outsidein

Charlie and the Good Samaritans

August 18, 2008 @ 8:30 am | by Bryan

My car decided to breakdown on the M4 on Saturday. To make matters worse, because of bad weather, part of the road was flooded and there was a traffic jam of note. Because of all the traffic, it would have taken a recovery vehicle forever to get to us. But as my wife and I pushed the car onto the hard shoulder, I resigned myself to the wait.

Then along came Charlie, a complete stranger in a van. He offered to tow me to the nearest garage, and before I knew what was going on, had tied my car to the back of his van. The rope snapped about 30minutes later, but by that stage, I felt I would be okay and would be able to get the car going again. Before I could thank Charlie and his family properly or even get their last name, they were off. After they left, I worked on getting the car started again. As I was doing that, at least 2 cars offered to help. And that was during a 10 minute period. I eventually got sorted and drove back to Galway without any other serious issues.

I was really impressed by how generous and helpful people were. We often talk about what’s wrong with society, but seldom discuss the positive. I think the fact that people stuck in traffic on a miserable day were willing to help out a total stranger is amazing. I was definitely blown away by the number of considerate people out there.

To Charlie and the other Good Samaritans on the M4 that day, thank you so much. God bless you for your kindness to a stranger.

11 Comments »

August 18, 2008
11:43 am

Sorry to hear about the engine trouble but don’t believe this ‘declining social capital’ nonsense peddled in some places. Given half the chance, most people will help out someone obviously in need of a helping hand.

Comment by 73man

August 18, 2008
11:51 am

You’re right. You assume that most people want to keep to themselves and not get involved. The truth though is that there is no shortage of decent, considerate people out there.

Comment by Bryan

August 18, 2008
3:14 pm

I’m all for human kindness and civic spirit but i unfortunately had the opposite experience this lunchtime. I had just read your post before I left home and it was fresh in my mind. Cycling past the Point Depot from East Wall, at great speed, my front wheel hit one of the many bumps in the road and didn’t like it. I lost control of the bike and somehow jumped off Chuck Norris style onto the path as the bike hurtled sideways into a signpost. It all happened so quickly. People slowed down for a gawk as I lay sprawled on the ground but no-one stopped. A couple of minutes later I dusted myself off, picked up the mangled bike and continued on my way with a few scrapes and bumps. Not that anyone could have helped much but a comforting “are you OK?” or a hand picking myself up from the ground would’ve been warmly welcomed. But it wasn’t forthcoming.

Comment by NaRocRoc

August 18, 2008
4:12 pm

Bryan, I have been in the same position on different occasions and found the kindness of strangers very humbling.
I agree with 73man here: media spin would have us believe that post celtic tiger Ireland is full of selfish, greedy, people.

That is not my experience at all, and I am very glad that you have raised the matter here. (Even more glad that you and your wife were helped on what was, really, one of the worst rainy days we have seen.)

You are right, Bryan, when you say that there is no shortage of decent people, but, I think, many of us can find asking for help difficult. If we ask or are simply willing to accept the offer of help, people will give it and feel gratified by their kindness, too.

“Reaching out” to eachother, whether to offer help or to ask for it, can be very positive for building character.

All that said, here’s wishing you the ability to afford a better car soon (you deserve it!) - that way, you can be the one offering help!

Comment by Tim

August 18, 2008
7:53 pm

NaRocRoc - I hope you weren’t hurt too badly. Why do you think that hand was never offered?I guess it’s an important reminder that we all still need to be encouraged to ‘care’.

Tim - Thanks! I’m sending the car in to get fixed tomorrow. I reckon I can still get a couple of reliable years out of her. But I am looking forward to being the one doing the helping.

Comment by Bryan

August 18, 2008
8:14 pm

NarocRoc, If you did it Chuck Norris style, no wonder you were not helped.

Chuck Norris eats bullets and glass for breakfast; nails and grenades for lunch; daisey-bombs and nukes for dinner.

Then he leaps over tall buildings, runs faster than a train and gets mistaken for aeroplanes on his way to meet his date for the night.

Comment by Tim

August 18, 2008
8:58 pm

It’s good to hear that there are still some decent people out there.

Comment by Lottie

August 19, 2008
9:52 am

Bryan, thanks for your concern, I wasn’t too damaged thankfully. A ripped pair of jeans and a few bumps and scrapes but nothing too traumatic. To answer your question I really just don’t know. I’d like to think I would’ve stopped if roles were reversed but I guess it is a busy stretch of road (lots of trucks etc.) and where it happened there is no natural / safe place to pull in I guess. Maybe people thought I’d be fine and just carried on about their business having passed me by. And in truth there wasn’t a whole lot they could have done I suppose.

@ Tim, on reflection maybe it was more Van Damme-esque. See I had only had a sandwich for lunch, the local shop were all out of grenades and nukes.

Comment by narocroc

August 19, 2008
11:01 am

My parents had a highly similar experience to you recently in Meath. In their case, it was perhaps even more important that people were quick and generous in their assistance, as my father is pretty infirm these days.

At the same time, I chuckle a little at the remarks that Ireland has not become a more selfish, self-obsessed place than 15-20 years ago and that the media is to blame for us thinking otherwise. Of course Dublin and its satellite towns have changed in some ways for the worse, although more rural parts of Ireland may not be so bad still.

Notions such as community and neighbourliness in the city have really diminished compared to what they used to be when I was a kid, never mind the “rare aul times” when you could leave your front door unlocked, etc., as people on the street would be keeping an eye out for each other.

This does not mean that we are all now utter bastards, incapable of helping others, but we should not delude ourselves either. Economic prosperity always changes people and it certainly continues to change us.

I remember attending a family funeral in a remote country location some time back. I was staggered at the hospitality that strangers showed us. For a Dublin person, such friendliness, even at times such as bereavements, is unheard of now.

Anyway, take the rose-tinted glasses off guys!

Comment by JD

10.

August 20, 2008
1:36 pm

NaRocRoc & Lottie - I think that for the most part, provided you aren’t an action hero, there are a lot of people who will help if you’re in a jam.

JD - I hear you. I think the ‘rose-tinted glasses’ are because you expect people to be heartless, especially in and around Dublin. Big urban places just tend to be more impersonal. Had someone stopped to help me in some small rural village somewhere, I wouldn’t have been surprised. In the big city though, it was a pleasant reminder.

Comment by Bryan

11.

September 3, 2008
12:43 pm

Bryan, an update (of sorts) on this post… http://narocroc.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/last-night/

Cheers,

NaRocRoc

Comment by NaRocRoc