DO YOU offer to help strangers?

[DawnCt1]

i usually do, it just is something i do spontaneously without a lot of thought. well i gave it some thought today. i have been cooped up in my house so i decided that i would go to the book store, to the pharmacy, the grocery store and wall mart. i had a zip up fleece that i had over my shoulders and my huge abduction pillow splint. entering barnes and noble a nice young man opened the door for me.
that was very nice. on to the grocery store. this was difficult. a couple of people watched me struggling to separate the carts; no help. more observers watched me struggle with the freezer door, no help. lots of cart obstructions with no offers to move the cart aside as i steered with my left hand. the bagger was very nice. offered help to the car. it was raining so i declined. the way that she bagged it made loading the car easy and i had thanked her for that. ON TO WALL MART! as i was checking out, a young mother with an infant said : "please let me help you with your jacket. i broke my elbow once and i know just how it feels" i really was just going to throw my jacket back on my shoulder but she was SOOO NICE, that i graciously accepted. thank you "young mom with they beautiful baby, he will grow up to be a nice young man"

 

[mickeyboat]

Yes, I do. And selfishly, I do it because it makes me feel good.

Denae

 

[FroggyinArk]

yup i helped an older man, who obviously had health problems( was in the power cart at wal mart and carrying a cane as well, ) about 45 min ago, he had two large bags of dog food in the fron t of thepower cart, and no one from the storehad came out to assist in unloading.cart return yet, so i put the stuff into his car for him.

he thanked me then said something i'll always remember,,lol,, he said" ya know for me these golden years are getting really rusty and tarnished"

 

[Robinrs]

I took that test in church that makes you understand your spiritual gift. I have the gift of MERCY. So yes, I do it regularly. I think I do it more for children and the elderly than for anyone else.

 

[krcit]

I would've helped you I pretty much always help strangers, ie. open doors, reach something on a shelf. My DH is the opposite of me-he'd help if asked but would never ask the person if they needed help. One time in the grocery store, I saw this young woman who just looked so miserable-like she's been crying and she was actually moaning a bit. I approached her and asked if she was ok and did she need any help. She said she had terrible morning sickness and would be ok but that I was the only person to ask her if she was ok. That shocked me-she looked terrible

 

[Fitswimmer]

yes I do. I try and offer assistance in situations like the one you described. I try and be careful with those who are permanently disabled because I don't want to offend, it's touchy, but I feel like I should at least offer.

I've offered people money if they're short at the store-especially if it's a kid.

The funny thing to do is randomly let someone with more groceries than you ahead of you in line. Every once in a while I do this if I'm not in a big rush. They look at you funny for the longest time.

 

[golfgal]

Yes, I usually do. We were at Santa Clause 3 last weekend and the woman in front of me appeared to be having problems figuring out how to silence her phone. I have the same exact phone and she wasn't doing it right--it isn't an obvious change. I offered to show her how and she got all snippy with me-well excuse me but you have been messing with your phone all through the previews and the start of the show and I didn't want that blasting in my eyes anymore. I will still help other people though.

 

[RickinNYC]

I work as the director of the volunteer services department for a non-profit agency that serves homeless men and women. Not only do I help strangers, I get paid to do so!

In all seriousness though, it's important to me to lend a hand when necessary. I couldn't look the other way when someone needs help.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

I do try to help others. Especially if I see a woman struggling to open a door with a baby carriage/stroller. I hold the door for them because you can see that it is next to impossible for them to do it alone. If I see someone who is obviously struggling I go and help them out. I am just leary to help some people. I've been yelled at too many times for trying to help someone who looked in need but can "do it themself!!" There is no need to yell, a simple no thank you is enough.

At my old retail job we had two regular customers that were disabled. Both were extremely polite and I enjoyed talking with them. I always offered to hold baskets for them, get items off the top shelves, or hold larger items at the register. Neither would accept much assistance, but at least they were always polite about it. I always enjoyed seeing them during the holidays because they both were just always so happy and friendly. After dealing with many rude customers they would come in and make your day worthwhile.

 

[Rex Rules]

Yes, I am forever helping people out like that - I, too, do it without any thought at all - sometimes people are receptive, sometimes they look at you like they are afraid. I guess the world is so screwed up that no one expects anyone to be or do anything nice. Still, doesn't stop me from offering a hand to someone if I see them in need. I would feel like a total idiot if I just stood there and watched, doing nothing while someone was having such a hard time. I probably am more inclined to help elderly people, I just have a soft spot where they are concerned.

 

[ilovepcot]

Seems instinctive for me to do so. Perhaps my background in nursing? Sometimes when I attempt to offer help, people will give me the most "startled" look but immediately relax when they see me smile. It's become very obvious that many people have never received a helping hand from a stranger and I find that sad.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I try to help anyone that looks like they need help. I guest it is just the way I was raised.

 

[mickeyboat]

BTW - I am going grocery shopping tonight, and I haven't been for a long time, so I expect to have a lot of stuff. It is raining, too. So if anyone wants to come up here and help me out to my car (I'm not disabled or old, but I do have a headache), come on up. If you clean out the pantry and refrigerator and put everything away, I might even treat you to a glass of wine or something.

 

[mickeyboat]

Duplicate post
Denae

 

[poohandwendy]

Yes, I do. I was taught it is the right thing to do.

 

[azgal81]

Yes if someone looks like they are really struggling I will offer to help them.

 

[Luv'sTink]

I do it all the time. I even do it when people look at you like you have two heads for doing so.

Monday night I was in Best Buy, there was a young couple looking at an expensive digital camera and discussing the price. I said to them, you know they price match and you can use online retailers. The guy looked at me like, Uh, Yeah, shut up! so I kept moving then when I walked back by his SO said, Can I do it on this camera and how do you do that?

I was in a courtroom recently and this elderly lady could not figure out how to turn off her cell. They had a sign that said if it rang they would confiscate it! Wouldn't you know, it rang! I took it, put it under my coat and then turned it off and showed her how to turn it back on. An Attorney just gave her a dirty look.

 

[babytrees]

I do it all the time and not just physically. I try and make sure my words are also helpful...my daughter thinks I'm nuts that I talk to strangers...but they usually leave me with a smile on their face. It doesn't take but a second to smile at a person and thank them for a job done for you or wish them a good day.

Part of it's my job...I am Office Manager at a church with an elderly congregation and parts just cuz!!

 

[Micca]

You bet I would. I am always mindful of anyone who looks like they need some help with a door, or perhaps someone who can't reach something on a shelf, or anything like that. I'm especially sensitive to the elderly or people with small children who have their hands full. I live in a pretty friendly community--even people leaving convenience stores hold the door for the people behind them.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Yes. I'm always excited when I get the opportunity to help someone.