How willing are you to help a stranger?

[MayheM]

I was actually walking home from work the other day and went a different way. I happened to walk past another old woman who looked like she was struggling to walk up some stairs. She was an old Chinese woman with a pink plastic bag in her hand. For anyone who has visited San Francisco that normally indicates someone has gone to Chinatown. From where I was to Chinatown was about two miles, so I was thinking if this woman walked she is really tired. I stopped and asked her if she needed help. She smiled and said in broken English, no but thank you. I am not trying to be all goody goody, but it really did make me smile and feel good that I have begun to think more about everyone around me and not just the people I know.

[Supervillain]

I was actually walking home from work the other day and went a different way. I happened to walk past another old woman who looked like she was struggling to walk up some stairs. She was an old Chinese woman with a pink plastic bag in her hand. For anyone who has visited San Francisco that normally indicates someone has gone to Chinatown. From where I was to Chinatown was about two miles, so I was thinking if this woman walked she is really tired. I stopped and asked her if she needed help. She smiled and said in broken English, no but thank you. I am not trying to be all goody goody, but it really did make me smile and feel good that I have begun to think more about everyone around me and not just the people I know.

Man, you are a quite the nice guy. I think a lot of this has to do with environment. I've been living in Tucson for 5 years, and everyone here has a story about how they only need 2 more bucks to get their diabetes medication at the CVS. Or how they are late to work and need a ride, or they are on their way to Phoenix and ran out of gas.

I'd love to help little old ladies across the street if they weren't alcoholics in power scooters.

Anyway, I'm hoping to move to San Fran in the coming months (because I can't stand this hell hole much longer). I am hoping my attitude changes back to what is used to be. This place has really brought be down :/

You really seem nicer than the average dude, and I applaud you for that

[MayheM]

Yeah I am normally not one to give money to strangers. Though there was one time back in college where I helped this guy out and later thought to myself it was "F"ing stupid. A guy walked up to me and in a parking lot and asked for help. Now I am the son of a NYC cop and when it comes to being suspicious of people I am hyper alert. He noticed my accent and asked where I was from. When I said new your he was like oh never mind... I asked what do you mean? he said I was going to ask you for a ride to go get my car but new yorkers will not help. So of course to prove him wrong I gave him a ride. He said to me as we drove the 5 blocks to get his car, "Thanks for the ride, you have changed my opinion of New Yorkers". I told him he was welcome but I said "Don't make me regret changing his mind about New Yorkers."

I now look back and see that could have gone a totally different direction. My point is, giving someone time is easy and safe with little to no loss on my part. So I am willing to give far more. When it comes to money or possible harm, I am far less willing to help.

[Gary]

You got to be careful who you help. I wouldn't give anyone a ride, mainly because of those bastards out there that would take advantage of your kindness. I heard of this old couple that gave some stranger a ride, the guy ended up killing the wife in front of the husband then killed him. Very sad that there are people out there like that.