Would you give a ride to a hitchhiker?

1. 67

   Melissa Noonposted 9 years ago

   Would you give a ride to a hitchhiker?
   
   So when I was at my writing club yesterday the question about hitchhikers came up. The thing was the topic was about a mother with a infant who was at a rest stop and asked every car that pulled up if they can have a ride claiming that she just escaped from a abusive relationship? Would you take her in or would you apologize and drive off?

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2. 93

   peeplesposted 9 years ago

   It would depend. If my children were not in the car I would likely pick her up so long as there were witnesses around. I've always picked up hitch hikers. I live off of a major interstate that has frequent "hippie" festival followers. They are easy to spot because they usually have a tie dye shirt on with a giant backpack. I have picked up many of them over the years. Once I even picked up a couple with their dog. I couldn't see leaving a woman and child at a rest stop if there were ample people around to ensure I didn't let her in then get bombarded by a man. I would have a better chance of getting in a car accident than being attacked by a hitch hiker.

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   1. 67

      Melissa Noonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for your answer. I had been taught to never pick up hitchhikers but I know a lot who do and their reasons is that definitely with kids and women giving them a safe ride can save them from a bad fate

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3. 45

   J. R. LaGrecaposted 9 years ago

   No I would never pick up a hitchhiker nowadays. It's far too risky with all the things you read about. The peace and love days of the 1960s are over and even those days had Charles Manson. The way someone looks is not indicative of their intentions. If a woman approached me with a child and asked me for a ride I would tell her to call 911 for help. Let the authorities provide the resources she needs. Anyone who would ask strangers for a ride is living on the edge especially with a baby. They are endangering the welfare of a child.

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      Melissa Noonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah that is what I believe. These days children and the elderly are used for bait by robbers and rapists. Its a scary world

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   dashingscorpioposted 9 years ago

   During my youth I hitchhiked a two or three times and I have given a couple of people rides in the past as well. Today I would be very reluctant to get into a stranger's car or allow one to get into my car.
   With regard to the woman with a child I would use my cell phone and call 911 on her behalf. The police are more equipped with helping her find a long-term solution. It also is safer for you not pick her up as you have no idea if she has a gun or partner lurking somewhere around or she's having you take her to a place where her partner is waiting to rob, abuse, and kill. Life is a gamble. Having said that it's one thing to talk in hypotheticals and another to be dealing with reality.
   More often than not people go with their "gut instincts" when making these types of decisions. Anyone can be fooled or conned.
   Sometimes people regret not listening to their gut instincts. "Something told me NOT to pick up her up...I wish I hadn't."

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   Penny Gposted 9 years ago

   Yes and I do sometimes. Men and women alike. Strange But I look at them and instantly know if it's OK or not. If get bad feelings then I still try to help in some way. Let them make a call, call someone for them, give them money, or even ideas. SHAME on anyone who would not have helped her! She may very well be found by the abuser and harmed or killed. I could not stand myself if I read that in the paper . Actually I could not have left her and stand having to think what I did. We are our brother and sisters keepers.

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      J. R. LaGrecaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      You have been lucky so far, but If you continue to make yourself vulnerable to strangers you might come in contact with an abuser. It is impossible for you to know if someone is "okay." Many people who thought this did not live to tell the tale.

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      Penny Gposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well I have worked in a prison for over 17 years with criminals from bad check writers to murders. Prisons are sure not safe. I am a pretty good judge of people, that has kept me safe all these years. God looks out for me as I do his work.

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