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I don't know how many of you have experienced a good samaritan in your life, but I feel like it's very uncommon here in Norway. I, for one, had my first meeting about an hour ago with one of these people, and I must say it came as a very pleasant suprise. It wasn't a very big deed, but it's worth mentioning nontheless. (It might also be because I'm still a bit drunk and philosophical, but here it goes.)
I spent the evening and night at a friends house, which is about 20 minutes of driving from where I live, far out on the country side. After the party had blown over a bit, two of my friends desided to sleep over there, and requested me to do the same. The clock was about 5 AM by this time, and I wasn't feeling very sleepy at all, so I figure I'd walk home. It had rained a few minutes before, but not very heavily, and the sky seemed clear enough to hold it in for about an hour, so I gave it a shot.
After I had walked for about 15 minutes along the road, a car advanced on me from behind and honked twice. There was a bus stop just a few meters ahead, and it pulled over and came to a halt there. I had a few minutes earlier sent out a text to some of my other friends and asked them to pick me up, so I immediately assumed it was one of them. However I had not recieved any response from any of them, and I did not recognize the car at all, so I found it a bit odd.
When I opened the car door I found the driver wasn't anybody I knew from before. It was a dark skinned male around 25-30 years old, so I immediately thought about the stereotypical pirate cab. This is very common in the larger cities around here, but not so far out on the countryside. "Get in if you want help" he said with a crude norwegian accent, so I responded with "how much do you want?". He didn't seem to understand me, so he said again "Get in if you want help". I immediately came to realize that I didn't have any money on me, so I told this to the driver, but he didn't seem to completely understand me. After a bit back and forth trying to explain, he finally said "It's no problem if you don't have anything, just get in if you want help". I found this to be very odd, and was naturally a bit sceptical. As I had never experienced anything like this before, I started to think if he was trying to trick me into the car for something. Was he trying to rob me? (Looking back at this it was a really stupid thought, but I was still quite drunk at the time :p ) I then remembered I had made it clear that I didn't have any money (doh), so I took the chance and got in.
He didn't understand norwegian very well, but he could answer a few simple questions. I found he was originally from Palestina, and had lived here in Norway for about a year and a half. He was living in a neighbour city, and was on his way home from a friend, which luckily passed close by my house. I didn't get much more information from him before I left, but I still find this astonishing.
There you have a person, which knows very little norwegian, picking up a complete stranger walking on the side of the road. He didn't ask for anything, he just wanted to help. I mean, wow, I couldn't belive my luck. What are the odds for something like this happening? As a side note it just started to rain heavily a couple of minutes after I got in the car, and I would have been soaking wet if it wasn't for this person. If more people would have been like this, the world truly would have been an awesome place. I /bow to this person.
And so my question to you is this:
Is it common for people where you are to act like this? I found this to be very rare, but are people more like this other places in the world? Also, please share any other good samaritan story if you got one!
Ps, my first blog, best regards. :p
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Dude yo owe me 50 bucks for that ride
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On August 09 2009 13:35 {CC}StealthBlue wrote:
Your welcome.
Not funny?
This was a great first blog. It's always nice to know there are still good, decent folk in this world.
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you are a lucky man 
those kinds of people are pretty rare.
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My experience isn't very impressive or outstanding, but it's the one "good samaritan" experience that I can remember and probably will for a long time.
I remember in my freshman year of university, I communted back and forth quite a distance, sometimes even going to work after classes were over. Each of my destinations required using the highway, even though it was my first few months driving. One day, I was called to work by my dad and I was on my way, when I absentmindedly continued on when I was supposed to take an exit. I only realized my situation when I thought I was driving too long and by that time, I was well along the end of the highway into some rural area with a completely unfamiliar setting. Knowing I was lost, I stopped by and entered a gas station to ask for directions. Unfortunately, the shop was was run by a foreign middle-aged man who didn't even understand my situation, or care to for that matter. By a stroke of luck, however, this shaggy looking dude came in and overheard my situation while he was paying for some gas, and casually offered to help me by letting me follow his car to the similar path that he was going to take. I gladly took up his offer and was not let down, he even stopped his car to the side when I was cut off at a red light so I could catch up, slowing down at turns and intersections. Eventually, he and I had to part ways because of different destinations, but by then I already found the familiar road of the highway I was used to.
This incident may not seem like much of a big deal, but for me an amateur driver at the time, it was a deed I would never forget. I usually have a hard time remembering faces, but I can still recall the laid-back attitude he had while giving me a thumbs up as he rolled down his window right before he and I took separate paths on the forked road. To whomever you are out there, cheers and thank you for helping out that time! 
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You're lucky you didn't get kidnapped. I wouldn't take chances with random persians pulling up next to me and asking me to get in.
Ok, maybe in Norway I would, but if it was eastern europe or south america, fuck no.
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still fairly common in Eastern Europe, happens in the US too( not big cities obviously)
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I don't think it was stupid at all to be reluctant to get in. Maybe I'm just a bit ignorant as to what kind of city you live in, but getting in some guy's care that you've never seen before seems like a bad decision.
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On August 09 2009 14:02 Sadistx wrote:
You're lucky you didn't get kidnapped. I wouldn't take chances with random persians pulling up next to me and asking me to get in.
Ok, maybe in Norway I would, but if it was eastern europe or south america, fuck no.
LOL i just mentioned it too. I don't think you'd be kidnapped if you randomly walking down the street. You can probably get robbed but something like kidnapping usually requires planning.
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To me, it's kinda risky that you'd get in a stranger's car.
Yet it's stories like these that prove all the cynics wrong.
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Thank you. You have made me retain my hope for humanity for at least another day. Stories like these make me realize not only that good happens, but that its appreciated when it does. Makes you feel like doing more knowing it really can help people.
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A lot of people in the southern states of the US are reallllllyy nice. Way more so than in California which is where I'm at now. Everyone says "hi" to each other, all the neighbors know each other, and if you're having car problems or something, there is always someone to help you. Just a few examples on the top of my head; they just seem so innocent!
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Maybe it' s just a difference of cultures and that you were a little drunk -- but you really shouldn't accept rides from complete strangers.
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It's not that there aren't a lot of people who would give someone a ride.. it's that if you start pulling up next to people asking them if they need a ride there's a good chance they will say something along the lines of "Get away from me"
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Washington D.C. area... not common at all. People around here suffer from the "junior undersecretary syndrome" (in other words, they think along the lines of "Well, I'm the junior undersecretary for Mr. Big who has connections with political movers and shakers, so I'm a bigshot too!"). It's more often for me to be the one playing the role of good samaritan. Except when driving. God damn you if you try to cut me off because I will fuck you up. ROAD RAGE MOTHER FUCKERS!
(...I'm only half joking...)
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On August 09 2009 14:34 Hiphopapotamus wrote:
A lot of people in the southern states of the US are reallllllyy nice. Way more so than in California which is where I'm at now. Everyone says "hi" to each other, all the neighbors know each other, and if you're having car problems or something, there is always someone to help you. Just a few examples on the top of my head; they just seem so innocent!
California is an odd mix. It depends a lot on what city you live in. I find LA to have a very detached atmosphere, but San Deigo and Santa Barbara were nice.
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On August 09 2009 13:50 Psyonic_Reaver wrote:Not funny? This was a great first blog. It's always nice to know there are still good, decent folk in this world.
he's not saying that he is welcome, he's talking about his welcome.
I like people like this and try to be one myself as often as possible
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Korea (South)11575 Posts
Mortality is a good guy, helped me pass Business Calculus! (Ended up with an A thanks Chris!)
But i would say 3 years ago I had my car break down due to a flat tire in a random neighborhood, as i was trying to make a u-turn. Well, some random guy who was mowing his lawn came and helped me out as he helped me get my tire off from under my truck and helped me put it back on. I offered to give him money afterwards but he said no, and he told me to keep the car wrench. he's a good guy. wish i knew which house was his so i could give him a basket of cookies off of the Pokerstars VIP store.
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On August 09 2009 14:34 Hiphopapotamus wrote:
A lot of people in the southern states of the US are reallllllyy nice. Way more so than in California which is where I'm at now. Everyone says "hi" to each other, all the neighbors know each other, and if you're having car problems or something, there is always someone to help you. Just a few examples on the top of my head; they just seem so innocent! that's the legendary "southern hospitality" for you
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I picked up a white dude when I was taking a bus from Hong shan (A huge ass scenic mountain near my home town in China).
He was lost and needed to get to the airport urgently as he was backpacking and was one a real tight schedule and I happen to be the only English speaking person he could find.
The fucker made me call airport and hotels for him and in the end he still missed his flight; I booked a hotel for him because he had to stay the night. I even got my auntie to drive her new car just so this guy can compare prices on hotels.
He didn't even say a thank you at the end. Fucking Americans.
I stopped helping out people after that.
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On August 09 2009 17:24 haduken wrote:
I picked up a white dude when I was taking a bus from Hong shan (A huge ass scenic mountain near my home town in China).
He was lost and needed to get to the airport urgently as he was backpacking and was one a real tight schedule and I happen to be the only English speaking person he could find.
The fucker made me call airport and hotels for him and in the end he still missed his flight; I booked a hotel for him because he had to stay the night. I even got my auntie to drive her new car just so this guy can compare prices on hotels.
He didn't even say a thank you at the end. Fucking Americans.
I stopped helping out people after that.
Haha this is why everyone hates american tourists.
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I think there are a lot of good samaritans out there. People are sometimes a little shy to help a stranger, or worried when it comes to getting into cars. I think that getting into a car with a stranger isn't all that dangerous honestly. I mean obviously it can be, and there are people out there that you want to not get into the car with, but I think the chances of finding these particular people aren't that common enough to be super worried about. And if things ARE wierd you can get out at a red light/stop sign or atleast roll out.
Also sometimes its just obvious who not to trust. I was walking out of the French Quarter (I live in New Orleans) one night after many drinks with friends. We all got split up and I was walking to one of my friends house in the 8th ward very very early in the morning and some creepy black guy from THE OTHER SIDE of the road/median yells out his window "HEY YOU!" then he U-Turns and comes up to me and slows down and in a very very creepy molester like voice he says "Hey need a ride home?" and I was like "uh nah I like walking, thanks." then he was like "Come on, get in the car." and I was all like "Um no." and he started asking questions like where I was going and I told him I lived a few streets away.
There have been a few other creepy/violent situations I have come across, and generally I will say that if you're cool headed and use common sense you will be alright. That said I think it is important to remember to help people and not be afriad of them.
Also to the chinese poster above me, why is it that 1 American not saying thanks applies to all Americans?
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Dude, you weren't concern this person might want to have taken u to an abandon warehouse and rape you or maybe ask for ransom? Maybe he was a lunatic and would kill you for fun.
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I got on the train the other day and I was about to lean against the door (there were no seats available) and a woman actually put her hand between my back and the door, because someone vomited all over the door. She got her hand all gross and vomity, just to stop me getting it on my clothes. I was speechless.
It does indeed inspire hope when you meet people like that. Which I need, because I have very, very little confidence or pride in human beings.
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On August 09 2009 17:24 haduken wrote:
I picked up a white dude when I was taking a bus from Hong shan (A huge ass scenic mountain near my home town in China).
He was lost and needed to get to the airport urgently as he was backpacking and was one a real tight schedule and I happen to be the only English speaking person he could find.
The fucker made me call airport and hotels for him and in the end he still missed his flight; I booked a hotel for him because he had to stay the night. I even got my auntie to drive her new car just so this guy can compare prices on hotels.
He didn't even say a thank you at the end. Fucking Americans.
I stopped helping out people after that.
It really hurts when people doesn't even say thanks to a person helping, especially in your case. A simple "thanks" could be enough to mend a lot on the givers side, with all the time (and money) spent on helping another. I don't get why people are naturally rude like that at all.
Regarding kidnapping or skepticism:
I don't think I've ever heard about a kidnapping around where I live, or almost anywhere else in Norway in general. I was kinda considering this when I jumped in, but I figured this was just overly paranoid movie stuff that didn't really happen here. The same thing goes with murder, allthough that actually happens sometimes (though very very seldom). There's also a lot of better ways to get money out of someone if that's what he wanted, but I dunno. I probably hadn't gotten in if I wasn't drunk though, as my natural sceptisism to things almost fade completely. :p
Also, great stories in here, I enjoy reading them!
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Yeah he was a good guy but as you know he was a foreigner (Palestina)...wish I could say the same thing for norwegians and their hospitality...but be cautions about getting into cars with strangers in a big city. (Shit does happend even in Norway, you just don't read the paper enough)
I have negative things to say but not going to just be safe in the future.
+ Show Spoiler +On August 09 2009 17:24 haduken wrote:
I picked up a white dude when I was taking a bus from Hong shan (A huge ass scenic mountain near my home town in China).
He was lost and needed to get to the airport urgently as he was backpacking and was one a real tight schedule and I happen to be the only English speaking person he could find.
The fucker made me call airport and hotels for him and in the end he still missed his flight; I booked a hotel for him because he had to stay the night. I even got my auntie to drive her new car just so this guy can compare prices on hotels.
He didn't even say a thank you at the end. Fucking Americans.
I stopped helping out people after that.
You have my sympathy for that, I can imagine all the trouble because it sounds so familiar ._. he sounds to be a real rich selfish snob, shitty experience you have there. 
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On August 09 2009 17:42 Medzo wrote:
Also to the chinese poster above me, why is it that 1 American not saying thanks applies to all Americans?
Because people are stupid and, ironically, just as big of a jerkoff as the guy he was complaining about.
You're more apt to come across good samaritans in more rural areas. City people tend to be cynical from the amount of retards in close proximity to you.
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Nice first blog post
I think it's best to always be extremely careful when people offer help. It's sad but, with the amount of fucked up idiots in the world, things that seem too good to be true are normally exactly that.
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EPT
