Do you pick up hitchhikers?

[AlanY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickcr42 well we really are "thy brothers keeper" and if a thing everyone knows is wrong is allowed to take place it becomes commonplace.The islands still have not reached a point where they feel sorry for the criminal and have little pity for the victim so anyone even thinking about stepping out of bounds will pay a price and find no mercy.

This is an interesting discussion, but I wonder if it sidetracks the main topic of this thread (hitchhiking) too much. In any case, I think Wmcmanus' experience on the Caymans is very unusual for the Caribbean islands. The sister of my closest friend works in the Canadian embassy in Barbados, and she says that crime there is totally out of control. Women don't dare walking alone on the beach even at dusk. She says Jamaica is the same way. The Caymans are probably an exception because of the extreme wealth (GDP per capita in the Caymans is $32,300 vs. $16,400 in Barbados and $4,100 (!) in Jamaica). Obviously the wealth tends to slowly trickle-down and raise everyone's standard of living, reducing the incentive for criminal activity (except perhaps property crimes?).

 

[AlanY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borat I wonder if there are situations where both the hitchiker and the driver both have bad intentions for the other, and when they realize they are both crazy they become friends.

Heheh, I love that scenario!

 

[Gigabomber]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanY Heheh, I love that scenario!

me too

 

[rickcr42]

Quote:

Obviously the wealth tends to slowly trickle-down and raise everyone's standard of living, reducing the incentive for criminal activity (except perhaps property crimes?).

sickos are are crime against humanity,not against property and cross all socio economic boundries so can not be compared to stealing which is not hazardous to your health mostly.
Hitchiking,once very common in my area has come to a halt for whatever reasons because it is a legal activity as long as it does not take place on the highway.Once illegal but so much of it they legalised it so that is telling when you compare then to now.
I personally feel safe hitching a ride at any time and in any place if say my car broke down but no way would I advise my sons or a female to even consider it alone.
This kinda precludes a ride (one person usually get a ride,two no) but better to walk and have a tomorrow than to get a lift and end up a headline.

The fact is the world has changed and it is open season on the weak.My advice would always be hitch at your own risk but be advised you better be ready to defend yourself against weirdos,perverts,nutjobs,whackos and unstable humans who care not if you survive the day.
It is also a fact that most sexual predators are repeat offenders and it is not a matter of IF they will relapse and commit another crime of "personal violation" but when.
The car is a private place without supervision as to what goes on inside and what was once used for sneaking out with your girlfreing for some consentual necking is now used to perpetrate the worst type of crime known to humans.
Even survivors are just that and have more in common with POWs than the average citizen mentally.

My advice on this topic is unless you truly are BAD and can handle yourself and think fast on your feet stay away from hanging out your thumb in unfamiliar territory and if you DO hitch and when you open the door your radar goes off (that little tiny tingle in the lower back of your head) ?

Step away from the door and walk !

"Sorry.Changed my mind.thanks for stopping though...."

 

[The Actual]

I don't drive and my parents never pick up hitchhikers, but I have to say that this thread makes me want to both hitchhike and pick someone up. I know some people who have hitchhiked in my area several times, so I am not too worried about safety.

 

[Wmcmanus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanY In any case, I think Wmcmanus' experience on the Caymans is very unusual for the Caribbean islands. The sister of my closest friend works in the Canadian embassy in Barbados, and she says that crime there is totally out of control. Women don't dare walking alone on the beach even at dusk. She says Jamaica is the same way. The Caymans are probably an exception because of the extreme wealth (GDP per capita in the Caymans is $32,300 vs. $16,400 in Barbados and $4,100 (!) in Jamaica). Obviously the wealth tends to slowly trickle-down and raise everyone's standard of living, reducing the incentive for criminal activity (except perhaps property crimes?).

I think a lot of what you're saying is true. I know, for sure, that I'd be an immediate target in many parts of Jamaica, and certainly anywhere near to Kingston. Anyone who looks like they might have money in their pockets will almost certainly get robbed, and quite possilby killed, unless they are not exceedingly cautious and are accompanied by locals who know the lie of the land. It's a scary place to the unitiated! Cayman is just the opposite. You would have to look for trouble to find it, which is not to say that it doesn't exist, it's just not nearly as prevelant. The difference has more to do with economics than any other one factor in my estimation. Desperate people do desperate things, and in Cayman there are no homeless and hungry people (or at least none to speak of, except a handful of town drunks, etc).

 

[NacMacFeegle]

I used to use the thumb all the time as a lowly airforce bloke almost always broke, (and being based in deepest Wales away from most civilisation) and never had a problem with any of the rides that helped me out...I made sure my RAF kitbag was prominently displayed in front of me so people would know just who they were stopping for...In turn, when I moved up in life a bit, I allways picked up anyone thumbing...had some real 'interesting' people riding with me. Never felt in anyway threatened though..
After I moved to the States back in the '80's, I tried to carry on picking up hitch-hikers but my new wife wanted nothing to do with that, so I stopped. Nowadays you rarely even see anyone thumbing around here...too cold in winter I suppose, but even last year on a drive to Hilton Head,S.C., never saw anyone hitching. I think it must be dying out as a way to get around.
I'll never forget the one time a Rolls-Royce stopped for me, but some ways down the road, and as I was grabbing my bag thinking yes! a beaten up ol' Ford Escort pulled up right next to me and the Rolls took off...Argh! Closest I ever got to a ride in a Roller...
Maybe it's time to start looking out for people hiking again.

...Nac

 

[Feanor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NacMacFeegle I'll never forget the one time a Rolls-Royce stopped for me, but some ways down the road, and as I was grabbing my bag thinking yes! a beaten up ol' Ford Escort pulled up right next to me and the Rolls took off...Argh! Closest I ever got to a ride in a Roller...

Now that must have hurt.

 

[seeberg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickcr42 I LIVE for the day some perv messes with me.No cops,no jail,one less freak running around

Ah, I love this line. Replace "perv" with pedophile, rapist, burglar, murderer, anything you can think of, and the fun starts from there!
Quote:

Originally Posted by Gigabomber And i don't doubt there were just as many crazies and freaks back in the '70s: they just didn't hit the news every fifteen minutes.

It's media sensationalism, IMHO. With any incidences reported, they blow anything up and make it look like it will happen to you. But I'd like to see what would happen to them, especially if I got my hands on a power drill near a given -insert name here-'s eyeballs. Sensationalize that!

,
Abe

 

[hugz]

I hitch hike all the time. Never once had anything weird happen, except a few boring conversations. I think the dangers of hitch hicking is well over stated by the news.

I figure that by walking 4km and then hitch hiking the rest of the way, I'm probably safer off in the long run t han i would be if i drove myself the whole way, because that 4km per day adds up to a long distance in which i crash my car. Bigger chance of crashing and dying in a km drive than getting murdered while hitch hiking i think.

of course there's the risk t hat the car i'm hitch hiking in will crash, but that risk would've been present if i drove myself the whole way anyway.

reasonably often people stop and give me a lift without me even hailling them. but i live in austraila so go figure i guess.

I am a young male though, so probably of little interest if there WERE any creeps or psychos (though i doubt there are). it also gives me the advantage of being able to beat people up.

 

[grawk]

I still occasionally pick up hitch hikers. I did so a lot more often when I was in my 20s, touring around the country in a '69 vw camper. Once, when I was moving from NC to Austin TX to seek my fortune, I picked up this guy in the Louisiana bayou. I made the mistake of telling him I could give him a ride to Houston (8 hrs away). Along the way, I swear I met 8 different people, all him. I was never so glad to get to Houston... I think either his mom or his drill sergeant scared me the most.

Otherwise, I've met a lot of really interesting people giving rides to people. And I figure I need all the help I can get on the kharmic balance thing.

 

[rickcr42]

Quote:

Ah, I love this line. Replace "perv" with pedophile, rapist, burglar, murderer, anything you can think of, and the fun starts from there!

"Perv" has a wide umbrella and under that umbrella is any sexual criminal or murderer of total strangers for no good reason.The rapist,the pedophile,baby killers,thrill killers,those who eat human flesh,murderers unless a crime of passion but NOT burglers.

That is a crime against property and not personal.There is such a thing as an honrable theif but sexual misconduct or taking a human life for no good reason has no honor and no excuse.My opinion is the world would be a better place for their leaving it before they had another victim.There is no "cure' for that disease only the eradication of it by getting rid of the problem.Maybe a deep dark hole with a slot in the door for food.no TV.No "recreation".No counseling and no human contact.Just sit and rot.
At least they still have life and time to contemplate their actions but "I'm sorry let me go" would not cut it.

**********************************************

Funny thing happened last night though.Actually seen my first hitch hiker locally in a damn long time but I was not driving and the person who was would not stopeven though I requested they do.They looked like an average joe,not anything that shouted weirdo (not that you can really have a tell tale sign ) but nope.Not happenin' so we drove on past.
I would have picked him up but since I had a cookout and had tossed down more than a few then did the rounds taking other people home (just company for the ride) it was not a good idea to be behind the wheel.Functional yes.Driving no.As were thos getting rides.i took away keys and pissed off a few freinds but at least no one got hurt last night if it was in my power to prevent it.They will thank me today...or not and stay pissed

so i got my good karma by maybe saving a few car wrecks but lost a chance to pay back my previous rides by picking up a 'hiker.Breaking even is not a bad day at all.

 

[SportaJoe]

Ive picked up hitchhikers on occasion and hitchhiked myself a couple times mostly in the late 70,s early 80,s. Do have a good story though

Me and 4 friends were driving around getting drunk, about 18 years old, all crammed into a Cordoba. This is in semi-rural Ohio close to lake Erie. We were pretty much tobacco chewing beer swilling rednecks. About 1:00 in the morning we drive down Rt.2 and see a lone old Black man hitchiking. Hey lets pick him up!! He gets in the back seat sandwiched between a couple of my friends and off we go. Hes got a suit on and overall seems pretty cool. We offer him a beer. Hell yeah he says. We wind up driving all over the backroads drinking beer and jamming. We were crankin out some Hendrix for him to check out and he was diggin it. He reaches in his pocket and Pulls out a cassette and says put this in. It was Muddy Waters. We loved it. He was hammerin the beers and kept saying Lordy, Lordy (a phrase me and my friends still use to this day). Finally about 3:00 in the morning he says "Well ive enjoyed this time with you fine young men, If you could take me to my motel now i would deeply appreciate it". So we took him to his Motel and dropped him off, Even gave him a couple beers and he gave us the Muddy Waters tape. I dont recommend drinking and driving and dont do it now that im pushing 40 but it was pretty much what we did when we were young and thought some of you might enjoy the story.

 

[Wmcmanus]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugz I hitch hike all the time. Never once had anything weird happen... I am a young male though, so probably of little interest if there WERE any creeps or psychos...

Right you are that your maleness is a creep and psycho deterrant. Imagine the trouble you would get yourself into as a hitchhiker if you looked like the girl in your avatar...

 

[rickcr42]

I just spit Sam Adams (Boston Lager) all over my damn monitor screen and keyboard !

NASTY !

funny though and so true

now where are those paper towels.............