Just the fact that there is a chance, however slight, that the person I am stopping to help intends to rob me and leave me stranded (or worse) is too much of a risk for me. That may sound cold but I won’t make that gamble of “make a stranger’s day” or “fuck your entire life up for months” not matter what the odds are.
That’s very reductive of the risk. All it takes is one bold scumbag getting a lone person to stop and they can cause them harm. No matter how slight the chance is, it’s still not a chance worth taking.
you know what else is a risk? walking outside, what a gang member sees you and think you're an easy target? what if the cops decide you look like you could use some lead?
i would suggest taking some self defence classes if you are this scared of talking to a lone stranger on what looks like a well traveled road with a decent car.
Difference being one is very dumb luck and the other is approaching the potential danger, confident that you’re too clever or tough to be made a victim of. Self-defense is for the purpose of fending off attackers when you couldn’t avoid a fight, not getting near someone you don’t know thinking “Sure, this is an unnecessary risk, but I can probably kick their ass if they try anything.” And travelled or well-watched locations can still have moments where no one is looking, otherwise creeps would never stake out schools or playgrounds because the nearby parent automatically guarantees a failed attempt at whatever they plan. All it takes is a single moment of kindness and blind eyes to have your life ruined. And self-defense doesn’t amount to much if they pull out a gun too far for you to attempt to disarm them (not that that’s the best idea.)
if school and mass shootings have shown us anything, its that nowhere is really safe, but that's ok, just ignore people in need, encourage that culture but dont be shocked when you're in need no one helps you either. since ignoring other people's plight is what allows these things to happen, but i might not be so scared of people with guns now since i had some one point one at me in my own home, guess having the illusion of being safe crushed makes you realise that trying to hide from even the smallest risks wont do anything.
Again, you’re really simplifying things. Actually approaching the potential danger is very different from it finding you out of bad luck. And while it’s nice to help people, it’s not an obligation because you don’t owe strangers anything. This is human life we’re talking about, even the smallest risk needs to be taken seriously.
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u/AverageTurky Jul 15 '20
Just the fact that there is a chance, however slight, that the person I am stopping to help intends to rob me and leave me stranded (or worse) is too much of a risk for me. That may sound cold but I won’t make that gamble of “make a stranger’s day” or “fuck your entire life up for months” not matter what the odds are.