Today I was late for work ( ostensibly because it was too hot to sleep last night, more like staying up till 1am setting up Smoking Muff's avatar, etc, ) and on my way in I saw a car at the other side of the road, with three young ladies near it. I had to turn around to get to work, so when I did, I stopped, and found out they had a puncture, and proceeded to fit the slightly deflated spare, then escorted them to a garage a mile up the road, to pump up the spare and then showed the driver where to find a good ( and easy to find ) tyre repair shop, and at the driver's insistence left them to it. Afterwards I was reminded of an occasion a few years ago when a pipe split and all the steam blew out of the cooling system. I was stuck at the roadside for a while as the rush hour traffic crawled past til some kind person offered me 1/2 a bottle of water, which was enough to get me to a garage for more water which got me home.
What I want to know is have you ever been on the receiving end of such kindness and repaid the favour to someone else later ( perhaps even years later ). :angel: Or have you deliberately passed up on the opportunity to help someone else ( personal safety concerns notwithstanding )? :twisted:
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Good deed - good karma?
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In the classic car world everyone helps everyone else - it could be you next time! - so yes, I have been helped by fellow classic drivers and I will always stop to help another in any way I can.
When it comes to driving the everyday car though, everyone drives past and, I have to admit, I would probably do the same as you think they have AA or RAC or something similar.
Well done Jim for helping out - we should all do the same!!
When it comes to driving the everyday car though, everyone drives past and, I have to admit, I would probably do the same as you think they have AA or RAC or something similar.
Well done Jim for helping out - we should all do the same!!
Quote by Mikehboy19
Yeah i'm stck in a viscous cirle, its give give and give to anyone in need yet getting none back. Unless what you say is true, it will all come back to me years down the line. Gawd thats gonna be one BIG act of kindness. So which one of you gals is gonna help with that? :P
You've got to belive in "what goes around, comes around" - otherwise, what is the soddin' point? Provide the world with a general purpose doormat / mug / etc.?
Yes Jim ;
I know that I agree with you and I know that I should follow your example - it is just that in normal day to day life you expect people to be able to look after themselves! Maybe this is what is wrong with the way we live today - we expect that people can look after themselves, forget that some can not, rely on private clubs etc.
Consequently, the only people that help each other are those that are in minority groups or those that trust each other.
McC
I know that I agree with you and I know that I should follow your example - it is just that in normal day to day life you expect people to be able to look after themselves! Maybe this is what is wrong with the way we live today - we expect that people can look after themselves, forget that some can not, rely on private clubs etc.
Consequently, the only people that help each other are those that are in minority groups or those that trust each other.
McC
Quote by McCloggie
Consequently, the only people that help each other are those that are in minority groups or those that trust each other.
McC
As a ( wannabe ) biker I think of myself as 'in a minority', so I do what I can to help bikers ( even moving to the side to help a bike overtake me is a help ) - but in this instance I saw three ladies - no man - in apparant need of help. And my first instinct was to help if I could to get them on their way - if it was anything mechanical, I would probably have to pass. If there was a man, I probably would have driven past with out it pricking my conscience later. Despite what one of the girls said at the time, I am no angel.
Sex God
This thread reminds me of the film Pay It Forward, such a moving film. So thats what I do, if i can help someone, i will, even to the extent i leave myself short on time and make myself tired 
But hey, when i get the good karma back, its such a good feeling :rose:
But hey, when i get the good karma back, its such a good feeling :rose:
Fair play to you Jim and thank God there are still people who would help out.
As you have probably guessed, I live abroad, but my mother lives in Scotland (and other family members live abroad as well). I just hope that if anything happens to my mother there are people like you or others on this site who will help people out.
In this world of mobile phones, 24 hour call out services for new cars etc. we forget the importance of actually helping others. It is not just "karma" but what we should all be doing.
Mc
As you have probably guessed, I live abroad, but my mother lives in Scotland (and other family members live abroad as well). I just hope that if anything happens to my mother there are people like you or others on this site who will help people out.
In this world of mobile phones, 24 hour call out services for new cars etc. we forget the importance of actually helping others. It is not just "karma" but what we should all be doing.
Mc
Sex God
Helping people out is something that I think most people either do or don't do on a split second decision.
I once stopped to help a middle aged couple who had been forced to stop by another driver cuting them off and then getting out and hurling abuse and threatening them. As it was the incident ended with nothing more than an exchange of heated words but when I had time to think about it afterwards I couldn't help thinking the guy could have had a knife and it ended very differently. At the time that didn't even come to mind and I am still glad I stopped but I can understand why no-one else did.
Roger the Dragon
I once stopped to help a middle aged couple who had been forced to stop by another driver cuting them off and then getting out and hurling abuse and threatening them. As it was the incident ended with nothing more than an exchange of heated words but when I had time to think about it afterwards I couldn't help thinking the guy could have had a knife and it ended very differently. At the time that didn't even come to mind and I am still glad I stopped but I can understand why no-one else did.
Roger the Dragon
Orgasminator
Well dealing with company cars for a living I do good deeds all the time, everyday - I know I get paid for it but I do go out of my way to help. I've even gone to pick someone up in my own car who was stranded on the motorway - he wasn't used to being squashed into a small hatchback type car - his was a nice big X5! 
As it happens I got a flat tyre on Friday.... luckily I was parked at work so I thought lots of help would be on hand. Sod's law came into force as a week ago I'd just has my AA reminder come through the post but as I didn't have any money at the time I thought I'd be ok for a few weeks until I got paid.... big mistake! Anyway, I went upstairs to my department to see if anyone could help me out with getting the nuts off the tyre so I could change it..... not one single person helped me out - I was so angry and upset. Upset at the fact that I was a stupid female unable to cope on my own and angry that no one had the time of day for me when I do people favours every day - especially those in my department! In the end one very nice person came to my rescue and sweated buckets changing the tyre for me - he looked like he'd jumped into a bath full of water when he'd finished!
Anyway back to the original point.... I always try to help out where I can....I do tend to steer clear if it's quiet on the roads though as I wouldn't really feel safe. I have stopped on a couple of occasions to offer assistance because I know if I was in that situation I'd want someone to help me out.
I would like to think that a good turn gets noticed and someone would help you if you ever needed it.
As it happens I got a flat tyre on Friday.... luckily I was parked at work so I thought lots of help would be on hand. Sod's law came into force as a week ago I'd just has my AA reminder come through the post but as I didn't have any money at the time I thought I'd be ok for a few weeks until I got paid.... big mistake! Anyway, I went upstairs to my department to see if anyone could help me out with getting the nuts off the tyre so I could change it..... not one single person helped me out - I was so angry and upset. Upset at the fact that I was a stupid female unable to cope on my own and angry that no one had the time of day for me when I do people favours every day - especially those in my department! In the end one very nice person came to my rescue and sweated buckets changing the tyre for me - he looked like he'd jumped into a bath full of water when he'd finished!
Anyway back to the original point.... I always try to help out where I can....I do tend to steer clear if it's quiet on the roads though as I wouldn't really feel safe. I have stopped on a couple of occasions to offer assistance because I know if I was in that situation I'd want someone to help me out.
I would like to think that a good turn gets noticed and someone would help you if you ever needed it.
Well Rog mate been in same boat, and I ended up in hospital after a group of 20 somthing yobs started attacking a late 40's couple in their car, and I went to call Police (There were 7 of them, I not that stupid) Sadly they took offence to me reading out their number plate and turned on me, thats why I do King Fu and Aikido now so I can look after myself...
But on the non violent end of the scale I carry a hi vis in the front of the car so I can help the any stranded motorists I find, and get a chance to help a good couple a year. I have done more on spot first aid than I can count, including catching the guy on the train who fainted in the heat, and putting the drunk back together after he tripped at waterloo then getting him home.
Does it pay off, for me yes, I could not walk away from anything, it is part of my nature. An example being when there was a nasty crash 200 yards away while myself and 12 collegues were walking to lunch, they just carried on, I was already sprinting towards it to assist... (No serious injuries thank god, that time anyway)
Also in my time I have been fed by a kind lady when we were all stuck on the M1 for 5 hours. The guy who fainted insisted on getting my name and posted me a game as a thank you, and the guys who attacked me, well they went to jail :twisted: I dont do it for reward, but lets face it when you help someone the reward is helping someone, what more can I say.
But on the non violent end of the scale I carry a hi vis in the front of the car so I can help the any stranded motorists I find, and get a chance to help a good couple a year. I have done more on spot first aid than I can count, including catching the guy on the train who fainted in the heat, and putting the drunk back together after he tripped at waterloo then getting him home.
Does it pay off, for me yes, I could not walk away from anything, it is part of my nature. An example being when there was a nasty crash 200 yards away while myself and 12 collegues were walking to lunch, they just carried on, I was already sprinting towards it to assist... (No serious injuries thank god, that time anyway)
Also in my time I have been fed by a kind lady when we were all stuck on the M1 for 5 hours. The guy who fainted insisted on getting my name and posted me a game as a thank you, and the guys who attacked me, well they went to jail :twisted: I dont do it for reward, but lets face it when you help someone the reward is helping someone, what more can I say.
Maybe living abroad helps when you need help.
I know that in France, Italy, Spain and now here in Holland we all help each other out. Last week, a Brit guy slept in his car and let his battery run down. He phoned a mutual UK friend who is a mechanic for help. Friend said he was sorry but was busy but contact me as I had jump leads etc and if it was more serious I could either get the car car going or ask for help.
Result - no problems we sorted the guy out.
Maybe being part of an ex-pat community we still retain the one for all mentality.
McC
I know that in France, Italy, Spain and now here in Holland we all help each other out. Last week, a Brit guy slept in his car and let his battery run down. He phoned a mutual UK friend who is a mechanic for help. Friend said he was sorry but was busy but contact me as I had jump leads etc and if it was more serious I could either get the car car going or ask for help.
Result - no problems we sorted the guy out.
Maybe being part of an ex-pat community we still retain the one for all mentality.
McC
I'm always at my most helpful after a few drinks, don't know if it's a curse or a blessing. But on one occasion after a night out in uni I was walking down the road on my way home when I saw this obviously drunk bloke just buckle and roll over so I decided to help him, flagged a taxi and persuaded the taxi driver that the bloke was sober enough, and paid his fare to wherever he ended up going (I was insisting the hospital, but he wasn't having any of it).
There's been other instances, but I've normally forgotten them in the alcohol induced blur of time
There's been other instances, but I've normally forgotten them in the alcohol induced blur of time
Quote by smokerjim
As a ( wannabe ) biker I think of myself as 'in a minority', so I do what I can to help bikers ( even moving to the side to help a bike overtake me is a help ) - but in this instance I saw three ladies - no man - in apparant need of help. And my first instinct was to help if I could to get them on their way - if it was anything mechanical, I would probably have to pass. If there was a man, I probably would have driven past with out it pricking my conscience later. Despite what one of the girls said at the time, I am no angel.
I'm biker and I'll always stop to help another biker. Goes a bit further with us bikers, we respect each other on the road and can happily chat at petrol stations to see if everything is ok..
Where I used to live, there was a blind man. He had to cross one road by my house to get to the local shop. I would always go out or stop, walk back with him and wait to help him across the road.
I don't expect people to help me as good karma, would be nice if everyone helped everyone....shocked that nobody would help onlyme1981! But you always get a warm feeling when helping someone.
Bit like blood doning in away. You help someone live, you may need it yourself oneday.
As I was raise to respect yur elders and be polite to the ladies, I just cant go by a car stranded on the side...
Just today on the M25 a young lady had her Saab on the side... already had bombed by her by the time I realized she was there... Up to the Reigate exit and do the flip flop. She had run out of petrol.. lucky her... I just happen to always carry a tank in the car for just such emergencies... gassed her up got her on her way... a thank you and a smile... that was my reward... dont need nothing else...
I believe that if you continue to be polite and courteous that eventually it will rub off on ppl... I know that there are some that are just not able to do it but it doesnt stop me from trying.
As a side note.. if anyone sees a blaze orange clubby on the side PLS STOP... thanks..
Just today on the M25 a young lady had her Saab on the side... already had bombed by her by the time I realized she was there... Up to the Reigate exit and do the flip flop. She had run out of petrol.. lucky her... I just happen to always carry a tank in the car for just such emergencies... gassed her up got her on her way... a thank you and a smile... that was my reward... dont need nothing else...
I believe that if you continue to be polite and courteous that eventually it will rub off on ppl... I know that there are some that are just not able to do it but it doesnt stop me from trying.
As a side note.. if anyone sees a blaze orange clubby on the side PLS STOP... thanks..
I used to be a milman, and saw some sight's. one time in Edinburgh, this guy came up to me, it's about , and ask's for help, this guy was a mess, his face had been scored by a stanley knife and something poured over his head, it honestly looked like the guy's face was melting.
he wanted me to call an ambulance but not the police, I drove him to his flat and then went to the police station to tell them this guy badly needed an ambulance, but I had not taken note of the address and in that area every building looked the same.
Had I helped this poor guy? I dont think I did, I had become helpless in my attempts to help.
It played on my mind for sometime after....I reckon I panicked, or perhaps it was nerves.
he wanted me to call an ambulance but not the police, I drove him to his flat and then went to the police station to tell them this guy badly needed an ambulance, but I had not taken note of the address and in that area every building looked the same.
Had I helped this poor guy? I dont think I did, I had become helpless in my attempts to help.
It played on my mind for sometime after....I reckon I panicked, or perhaps it was nerves.
Sex God
I know the same feeling last year....
i was driving in london ( a bad move) due to london underground strike action(dont you love them). Anyway my car overheated and steam was coming out of the enjgin.
i was parked on a MAJOR road at a 20 degree angle and not one single person got out of there car to help me. If i saw someone in difficultie i dont mind giving 5/10 mins of my time tohelp them.
MikeC
i was driving in london ( a bad move) due to london underground strike action(dont you love them). Anyway my car overheated and steam was coming out of the enjgin.
i was parked on a MAJOR road at a 20 degree angle and not one single person got out of there car to help me. If i saw someone in difficultie i dont mind giving 5/10 mins of my time tohelp them.
MikeC
It's not just the offering of assitance that effects good and bad karma.
We should live our lives the karmic (?) way. What we put out there is what we get back in return. They even teach that in NLP now.
For the most part I try to see the soul when interacting with others, though sometimes I have to admit, some souls make it difficult to do.
Something I learned from Tony Robbins (yeah, you guys are gonna hear a lot about him, just like my friends do now too) treat strangers like they're family. (within reason)
And having said that, bear in mind that sometimes we treat family worse than we would treat our friends.
Karma, karma, karma.....I'm the astrological scales....karma (justice) is my balance.
We should live our lives the karmic (?) way. What we put out there is what we get back in return. They even teach that in NLP now.
For the most part I try to see the soul when interacting with others, though sometimes I have to admit, some souls make it difficult to do.
Something I learned from Tony Robbins (yeah, you guys are gonna hear a lot about him, just like my friends do now too) treat strangers like they're family. (within reason)
And having said that, bear in mind that sometimes we treat family worse than we would treat our friends.
Karma, karma, karma.....I'm the astrological scales....karma (justice) is my balance.
Excellent topic there SmokerJim.
Have been thinking about it a bit and like a good few others here, I can't walk on by if someone else is in a bit of trouble. But it also made me think of all the times I have stepped in and it hasn't been appreciated or ended up in a worse situation.
Worse time was stepping in to help a woman who was getting slapped about by her boyfriend in the street, and you guessed it, she turned on me for decking her boyfriend.
A stupid incident that annoyed the hell out of me - waiting for a night bus in central london at 4 am, car pulls up with 5 youths in it asking for directions to a bit of London I don't know. Having an A to Z in my bag, i gave it to them to find their way as many years before someone had done exactly the same to our group when we were late for a footie match.
Only for them to drive 3 yards up from the bus stop, park for 2 mins and then hurl the A to Z out of the window onto the pavement. On going up to them and discussing why they were littering, I found out that the reason for it being thrown out was " we can't be bothered with maps" ..... " so why'd you ******* accept it then you dolts!!!"
Sometimes altruistic acts aren't always welcomed, would never stop me from stepping in if I thought I could help though.
Have been thinking about it a bit and like a good few others here, I can't walk on by if someone else is in a bit of trouble. But it also made me think of all the times I have stepped in and it hasn't been appreciated or ended up in a worse situation.
Worse time was stepping in to help a woman who was getting slapped about by her boyfriend in the street, and you guessed it, she turned on me for decking her boyfriend.
A stupid incident that annoyed the hell out of me - waiting for a night bus in central london at 4 am, car pulls up with 5 youths in it asking for directions to a bit of London I don't know. Having an A to Z in my bag, i gave it to them to find their way as many years before someone had done exactly the same to our group when we were late for a footie match.
Only for them to drive 3 yards up from the bus stop, park for 2 mins and then hurl the A to Z out of the window onto the pavement. On going up to them and discussing why they were littering, I found out that the reason for it being thrown out was " we can't be bothered with maps" ..... " so why'd you ******* accept it then you dolts!!!"
Sometimes altruistic acts aren't always welcomed, would never stop me from stepping in if I thought I could help though.
Sex God
Quote by McCloggie
Yes Jim ;
I know that I agree with you and I know that I should follow your example - it is just that in normal day to day life you expect people to be able to look after themselves!
McC
I would always offer help and infact did so last week when I saw a car on the road side containing a middle aged couple. I stopped and asked if they needed any help, perhaps borrow my mobile to call breakdown services etc?
It turned out their car had only overheated so I gave them the water I always carry in a large bottle in my boot. It got them back on the road and they were pleased.
Your comments above are I'm sure the thoughts of a lot of people. They carry on driving past expecting the person is ok.
Sadly this was not the case for a young woman who lived quite near to us when we were living in Devon many years ago.
Her car broke down early one morning and this in the days before mobile phones, she decided to walk the almost deserted road and try to find a phone box.
At some point along her journey, she was pulled into a car, beaten up, , strangled and then dumped back on the road side. She was age 23 and 5 months pregnant :cry:
After the event several witnesses came forward to say they had also passed her but didn't think to stop and ask if she needed help
What a pity one of the others hadn't stopped. She might still be alive today . . .
Tracy-Jayne
I used to be that ignorant git that walked past and looked the other way.
But after meeting my current wife I’ve learnt a lot about the joy of being human!!
My wife’s philosophy has always one patience and understanding.
When that annoying person starts a pointless conversation and you want to walk away she pointed out that they may be lonely and I’m the only person that they have spoken to all week so what’s ten minuets of your time?
When out and all the miserable buggers are scowling at you, she just smiles at them on the premise that as they don’t have a smile of there own if she gives them one of hers the world should be a better place (Amazing but it works).
:)
So now I’ll chat to any one, walk around smiling like a senile idiot, do favours with no complaint. Given up push starting people though found it easier to carry jump leads and tow rope in car at all times.
The rewards are great I now sleep well at nights and am at peace with my self . And if nobody offers to help me in return it doesn’t worry me because I now know contentment. :shock:
But after meeting my current wife I’ve learnt a lot about the joy of being human!!
My wife’s philosophy has always one patience and understanding.
When that annoying person starts a pointless conversation and you want to walk away she pointed out that they may be lonely and I’m the only person that they have spoken to all week so what’s ten minuets of your time?
When out and all the miserable buggers are scowling at you, she just smiles at them on the premise that as they don’t have a smile of there own if she gives them one of hers the world should be a better place (Amazing but it works).
:) So now I’ll chat to any one, walk around smiling like a senile idiot, do favours with no complaint. Given up push starting people though found it easier to carry jump leads and tow rope in car at all times.
The rewards are great I now sleep well at nights and am at peace with my self . And if nobody offers to help me in return it doesn’t worry me because I now know contentment. :shock:
Sex God
I find that it isn't just karma that affects your actions. I started a new job and was left training over a night shift with a guy who was gonna leave pretty much later in the week. I never knew this but we were chatting away. Hell he even brought in his own PC so we could play a few games instead.
This is were the kindness came in. He had an illegal version of XP home (Don't ask where he got it), which was so full of holes and incorrectly setup I offered to put XP Pro on as we got on. I went home and got the stuff needed.
Put everything back on his PC and tweaked the memory to make things run smoother. Great first night 'training' I thought.
The next night I was feeling ill so he told me to sleep it off. Fine I thought but there was a lot of work that needed doing. He talked me into sleeping which I obliged. Got called into the directors office the next morning. He took charge of everything and stood up for me. I learned he left the next day.
My opinion karma is just a word to give an excuse to be nice. If it is inheriently in your nature then you wouldn't need the word and care about the payback.
This is were the kindness came in. He had an illegal version of XP home (Don't ask where he got it), which was so full of holes and incorrectly setup I offered to put XP Pro on as we got on. I went home and got the stuff needed.
Put everything back on his PC and tweaked the memory to make things run smoother. Great first night 'training' I thought.
The next night I was feeling ill so he told me to sleep it off. Fine I thought but there was a lot of work that needed doing. He talked me into sleeping which I obliged. Got called into the directors office the next morning. He took charge of everything and stood up for me. I learned he left the next day.
My opinion karma is just a word to give an excuse to be nice. If it is inheriently in your nature then you wouldn't need the word and care about the payback.
