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The biggest good deed I ever managed was on the way home for a 4 day weekend while I was in the Marines. I had just got my enlistment bonus and was planning one hell of a weekend. However, I stop at some middle of nowhere gas station to fill up and as I am leaving town I see this family standing on the sidewalk watching the firefighters put out what was left of their house. I inquired as to whos house had burnt and the father with tears in his eyes said it was their home. So I got out some money and gave it to them and said it was just a little something to help. I got in my car and was about to drive away when the dad rushes up and says he can't take it. I told him to take it because he would put it to better use than I would. He asked my name and I told him it didn't matter, said goodbye and drove away.
I still have no idea who they were but I am sure most people aren't used to strangers walking up and giving them a thousand dollars then leaving without dropping a name. I have never told anyone outside of family and close friends about it. I try to good as much good as I can. As my father used to say, "A man is only as good as his name." I may tend to come off as an a-hole but I just try to do the best I can. That one event however has always stood out in my mind. I have no idea why I did it. It's not like I really wanted to but it just felt like the right thing to do.
In the end I hope it helped them out and I wish I could manage to do it more often.
Yes...shame on you for doing a good deed. Above and beyond the call of duty. Aw crap now you made me feel emotions.
:)
This only sort of qualifies as a good deed not going unpunished. One time, in the dead of winter, I saw a guy trudging up a hill. I offered him a ride as far as I was going down that road. He gave me some weird looks and seemed a bit uncomfortable. I'd like to think it wasn't because I was white. :)
This only sort of qualifies as a good deed not going unpunished. One time, in the dead of winter, I saw a guy trudging up a hill. I offered him a ride as far as I was going down that road. He gave me some weird looks and seemed a bit uncomfortable. I'd like to think it wasn't because I was white. :)
[Ali G]Is it because I is white?[/Ali G]
And every time I pull up to a red light and someone is begging. I can not even make eye contact.That's because if you do, they wash your windshield.
I went to Italy about five years ago, and when I was there, I saw a man door-check a Gypsy that was trying to wash his windows. He just up and slammed the guy with his car door. Prick.
Not wanting addresses or such but do you guys think the area you live changes this? Last time I had a flat I was in a small town here in Kentucky and I had so many people stop and ask if I needed help (which I didn't) that it took quite a while to change the flat just because I had to keep saying, "No I'm good thank you."Sometimes rural folks might be more helpful (if your car is broken down on the side of the road) and other times, not so much. If you live out in the middle of the sticks and somebody shows up on your doorstep asking for help, they are likely to be looking for someone to rob. It happened to me when I was younger. A guy came to the door, said his car was broken down, and asked if he could come in to use the phone. My mom wouldn't let him in. He went around to the barn and tried to steal our truck. Another time a lady in the community answered the door only to be taken hostage and driven to an ATM. She was saved by the fact that her attacker was an idiot and let her out at an ATM where she could just run inside the store and call the sheriffs. When your nearest neighbor is too far away to hear a scream you have to be more careful about answering the door.
On the other hand, you're probably more likely to be a victim of the bystander effect in a densely populated area. Kitty Genovese is the case that is always mentioned in this regard.
Point of order:
Getting involved in a civil disturbance is the MOST DANGEROUS thing you can do as a Police Officer.
Especially in rural areas. Everyone's armed. I'm still in touch with my old Scoutmaster, Jeff, who used to be the Chief of Police for Ticonderoga, NY, and he's told me some horror stories about domestic disturbance calls. One time, he knocked on a door, and when no one answered, he opened it. A split second later, some lunatic comes barreling out waving a double-bitted axe. Jeff said that he felt the wind from the blade as it went past his face.