Helping others should never be questioned, right? If someone is in need and you notice it and understand the situation, the first thing you would do is to find a way to help. Having empathy is a human quality we all have (or should have). It was formed through the education we got from our families and through our own perceptions and experiences.
You were in need and someone helped you? It was a good feeling that you don't forget quickly, for sure. It stays recorded in our heart/mind and we will act in the same or similar way when we see that we can help.
But have you ever thought about the probability to get involved in a dangerous/suspicious situation by helping others? Or get scammed? Would you still help?
I was thinking about this yesterday evening when I walked down this street, alone. I saw four young men walking towards me and my defence system turned on the red light. What if they take my bag or attack me physically? No one could see it or help me as this street is not very frequented...
Well, nothing happened of course, but it reminded me of the situation that happened in this same street a few months ago. An elderly man was lying on the ground. I stopped my car and quickly approached him to check out if he needed some help. I talked to him, shook his shoulder and then he opened his eyes. He was just very drunk and fell asleep, there where he fell.
Good for him that it wasn't anything serious and he was not injured or sick... but my son, who was sitting in the car, scolded me. Mom, you left the car door open! Someone could have stolen the things from it. That man lying on the ground could only be a distraction if this was a fraud organized by more people.
He was very right! Where was my mind? I acted without thinking...
And what would you do if you were sitting in a hotel lobby and someone approached you and asked you to use your cell phone? It all happened in a few moments, I had my break with a glass of juice and a young man of about twenty sat next to me and asked for my phone. Not for my number, but to use it.
His story was that someone had stolen his phone and that he had to call the bank in Iceland to cancel his bank card. I hesitated for a few seconds but in the end, I unlocked my phone and handed it to him.
Of course, I wanted to help him but at the same time, I was a bit uncomfortable with the situation.
Why didn't he ask at the front desk to use the phone and call his bank? How did it happen actually - and if it was just his cell phone that was stolen why the need to call the bank? Not to mention that it was Sunday and the banks don't usually work on that day. Could I just expect to see him disappear with my cell phone in his hands? Those were the questions that came to my mind in those moments.
I politely asked him to give it back to me as I really had to go back to work (I was just on my break) and suggested sending an email to his bank. Once at home, I told the story to my husband and then we were joking about the possible situations that could happen. I could get involved in interesting situations with the phone calls made from my number. We laughed, but thinking it better, it was not a clever idea to let him my personal cell phone.
What would you do? Please, tell me that you would do the same! 馃槀
I could also tell him that there is hope of finding his phone as this hotel is famous for objects that constantly disappear and appear again.
Guess what I saw this Sunday 馃槏
... my little friend is back, until he decides to play hide and seek with me again. 馃榿
Back to the serious topic.
Most surely, we can rely on our instinct and expertise to analyse quickly the situation and decide whether there is a need to act or not. It all comes through experience and your ability to make the right decisions... sometimes we can be wrong, though.
Do you help others without thinking about your safety? Should we be more careful when someone asks for help?
