Poll: If you saw a car...

[Xariat]

Probably not, even if I did know how to help, you'd have to somehow show me that you do indeed need my help. Or else I'd assume that you had already called for someone else to come and help you.

Now if you were say in the middle of the road with smoke coming out of your hood I'd probably offer my help.

 

[Psykoma]

Standing by your car with the hood up isn't a sign to other people that you need their help anymore. Most of the time it just means you're waiting to signal down the person (for example a tow truck) that you've already called.

I can do jump starts, I know how to change a spare, I have some other stuff too (my parents have always made sure that my car has a breakdown kit in the trunk and that I know how to use it), but you have to do something that shows you need someones help. As above, just standing by your car doesn't do it. Why didn't you wave to them? Why didn't you go over and ask them?

 

[Ljs1121]

I'm not good with car problems, so I wouldn't be able to help much.

Plus, if I did stop to check out a random car parked off the side of the road, knowing my luck, it'd be a trap by a serial killer.

 

[Arina Love]

never. you may be a manic murderer for all i know. Or plan to steal my car or rob me when i'm checking what's wrong with your car. So i never stop to help or take hitchhikers because it's a dumb thing to do. Got problems?? call your mechanic or auto club you are in or a tow truck.

 

[King of Asgaard]

Nope, I wouldn't have stopped, because my knowledge on cars falls within the range between bugger and all.
I'd probably just fuck it up more for you.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

If it was daytime and I thought I could escape if need be. I do not trust strangers at all.

 

[Lizardon]

If I had gone and parked there and saw you I would have asked if you were okay and offered my phone if you didn't have one and needed to call someone to pick you up. If it was just a dead battery I would have got the jumper cables and given you a jump start. It's not like doing it would be a huge inconvenience for me. Anything more serious than that and I won't be of any use to you.

If you don't ask for help, you're not likely to get it. People probably assumed that since you weren't stopping them and asking for assistance that you'd already arranged for someone to come and give up a hand.

 

[Paradoxrifts]

The only constructive thing I could possibly do is a situation like that would be to offer my mobile phone to the occupants of the car so that they could ring someone who could, you know, actually help them with their problem.

If I was in an area with poor reception I'd probably give it a little more serious consideration.

 

[Floggo]

Being an Australia I'd feel a bit obliged to help. It's in our blood. That's what makes our country great. The awesomeness of mateship.

 

[Jezzascmezza]

I probably wouldn't if you guys were in a car park- I'd know you wouldn't be in any immediate danger, so I'd probably just tell myself you were alright.
However, if I saw someone who looked like they were having major problems on some road in the middle of nowhere, and no one else was around, I'd probably see if I could help at all.

 

[excalipoor]

It really grinds my gears when people expect help without having to ask for it, and then proceed to complain about it. The problem you're having isn't always obvious to passers-by, and not everybody appreciates people butting in when they're not needed. I know I don't. Not to mention someone better equipped to help is likely a phonecall away.

Seriously. If you need help, just ask for it.

 

[BaronUberstein]

I know nothing of car repair and we live in the age of cell phones. Call a tow truck.

That, and even if I saw somebody was wounded, like hell I'm risking legal trouble by sticking my neck in. Last thing I want to do is get sued by something because I wanted to do the right thing.

 

[artanis_neravar]

Tonight I was driving with my gf and her radio stopped working and all of her lights went dim, now since she has some infrequent electrical problems I pulled into the nearby inn and when I stopped the car it wouldn't start again (I swear I'm getting to the point). So the point is while we were waiting for help to arrive at least 15 cars had pulled into the parking lot and drove right past and about 3 of those cars pulled in about 40 feet from us and unloaded and headed on in. Now I understand if you were on the highway or a major road not stopping but these people were going to their hotel rooms and I thought wow not a single person even asked if we were okay.

So the point (separated for all you TL;DR's) is would you stop for someone on the road?

Nope I would not, as several people have stated with cell phone so common you need to signal that you need help, not just stand there.

And even if I did stop, there was nothing I could do. What you described sounds like an alternator issue (it's probably dead or dying), but if it was actually electrical issues I would refuse to jump your car. I was in a car where the electrical issues caused it to catch on fire.

 

[Domogo]

Nope I would not, as several people have stated with cell phone so common you need to signal that you need help, not just stand there.

And even if I did stop, there was nothing I could do. What you described sounds like an alternator issue (it's probably dead or dying), but if it was actually electrical issues I would refuse to jump your car. I was in a car where the electrical issues caused it to catch on fire.

fair enough and you are correct it was the alternator, however the fire sounds like a rather extreme case where some one didn't know what they were doing

 

[Bloodtrozorx]

I have stopped to help older people, either an older gentleman or older lady who looks like they need help then sure I'll stop and ask. I must admit that I have never stopped to help a young person, I guess I just expect them to pull out a cell phone and call for help.

 

[Alcoholidayer]

Not if you hadn't asked for it, and even if you had, only if it wasn't a major road.

 

[Krantos]

No.

You have a car to take shelter in, you're next to a roadside stop (diner) and there is bound to be a phone either in one of your pockets, or in the diner.

Pretty much this.

You were in location where help is obviously readily available. What do you really expect people can offer if they did stop? What could they do that you aren't already doing?

Now, if you were stranded in the middle of nowhere and your phone wasn't working, then you can say people should stop and check, but in the parking lot of a hotel? You're obviously fine at that point.

 

[DugMachine]

How are people supposed to know you need help... in a parking lot? I mean highways and expressways sure but parking lots are usually where cars stop haha.

I'd ask if you need any sort of help like a jump or to change a tire but that's about all I know. I'm no mechanic

 

[Subscriptism]

I would assume that you were adults that could take care of yourselves or ask for help if you needed it.

 

[SonOfMethuselah]

So long as you weren't covered in strange tattoos, or pierced in extremely odd places, or otherwise off-putting (if it was broad daylight, I'd be a little more lenient, but after dark, you can't be too careful), I'd stop to ask, just in case the problem was as simple as needing a jump, (I always carry cables), or a flat (I've got a jack, but the spare has to be yours), but if it was anything mechanical, I wouldn't be able to help. I'm not super good with cars, you see.

CAPTCHA: Drive me to Firenze.

Not from here, captcha. My car doesn't work underwater, ever since that mermaid got her tail stuck in my tailpipe.