To the residents of Halifax, for that matter to the inhabitants of Earth:
On my regular morning drive to work, while driving thru to get my coffee, I noticed a young woman standing by a pay phone. With a suitcase and several smaller bags, it was very apparent she was having a bad morning. She was in tears and quite upset. I thought to myself, who knows who else could be involved and maybe I should just wait to offer assistance or I could be fighting off the ex boyfriend that just booted her to the curb.
So, I proceeded to get my coffee but went back around to check on her. Sure enough she was still there, head in hands crying her eyes out. While I was turning around to pull up to her she noticed a vacant taxi slowly driving by, she jumped up and flagged him but he put his hands up in a gesture as if to say “what do you want from me”? She asked him for a ride and he denied her… For what reason I do not know but I also don’t know why he couldn’t have called a fellow driver for her.
Being a regular at that gas station/drive thru, I noticed the manager of the store just standing there poking her head around the corner spying on the young woman, not offering help and most likely about to ask the woman not to loiter.
That did it, I threw my truck up in park and jumped out and asked the woman if she was okay. She wimperingly told me that the pay phone was broken and that despite asking many people, no one would call her a cab. She continued that she really needed to get to Bedford and she was already late.
Now, I am one of those people that absolutely refuse to own a cell phone, but I picked up the pay phone and dialed the operator and explained the phone was not accepting the coins and could she place a call for me. The operator promptly did so, the dispatch answered right away and I told them who I was and what the situation was, I expressed the urgency and thanked them.
Less than two minutes later a cab showed up. The young woman thanked me and got in the cab and drove off. The manager who had watched the whole thing glared at me as if I had just witnessed a shoplifting and aided the crook.
Okay, so let’s keep it real for a second. This “young woman” by appearance seemed to be what some may call… ahem… a l’il sketchy. Perhaps one could say she may have some issues with substance abuse. But ya know what? That should not matter whatsoever.
Maybe those suitcases were packed because she was finally making a move toward a better way of life. This is Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and on a sunny Tuesday morning not one person even asked if she was okay. So does this mean that even in our big little town you are judged on your exterior appearance?
It’s just sad… truly sad. That woman is someone’s daughter, maybe someone’s mother and without a doubt someone’s friend and that morning just another soul needing help. Everyone that saw her that day should be ashamed and will indeed receive their own karma for not helping her.
I’ll be honest, I am certainly far from Mr.Nice guy, one could say I can downright rude at times(most). But how can anyone not even stop and ask if she is okay? And a message to the manager of the store – how about instead of peeking around the corner and avoiding the woman how about you call and get your god damn payphone fixed.
Shame on us all! What if it were you? —Mr. Nice Guy
This article appears in May 13-19, 2010.
Mr Nice Guy, you may be the greatest man in the world and everyone else is probably a jerk… but your bitch is still way too long.
Good on you Mr. Nice Guy….. doesn’t really matter what the circumstances are behind her needing to get to Bedford with packed bags…. as you said, she is someone’s daughter and a human being… It was surprising, yet welcome to get a good feeling for once from reading the bitches.
I like how you claim to be soo helpful and nice, but then you are ASSUMING all of this bad shit about everyone involved. First of all, the cab thing could be because of the whole taxi zone thing. You know, they’re not allowed to pick up fares off the street which are not in their zone. And why would they call another cab somewhere when they don’t know if the customer is going to stay there? Seeing how it was the morning, I’m sure the cabs were busy. Second of all, why are you assuming the people at the gas station were staring at her because she was loitering? I’m sure the cashier wasn’t allowed to leave the store and I don’t think the manager could see the woman’s tears, so why would they just go up to everyone that uses the payphone and ask if they need help? They are at WORK and are probably busy as well. And yet again you assume she is a crack head just because of how she looks? You’re quite the savior…. Go visit Alberta, I hear it’s all butteflies and rainbows and there aren’t any ‘bullies’ there.
That was very nice of you. I would have totally done the same thing.
Think of it this way; if everyone was as nice as you were to that woman, you would never be the Mr. Nice Guy. Also, just because you care, doesn’t mean everyone else does. If you are truly upset that people around you didn’t offer their help before you did, next time you could ask why. Then you can write a bitch about how lame their excuse was.
It was probably a case of diffusion of responsibility; the more people there are the less likely anyone is going to offer help, because everyone thinks someone else would (or should). You were capable of helping her and you did. I think to her that’s all that matters.
I did this before. Same scenario basically…bags packed–only she wasn’t crying but she did appear at loss of where to turn next.
She had come into my restaurant, had tea, lingered over it a looong time, then she left. When I got off the bus in Dartmouth, there she was again–standing in the snow, off to the side of the bus terminal looking lost.
I assumed the same possibility–older woman who had a fight with her husband and left.
I asked her if she had anywhere to go. She said no. I took her home.
When she took off her coat (she hadn’t earlier), I saw she was covered in tattoos–not professional ones. Fine. I told her I was going to make a meal. She asked if she could get a shower in the meanwhile. I set her up. Then my brother came home with his girlfriend. I warned the woman in the bathroom he was there. She came out in a towel and immediately began flirting with him. After she dressed and ate, I told her that I would help her to find accommodations for the night. She asked to use the phone, then asked if she could leave her bags with me while she met up with a friend who might help her and then she left. About 3:00 in the morning, she woke me in order to get her bags.
When I saw her again 3 years later, I pointed her out to my friend who knew her and warned me against taking such a risk again. Apparently, she was a most desperate character–not only was she still prostituting after testing HIV-positive, but she was an addict and a criminal. I was shocked. I knew my first impression had been wrong but I never dreamed how far off I was.
I didn’t let it deter me from lending a hand when need be. But, I did stop taking home strays.
First thing about First Aid…make certain of your own safety. I think that applies in these situations too. Just let her know there are services in the community that she can turn to, help her find her way, and let professional helpers take over. It isn’t a matter of stereotyping or judging by appearance. It simply is about the fact that you don’t know this stranger, just like wearing a mouthpiece during CPR.
tres bien nth…every situation is different, you need to sniff it out quickly and then do what you will or won’t
you know something bud, i had an experience like that a few years back. but it involved a bf, dope and all his buddies wanting to ride her for the crack the bf got from them. now if i would have had a gun with me on that occasion, i would not be here today. the girl was no more than 18 or so, and the scuzzbag bf was about 30. pieces of shit like this actually get away with a lot of crap.time to get rid of them all.
man oh man suckulous…you have some bad memories, don’t let them devour you ^^^
wow… LS. I’m keeping mt distance from uniake square.
Thank you Mr. Nice Guy……I believe in Karma, and one day if you’re ever in need I hope someone does the same thing for you. Kudos to you! I understand personal safety is important but if you were in trouble I would hope the manager would at least call the police for you!
Uhh, Halifax is one place in the world where people are MORE likely to help someone out rather than not. Think anyone would stop to help some random crying girl out in Toronto? Well, maybe if she was hot.
Speaking of which, was she hot? You get her number?