc)
i think we should all carry guns with us like in peshawer.. after a few standoffs between the bandits and people.. i am sure mobile/car snatching will end!
Lols @ adnan.
Nice analysis
yeah Haseeb I know you are willing to introduce The Second Amendment of US Constitution. Peshawar tu muft me badnaam hay :(
other day a mobile snatcher was killed by a victim while he was running away after the crime…
#1.i. If the destination is not important, i will take a rickshaw or taxi back to home and made the payment there
ii. How about asking a ride from Police Mobile
shukar aap log world cup sey jaldi bahir ho gaay warna Emaan sey pata nahein kya ho jata….
Friends and family ki jab bhi chali baat….sara din saree raat
ps..after today’s match it seems that AUSTRALIA wins the cup unopposed
wasiq, I am sure Proteas will show the mirror to Aussies.
Aus cruise into final with 7-wkt win
A Lack what pouerty my Mu≈øe brings forth,
That hauing ≈øuch a skope to ≈øhow her pride,
The argument all bare is of more worth
Then when it hath my added prai≈øe be≈øide.
Oh blame me not if I no more can write!
Looke in your gla≈ø≈øe and there appeares a face,
That ouer-goes my blunt inuention quite,
Dulling my lines,and doing me di≈øgrace.
Were it not ≈øinfull then ≈øtriuing to mend,
To mar the ≈øubiect that before was well,
For to no other pa≈ø≈øe my ver≈øes tend,
Then of your graces and your gifts to tell.
And more,much more then in my ver≈øe can ≈øit,
Your owne gla≈ø≈øe ≈øhowes you,when you looke in it
Shakespeare’s sonnets