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Post by awlrite4now on May 19, 2006 1:58:02 GMT -5
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Post by bjobsessed on May 19, 2006 7:11:37 GMT -5
Wow! Very scary to think that no one would help. Like it was said, better safe than sorry.
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Post by greenbeing on May 20, 2006 10:37:28 GMT -5
Related question: When is it safe to help?
This has been bugging me for a couple weeks now. 12:30 am, in the dark, stopped at a stoplight, a lady, not walking so well, but unable to tell if it was a physical defect, or drink-related, approached my car. She crossed the street, passing a stopped car, and walking nearly into a second moving car. There are several bars in the area, not the best strip in town, but not the worst, by far, near some very nice neighborhoods. She came up to the passenger window, but did not touch the car. "Can you help me, Excuse me, Excuse me?" I don't have automatic windows or locks, so I couldn't roll the window down, so I called, "Yes, what do you need?" And she kept saying, "Excuse me, excuse me, can you help me?"
Now, there was a gas station, perfectly lit, very bright, safe, open, with a pay phone out front and clerks inside, only another 20 yards away. She wouldn't tell me what she needed, and I couldn't, physically could not, without putting the car in park, unfastening my seatbelt, and crawling over the seat, roll the window down. Not to mention, I am a single female, in the middle of the night, who is worried for my own safety. She didn't seem to pose a threat, but one never knows.
When I was about ten my grandpa and I pulled over right off the interstate to see if my GP could help a guy who was having car trouble. Before cell phones, this area of town wasn't built up, he'd have had to walk a couple miles to get help. The man turned out to be very drunk and tried to get into the car. (My door was locked, though I know I did NOT lock it, as I never did when I was little...)
After that, my GP and parents would always tell us, when travelling, even to work, as single girls, to NEVER stop. We aren't a cell family, so calling for help for people is not an option. Seeing as how most everyone here is female, when is it okay to help? And when do you have to grit your teeth and move on?
--GB
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Post by inuvik on May 20, 2006 12:57:12 GMT -5
Not to mention, I am a single female, in the middle of the night, who is worried for my own safety. She didn't seem to pose a threat, but one never knows. I think this is the key. I would never stop my car to try to help or investigate when I am by myself. However, if I wasn't by myself I probably would. It is just too unsafe, and you never know when someone might be scamming. Others could suddenly "appear". I admit, some of this is big city fear. The town where I grew up I would be more likely to help someone.
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Post by bjobsessed on May 20, 2006 13:29:31 GMT -5
I think in the scene presented in the NBC video, it would be pretty safe since it was very busy with a lot of people around. That's why I was so surprised that no one would help. In GB's case, I think I'd be a little hesitant to get out of the car.
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Post by greenbeing on May 20, 2006 14:40:00 GMT -5
I think in the scene presented in the NBC video, it would be pretty safe since it was very busy with a lot of people around. That's why I was so surprised that no one would help. In GB's case, I think I'd be a little hesitant to get out of the car. I'm at work, so I couldn't watch the video with sound, but I just remembered something one of our workstudies told me years ago. Her co-worker at another job took her bratty young daughter (say four or five) to the mall. (One of those parents who always gives in when the kids puts up a fuss, so they learn to do it more.) Well, this time, the daughter just wanted to leave the department store, so she started screaming and hollering and crying and yelling. The mom tried to calm her down, and grabbed the kid to get her out of there, but the daughter threw herself on the floor and screamed: "You're not my mom, don't touch me!" Security was called. They had to bring in the police, family members, and I think the birth certificate before they let them go. The daughter had seen something on TV, I think, that made her say that. Be careful what your children see! But like bjobsessed said earlier: Better safe than sorry. The mom understood that, so she wasn't mad at the police. I just hope that daughter learned something, too. --GB
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Post by awlrite4now on May 20, 2006 16:59:46 GMT -5
I agree with you about not opening the door or window of the car to a stranger. I always lock my car doors, even in my own driveway when I'm coming back out to the car. I also never roll the windows down for a stranger. This is the reason I have a cell phone. Not to chat. Not so someone can always find me, because at least half the time, it's not even on. I have it for the times when I must have help.
The time that I rolled my car across that cotton field, my purse with the cell phone in it stayed in the seat beside me, while all the cds in the seat went flying. I was able to summon help, although a kind passerby had already called 911. (Strangely, I called my husband first, rather than 911.)
It's good to know when you are travelling if 911 is the highway emergency number in that area. When you cross a state line, generally there is a sign saying what the short number is for the state police. In some cases, 911 won't work. Being alert is part of being safe.
I had a flat on a busy interstate in Memphis once. I don't have roadside assistance. I called the state police to tell them I was on the inside lane in the emergency zone, I was travelling alone, and that I didn't want to be a road hazard. Within 5 minutes, a patrolman was there. He changed my tire to the little spare, told me where the nearest tire store was, and was polite to a fault. Usually, help can be obtained if you know how to ask.
In a case like you had with the woman, you did the right thing. The only thing I might have done differently would have been to go to the well lit gas station and tell them this woman was out there and possibly call the police from there. They would have come to make certain she wasn't a traffic hazard, and if she was high or drunk, they could have dealt with her. You would have been safe there, and whatever was wrong with the woman could have been taken care of by the proper authorities.
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Post by greenbeing on May 20, 2006 17:19:04 GMT -5
In a case like you had with the woman, you did the right thing. The only thing I might have done differently would have been to go to the well lit gas station and tell them this woman was out there and possibly call the police from there. They would have come to make certain she wasn't a traffic hazard, and if she was high or drunk, they could have dealt with her. You would have been safe there, and whatever was wrong with the woman could have been taken care of by the proper authorities. Oh! That is very good advice, Alice, I never thought of that! (Which is why I asked. ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) Silly me!) I never thought of the idea that she could have been on drugs, either. Goodness, where was my head? Hopefully there won't be a next time, but if there is, I feel betterly prepared to handle the situation. --GB
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