OR SILLY??

As I was getting in my car to come back from the shop about one hour ago a young bloke pulled up next to me in a new white Holden sporty Ute, nice,  with a contraption on his steering wheel and asked if I could pick up his phone from under the driver seat as he is a Paraplegic. I hesitated as I thought, gee this bloke could hit me over the head and take my car or mug me but due to the steering wheel I thought he was telling the truth so assisted. He then asked if I could put his Auto trans in reverse as he has trouble changing the thift, mmmm. I had to lean over him to do so. Again I thought I could get hit or something but assisted.

All good as nothing happened and was thanked.

2 Things come to mind,

1. I felt uncomfortable due to the possibility of something happening.

2. If he has trouble changing the auto shift, how did he get a licence, if he has one. There was no sign of a wheelchair but could have been in the back under cover. He could also have someone at home to assist, well, must have really.

What would you do?????

Hello Dougwe

If my immediate gut feeling, was that something was not quite right, such as no disability sticker on his dashboard, or not in a disability parking bay, or not having the steering aid
I think that I would have had two bob each way

The first instinct would have been to help the bloke

But...

A whack over the head on someone over retirement age like myself, could end with a lot of trauma.

I would have said, "hang about there mate, I am not as agile as I once was, I will get someone else to assist."
Or words to that effect

I would have then looked around for someone else as backup, just in case

But...

Like yourself, I would have never refused to assist

I would never call it being paranoid or silly
If we have no self preservation instinct, then we may never grow old

I think caution is the first stance, he said he was a Paraplegic, so I would have to ask "where's your wheelchair mate?" and perhaps engage a little conversation first.

What you did Doug is was very helpful and most of us would have done the same as you did without question, so no your not silly by any means.

The part about changing the auto shift was a worry. How does he manage or does he ask others to do the same.

The situation seems suspect but commend you on a Samaritan effort.

I have myself and perhaps like many done something and had after thoughts about what I did, question myself if I could have done it any different.

Cheers
Vince

I woud have done the same as you Doug, but I would also have had the same worries going through my mind.

No wonder you have had some weird feelings about it all.

And, No, I don't think you are being paranoid.

Gday...

 NAH ... yer jest normal Doug

Cheers - John

Unfortunately times have changed Dougwe! Gone are the days of helping anyone out without question. As I have always lived in rural areas. We never used to lock our doors & we would always help anyone out. I have recently been caught out a couple of times doing just that. So I am always suspicious now of anyone who asks for help. I would also have been concerned with the situation you found yourself in. You are not paranoid. It's just the times we live in now.

It pays to be paranoid these days you never how when your going to run into the ice man...

rockylizard wrote:

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Gday...

 NAH ... yer jest normal Doug

Cheers - John

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 I agree with John, Doug. Natural reaction is to help but these days its a lot riskier than it was just a few years ago.

It was a young bloke you guys not a young lady, bugga. What would a young bloke want with an old bloke like me

Now you have me thinking what else could have happened.

Thanks iana.