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4 Jun 2005, 22:08
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#1
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Behe
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Arizona
Posts: 540
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What would you have done?
I pull in to a gas station/convenience store for a fill up. As I pull up to the pump I notice a kid about 15 walking towards my truck with his eyes trained on me. I get out of the truck and he starts telling me he is supposed to go live with his mom and that he needed $20 more to get there via the bus line. He says the ticket costs $100.00 and he has $80.00. It seems his mom had wired the money via western union for a bus ticket but she had sent $20 to little and now he was stranded in Phoenix. At which point he shows me the four twenty dollar bills he has been holding, proving that he was indeed $20 short..
I look him over trying to get a feel for him. His eyes and hair are brown and he has the deep olive tan of someone whose ancestors hailed from the Mediterranean. His hair has the shaggy look of a surfer kid. It had been a long time since the shirt and shorts he was wearing were new and he had flip flops on his feet. He never once looked away from me during my inspection.
I ask him how old he is, He says, “15”. I ask him how he wound up in phoenix. He says “he’s been living with his dad”. I ask him why hes leaving? He says because he “hates his dad” I say, “ It sounds like you are running away” He says “both his mom and dad know”. Why don’t you ask your dad for the loot, I ask him. He says his dad hates him too and wont give him the money.
At this point I am wondering what kind of mother would allow their 15 year old son Get on a bus, by himself for a day and a half. Ive traveled long distances on these busses and have met my share of seedy people. Not only would she let him get on the bus, but she didn’t wire him enough money to do so.
I ask him where in San Francisco, He answers “San Leonardo” I ask “where is that near”? He says it is near some town Ive never heard of.
“Where does your your dad live?”
He responds 81st and Thomas, which is about 6 miles away.
This got me wondering what he was doing was way down here.
I asked Him which western union he got the money from.
He says “over at the Circle K convenience store”
I say that there is no Circle K around here.
He counters with “there is one right over on Camel Back Drive. (Which is about a mile away but parallel to the road we were on now.)
Across the street from the gas station we were standing at was a 7-11, which also had a western union.
I ask him why he didn’t use that one? He says “the other one was closer to where he lived.”
It was closer, but most convenience stores here have western union and there had to be one that was closer to his house than the one he went to.
I ask him how long ago he got the money. He says an hour ago. I ask him to see the receipt. He says he doesn’t have it anymore, then, makes a big show of looking through his wallet, hoping to find it. He finally gives up. I shrug at him in indication that he wasn’t getting the $20 out of me.
He looks sad, but walks away looking for someone else to get the loot from.
Now to the problem, I do not trust anyone. And this has been a major issue for people in my life.
In retrospect, school just let out for the summer and it would be the perfect time for him to move back to his mother. I can also see that taking a long bus trip may have been the only means of transportation available.
I denied him because I don’t like to be hustled and because he couldn’t produce the receipt.
What would you have done? given him the $20, or not?
__________________
Once in awhile you get shown the light,
in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
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4 Jun 2005, 22:15
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#2
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NEWSBOT
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: The enby cave!
Posts: 4,872
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Re: What would you have done?
no, I have no way of telling which people are genuine or not, and if i can get a job, any ****er can.
__________________
[20:27:47] <nodrog-aawy> **** i think my housemate just caught me masturbating
[11:25:32] <idimmu> you are a little piggy arent you
[13:17:00] <KaneED> i'm so closet i'm like narnia
__________________
Pretty parks and funky scrap metal things here
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4 Jun 2005, 22:16
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#3
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share the <3
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Location: Location:
Posts: 2,709
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Re: What would you have done?
No.
__________________
Sophie is hotter than you
though ive gone off her now; the way Susanna Reid squirms around on sml is, however, awesome
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4 Jun 2005, 22:17
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#4
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Bored
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Nottm ->Shef ->Croydon ->Manc ->Durham ->Sheffield
Posts: 6,506
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Re: What would you have done?
wouldn't have given him the money. I don't trust anyone.
Also I'm a stingy bastard.
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4 Jun 2005, 22:17
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 386
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Re: What would you have done?
No i wouldn't have given him the money either, and i wouldn't have gone into as much depth as you did either. Would've just said "no" straight away and walked, drove off.
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4 Jun 2005, 22:22
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#6
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Evul Critter
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: York
Posts: 255
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Re: What would you have done?
i would have put him in the truck and sold him to slavery.
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Critters own....
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4 Jun 2005, 22:41
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#7
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Inquisitor
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: England
Posts: 2,207
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Re: What would you have done?
If he was hot, I might have... probably not though.
__________________
----------
That uniform you're wearing
So hot I cant stop staring.
Zhil
[Spore] Executive
[1up]
[Fury]
Inquisitorial Lord Protector of His Emperor's Glorius Empire
[20:19:04] <mazzelaar> I have to say a big up to Zhil - without those 8 def calls you covered we would've been screwed. | r12 End Ceremony
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4 Jun 2005, 22:46
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,290
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Re: What would you have done?
i probably would have, but my major problem is that i trust everyone :/
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im not tolerant, i just dont care.
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4 Jun 2005, 22:51
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#9
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Guest
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Re: What would you have done?
Fck that, i wouldn't even have given my own brother $20, let alone some stranger. In fact, I wouldn't even have given my own flesh and blood $1.
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4 Jun 2005, 23:04
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#10
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Heh, Leeds !
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: In The Redfern
Posts: 3,790
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Re: What would you have done?
I'd have offered to drive him some of the way then taken his $80 and kicked his sorry arse out by the road.
$80 is $80 right ?
__________________
The George Harrison of BlueTuba
Yes, I know he is dead !
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4 Jun 2005, 23:16
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#11
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Insomniac
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 3,583
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Re: What would you have done?
I'd have asked for a phone number for his mum to check the details out and offer to help, and judging from his reaction or excuse why i couldnt call her, i`d decide to help him out or not.
Ofc if his mum didnt know anything about it i`d say where exactly he is and what hes been doing. If his mum did know then i`d let her know i was going to give him the $20 he was short by and offer to drop him off at a bus depot.
If the guy was just running a scam and went to the trouble of inventing a cover story, backed up by someone who would be his 'mum' and could verify the facts, then fair play to him
Last edited by Phil^; 4 Jun 2005 at 23:22.
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4 Jun 2005, 23:50
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#12
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Powering your life...
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Dublin
Posts: 400
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Re: What would you have done?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil^
I'd have asked for a phone number for his mum to check the details out and offer to help, and judging from his reaction or excuse why i couldnt call her, i`d decide to help him out or not.
Ofc if his mum didnt know anything about it i`d say where exactly he is and what hes been doing. If his mum did know then i`d let her know i was going to give him the $20 he was short by and offer to drop him off at a bus depot.
If the guy was just running a scam and went to the trouble of inventing a cover story, backed up by someone who would be his 'mum' and could verify the facts, then fair play to him
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Great. I would have done the same- despite being seeming like one of those adults who believe's children need the constant supervision of their respective parent.
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Reality is only a perception.
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5 Jun 2005, 01:04
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#13
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mmm.. pills
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Australia
Posts: 2,152
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Re: What would you have done?
Phoning the parent seems like a fair way about it. If it were me I may have given him a reduced sum of money, as a compromise, but in whole I'm a bit of a sucker with these things.
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5 Jun 2005, 01:09
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#14
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:cool:
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Here, there and everywhere
Posts: 791
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Re: What would you have done?
this guy asked me for 50p once so he could "get his bus home because he didn't have enough money" and i gave it to him.
Then my friends told me that this guy goes around saying that all the time and they laughed at me for giving him the money
__________________
Danger gleams like sunshine to a brave man's eyes.
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5 Jun 2005, 01:11
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#15
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wild one
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: River Edge, NJ
Posts: 3,313
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Re: What would you have done?
I'd have questioned myself as to why the **** I was living in Phoenix, then boarded a bus with him.
Or given him a lift.
Depends how stupid you are.
Clearly very for asking that many questions.
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5 Jun 2005, 01:13
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#16
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Drink is Good
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,122
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Re: What would you have done?
i dont have a truck so i would never be in the situation
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Can we please have a moment of silence...........
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5 Jun 2005, 01:16
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#17
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Bored
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Nottm ->Shef ->Croydon ->Manc ->Durham ->Sheffield
Posts: 6,506
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Re: What would you have done?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Obliterate
this guy asked me for 50p once so he could "get his bus home because he didn't have enough money" and i gave it to him.
Then my friends told me that this guy goes around saying that all the time and they laughed at me for giving him the money
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There's a guy in one of the Nottingham bus stations doing it all the time saying he's getting a bus to Mansfield.
Amusingly one of the times I was in Mansfield I saw him at the bus station begging for money to get back to Nottingham.
it's always "sorry, no change" before they even say the sob story. There's a woman in Sheffield that keeps trying around the Uni and I've stopped being polite. If she says "excuse me" I say "sorry, no change" and keep walking.
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5 Jun 2005, 01:22
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#18
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Gone
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 14,656
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Re: What would you have done?
Well, I'd have told him he could have the $20, but only if he let me **** him first. Obviously.
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5 Jun 2005, 02:27
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#19
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Next goal wins!
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: London
Posts: 5,406
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Re: What would you have done?
id give him the money if i were richer
even if he was lying, he should get it for the effort.
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bastard bastard bastard bastard
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5 Jun 2005, 04:59
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#20
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Happy
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Canada eh
Posts: 4,793
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Re: What would you have done?
i wouldn't
i rarely have that amount of cash in my wallet anyway.
it's like those people who stand on a street corner with signs saying 'will work for.... '
go get a job :\
__________________
Where ever you go, there you are.
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5 Jun 2005, 05:48
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#21
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Behe
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Arizona
Posts: 540
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Re: What would you have done?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aryn
i wouldn't
i rarely have that amount of cash in my wallet anyway.
it's like those people who stand on a street corner with signs saying 'will work for.... '
go get a job :\
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I agree with you, but this was a kid. I dont think ive ever had a kid try to hustle me before, which is why the moral dilmna. If it was an adult, I wouldnt have thought twice about it. Ive heard enough hustle stories to write a book and would have just blew him off.
Imo phils idea was the best. It would have settled the matter once and for all.
P.S.
To the clown who left me a negrep while calling me a sucker. I didnt give the kid the money. I think you should grow some balls and leave your nick next time
__________________
Once in awhile you get shown the light,
in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
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5 Jun 2005, 05:55
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#22
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Banned
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Further to the right
Posts: 19,441
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Re: What would you have done?
I either would have given him the money straight off or not at all depending on my mood. From a "rational" standpoint phil's is obviously the best idea in terms of both discovering the truth and not wasting your time.
__________________
Some might ask what good is life without purpose but I'm anticipating a good lunch.
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5 Jun 2005, 13:05
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#23
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:alpha:
Join Date: May 2002
Location: London, UK
Posts: 7,871
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Re: What would you have done?
You aren't obligated to hand out money to random people.
I would never lower myself to ask random people for money. So why should I give money to others who I don't know?
So no, I wouldn't give him the money.
He was aiming too high - see, if he'd asked for $5 off 4 people, I bet he'd have been successful.
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"There is no I in team, but there are two in anal fisting"
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5 Jun 2005, 13:43
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#24
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 226
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Re: What would you have done?
To avoid these situations, get this t-shirt, and go happily about your life.
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5 Jun 2005, 18:35
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#25
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Has Soup On His Head
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,095
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Re: What would you have done?
Id have said "Go complain to your congressman. When youre old enough to vote". And got back in my car.
__________________
And the Banker, inspired with a courage so new
It was matter for general remark,
Rushed madly ahead and was lost to their view
In his zeal to discover the Snark
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