I just gave a random stranger ??2...

Literally fifteen minutes ago.

He didn't even ask for it. He wanted to know where the Luton coach station was.

I don't even know where the coach station is and I've lived in this town for 4 years.

The first thought was "It's probably far...".

The second thought was "He's gonna need a taxi...".

And the final thought - which I said out loud - was "Do I have any money on me?"

Dug into my pockets and gave him what came out. Walked with him to a taxi place and ??2 wasn't even enough to get him there.

He HAD money on him as well. ??11. But it was for the coach to London, he said.

All that could be done was to point him in the direction of another place he could ask.

And you know what? I'm f**king worried about dude. Right now.

Eighteen year old kid in a strange town, looking to get back home.

Gives me shivers. Because that could've been ME.

Would someone have given me ??2 like that? Walked with me to a taxi bay?

I doubt it.

And knowing that scares me.

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. It was your good deed for the week. 🙂

I hope dude will be all right. I think I just gave him the money because he reached out to me.

Of all the people in that crowded mall, he asked me for directions.

Which is funny because my armour is always up when I'm out and about. The invisible wall.

F**k me, I'm worried about someone I don't even know.

No, that's not true.

I'm worried about MYSELF.

I could've been HIM. Only, well... not white. Or eighteen.

I hope dude is all right.

He'll remember you for the rest of his life &2, mark my words.

Posted by brianafay
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. It was your good deed for the week. 🙂

Not even...

Posted by venusianbull
He'll remember you for the rest of his life &2, mark my words.

Somehow, I doubt it. But thanks. I just wish I could've seen him get into a taxi. Or on the coach.

It would help me stop worrying if I'D be okay if the tables were turned.

I don't doubt it. You may have gotten him home, or further than he would have before. It's random acts of kindness like that, they touch people. And it creates ripples on a pond that spread further outward. Feels good. 🙂 Maybe he'll crop up again at some point and you'll see that he's fine.

This is what you really should have said- "LUNDUN??!! LUNDUN?? What are you thinking?? Why do you want to go to Lundun?? If i were you i'd stay well away from that hell hole"

You could have saved his life. Re-directed him elsewhere and rested comfortably knowing you saved yet a kid from the lures of city night life.

I'd be worried too and a little scared for the poor chap.

Posted by venusianbull
He'll remember you for the rest of his life &2, mark my words.

in this case, maybe. but i give tramps money all the time and when i go back the same way and walk past the fuckers they ask me the exact same thing s if i'm a completely different person!?! i'm like "mate! i just gave you a quid a minute ago?"

Those are panhandlers AA. Usually drunk as lords or high as kites. It's a wonder they can remember to scratch their watch or wind their arse.

Posted by AA

Posted by venusianbull
He'll remember you for the rest of his life &2, mark my words.

in this case, maybe. but i give tramps money all the time and when i go back the same way and walk past the fuckers they ask me the exact same thing s if i'm a completely different person!?! i'm like "mate! i just gave you a quid a minute ago?"

click to expand

I would never give money to anyone begging on the street, in england the benefit system is good (infact too good) there is no need for anyone to be on the streets.

Posted by libra sun

Posted by AA

Posted by venusianbull
He'll remember you for the rest of his life &2, mark my words.

in this case, maybe. but i give tramps money all the time and when i go back the same way and walk past the fuckers they ask me the exact same thing s if i'm a completely different person!?! i'm like "mate! i just gave you a quid a minute ago?"

I would never give money to anyone begging on the street, in england the benefit system is good (infact too good) there is no need for anyone to be on the streets.

click to expand

it is. i only realised that properly just recently :/ jobseekers money is good ??100 every two weeks i think. tax free

yep and your rent and council tax paid, free prescriptions, dentist, and opticians. Think i might try it out for a bit i could do with a filling lol

lol. fillings hurt, and i'm not sure why you'd want one? that's probably why there so many people on benefits in the uk :/

You're so cool &2gedanow.!

Self-righteous or not it at least was some help to the boy.

You know, it actually happened AGAIN yesterday evening. Outside a chicken shop.

Some dude trying to get to work asked for directions.

Either mummy didn't teach me the value of money, I've got a reflex problem or I'm just an easy target for wolves lol.

Oh, and at TG: pucker up and give my arse a big sloppy kiss, wouldja, babe? That is all.

Or you suffer from 'VB Affliction'. People can smell your soft heart and willingness to help. Do you also have folks telling you their life stories in shopping queues?

Posted by venusianbull
Or you suffer from 'VB Affliction'. People can smell your soft heart and willingness to help. Do you also have folks telling you their life stories in shopping queues?

Not shopping queues, perse lol

I googled VB affliction, by the way.

I don't know why I just told you that. Must be YOUR affliction working on me 🙂

Seriously, though, I had to be sure, it sounded like a real psychological condition.

Wah.

Must keep your eye on me &2, I sneak in on velvet paw. Don't feed me either, you'll never get rid of me. 😉
LOL Tis my face, that's why you told me. Nice vegetable selection here, do you not agree?

Erm you are aware of the countless begging scams that operate across the UK, London especially. There was a discussion on BBC Radio 2 about it yesterday. The number of calls they had in confirming this was unbelievable.

One guy spoke of a well dressed gentlemen who stopped him and asked for 72p as he was short on bus fare. The caller confirmed he gave the man a pound coin and thought nothing of it. Until two weeks later when he was approached by the same man asking once again for 72p towards bus fare.

It could well have been genuine in your case and if so good for you, but that ^^^^ is what puts me off giving to these people. Yes it sounds cynical but the stories you heard from the callers on this show just shows you how low some people will stoop. Or worse are the people who use the money to buy drugs, although you can normally spot them a mile off.

They said that in some areas these guys were making up to ??100 a day and that they would actually commute into London from other areas because they made more money there.

Shocking.

Posted by MissPirate
Erm you are aware of the countless begging scams that operate across the UK, London especially. There was a discussion on BBC Radio 2 about it yesterday. The number of calls they had in confirming this was unbelievable.

One guy spoke of a well dressed gentlemen who stopped him and asked for 72p as he was short on bus fare. The caller confirmed he gave the man a pound coin and thought nothing of it. Until two weeks later when he was approached by the same man asking once again for 72p towards bus fare.

It could well have been genuine in your case and if so good for you, but that ^^^^ is what puts me off giving to these people. Yes it sounds cynical but the stories you heard from the callers on this show just shows you how low some people will stoop. Or worse are the people who use the money to buy drugs, although you can normally spot them a mile off.

They said that in some areas these guys were making up to ??100 a day and that they would actually commute into London from other areas because they made more money there.

Shocking.

Shyte.

But these guys didn't ask me for money though. Still, shyte.

😢

Posted by TasteOfChaos
Geds.... Can I have $ 2?

Actually, I think ??s are more value... So if you have a couple of those that'd be sweet aye 😄

Two rupees, coming riiiight up

Posted by venusianbull
Must keep your eye on me &2, I sneak in on velvet paw. Don't feed me either, you'll never get rid of me. 😉
LOL Tis my face, that's why you told me. Nice vegetable selection here, do you not agree?

Er...

*thinks*

Er...

LOL No thinking allowed, you were supposed to laugh. Admittedly some of these I just do for myself, but I do like it when someone else is along for the ride.

^ Woops, should have addressed that to &2. Oh when will I learn?

LOL

Posted by venusianbull
^ Woops, should have addressed that to &2. Oh when will I learn?

I... was that a very short poem, VB? Because it rhymed and stuff.

And It made me think of a vegetable selection.

I feel like I've missed something here.

Posted by &2gedanow

Posted by venusianbull
^ Woops, should have addressed that to &2. Oh when will I learn?

I... was that a very short poem, VB? Because it rhymed and stuff.

And It made me think of a vegetable selection.

I feel like I've missed something here.

click to expand

No, no, I think I did. But no matter. I tend to visualize situations. Since you told me you'd googled 'VB Affliction' I put myself in the grocery store chatting with you. I really do have people tell me the most amazing things standing about in places. I am approachable methinks.

Posted by &2gedanow

Posted by MissPirate
Erm you are aware of the countless begging scams that operate across the UK, London especially. There was a discussion on BBC Radio 2 about it yesterday. The number of calls they had in confirming this was unbelievable.

One guy spoke of a well dressed gentlemen who stopped him and asked for 72p as he was short on bus fare. The caller confirmed he gave the man a pound coin and thought nothing of it. Until two weeks later when he was approached by the same man asking once again for 72p towards bus fare.

It could well have been genuine in your case and if so good for you, but that ^^^^ is what puts me off giving to these people. Yes it sounds cynical but the stories you heard from the callers on this show just shows you how low some people will stoop. Or worse are the people who use the money to buy drugs, although you can normally spot them a mile off.

They said that in some areas these guys were making up to ??100 a day and that they would actually commute into London from other areas because they made more money there.

Shocking.

Shyte.

But these guys didn't ask me for money though. Still, shyte.

click to expand

Ah well that's not so bad then. It's mad I knew it went on but not on the scale these people were talking about. It's like a proper business for some!

I actually work for a charity. I don't collect on the streets though, f*ck that.

I don't blame you a bit.

I NEVER give to charitys collectiong money on the street only 20% of the cash actually gets to the chairty. Because the people who collect for the charities dont actually care about the cause (I worked for dogs trust, I dont like dogs but the money was good!) and the amount of dishonest people I saw stealing disgusted me!! we were getting ??8 an hour for standing with a smile yet some people just cant help themselves.

Even when I took it to the manager they didnt care because "they account for losses through theft".

I have also done door to door, where people have to give their bank details (who wants to give out their bank details on a doorstep—?). Much more money gets to the charity that way as no cash is handled but people, and i dont blame them, dont want to set up direct debits with strangers.

"I worked for dogs trust, I dont like dogs but the money was good!"

Lmao.