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What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

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Re: What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

#161

Post by hermitcrab »

HexPhantom wrote: post #136
hermitcrab wrote: post #133

In the UK we used to have a nationalized rail system. People were always rude about the late trains, stale sandwiches etc. But I once managed to leave a bag Xmas present on a train. I only realized when I got another train. They were so helpful, they managed to find the bag and have it sent on to me. I think we lost a lot of that good will when the UK rail system was privatised. And the privatised trains were still l…

I think this really nails something people struggle to put into words: it wasn't that the system was perfect, it was that it felt human

I think making system more efficient often squeezes the kindness (and resilience) out of them. I have spoken to NHS workers who said that they used to do various unpaid overtime but, now they had opppressive management, didn't any more. Obviously things need a level of effiency, but there is a point beyond which it becomes counterproductive.

Re: What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

#163

Post by onraglanroad »

OneMorePerson wrote: post #128

I was at a waterpark as a young teen and ended up trying the wave pool, but even being tall for my age I was shorter than a typical adult. When I first went out the waves weren't turned on/going yet, but once the waves started everyone moved forward and the crowded pool compressed even more, plus I got pushed even deeper into the deep end, and basically I sank down because I couldn't really get any space to swim and…

That "bobbing in the water but not splashing or swimming" motion is what drowning looks like in real life.

See if you can spot the person in trouble before the lifeguard does in this video: https://youtu.be/4sFuULOY5ik

Re: What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

#164

Post by marking-time »

About six months ago I was walking home from the grocery store in Sparks, NV and decided to stop by the local swap/meet. I had all my groceries in bags that I was carrying. During my time there I was jostled by the crowd and felt a little uncomfortable. When I got home I dumped out my groceries and found _two_ boxes of Girl Scout cookies that I didn't buy (I hadn't even seen any for sale). I had been reverse pickpocketed! I'm going to remember that for a long time :)

Re: What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

#165

Post by apparent »

hermitcrab wrote: post #142
apparent wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In all seriousness, people probably do more favors for attractive strangers. And HN is probably populated with average-looking people, at best. In some ways, this means that the stories posted here will be of true altruism. On the other hand, if you asked a bunch of great-looking people what strangers had done for them, you'd get a bunch of stories about people who were very kind (but perhaps not entirely altruistic…

>at best Ouch.

I'm open to the possibility this is wrong. But I'm pretty sure that HN is mostly male (85%?), and that men are more likely to do good deeds for attractive women strangers than women are likely to do good deeds for attractive men strangers.

For one thing, women (especially smaller women) would be wary of offering a ride to a man or letting him into her home.

Re: What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

#166

Post by JadedBlueEyes »

lloydatkinson wrote: post #60
donatj wrote: post #39

I live in Minnesota and do not own a snowblower. Probably my mistake, but I always joke that I get most of my exercise in the winter. Snow is really heavy for those without context. A couple years ago we had a particularly bad snowfall. The plow has a nasty hate filled habit of dumping all its snow in my driveway. I had a drift at the end of my driveway about 4 feet high and 6 feet deep. Literally up to my chest. I h…

I wish I could see the photo but I live in the UK…

https://rimgo.vern.cc/a/1un20s7

Re: What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

#167

Post by rogerrogerr »

donatj wrote: post #39

I live in Minnesota and do not own a snowblower. Probably my mistake, but I always joke that I get most of my exercise in the winter. Snow is really heavy for those without context. A couple years ago we had a particularly bad snowfall. The plow has a nasty hate filled habit of dumping all its snow in my driveway. I had a drift at the end of my driveway about 4 feet high and 6 feet deep. Literally up to my chest. I h…

I'm convinced bobcats (used generically) are the single most versatile and useful platform ever created. They're fun to drive and you can solve most problems with them. Not optimally for any specific task, but if something needs to be pushed or lifted or moved or pulled or flattened or piled, you can find a way.

An 863 with hi-flow 2 speed and a pivoting plow was the most ideal snowplow I've ever played with.

Re: What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

#168

Post by user_7832 »

VonTum wrote: post #68
akshitgaur2005 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you find the sheer number of people too much, do visit either Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand! You will find THE kindest people there. Though be careful of leopard and bear attacks in Uttarakhand right now!!

Oh, I just came back from Shimla actually. I stayed in Narkanda for 2 days to do some hiking, and Shimla one day, though I didn't interact with many people there. My next stop is Kochi, hopefully things are also a little quieter there.

Kochi is also a very nice city, but if you're coming from Shimla or even Delhi you're going to find it sweltering hot probably. It's about 26⁰C (80⁰F) right now... (I'm close to Kochi and honestly in these temperatures it doesn't even feel like Christmas)

Ps, Kochi can be quite bustling. The more remote and rural towns (like Munnar) are a relatively safer bet.

Re: What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

#169

Post by tjwebbnorfolk »

tjwebbnorfolk wrote: post #106

I've got a weird one from a bank. I was driving from South Carolina to Virginia, I was completely broke, and had exactly $20 in cash, and only a couple dollars in my checking account. I did my math wrong, and didn't have enough money for enough gas to make it home. I was trying to draft behind semi trucks and drive slow to conserve fuel, but it wasn't enough. I called my bank at the gas station with my needle on empt…

It's really striking the number times people have downvoted my story, considering it is 1) a true fact about my life, and 2) eminently relevant to the topic of the article.

Even a thread about kindness can't stop the haters :)

Re: What is the nicest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

#170

Post by tjwebbnorfolk »

HexPhantom wrote: post #138
tjwebbnorfolk wrote: post #106

I've got a weird one from a bank. I was driving from South Carolina to Virginia, I was completely broke, and had exactly $20 in cash, and only a couple dollars in my checking account. I did my math wrong, and didn't have enough money for enough gas to make it home. I was trying to draft behind semi trucks and drive slow to conserve fuel, but it wasn't enough. I called my bank at the gas station with my needle on empt…

Kindness doesn't have to be dramatic to be life-saving in the moment

Indeed.
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