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One day about twenty years ago, I was driving across the desert Southwest, about 15 miles away from my destination, I picked up a hitchhiker who had a large backpack and a large hunting knife strapped to his belt. I gave him a ride into town. We talked the whole way. Very interesting man: he was walking from coast-to-coast, sleeping out every night in his tent. Very smelly guy (of course) but a real nice guy who had quit his job and his obligations in order to do this journey.
Maybe I am not a nice and caring person, but I would not pick up a hitchhiker. Just seems way too many people looking to take advantage of good will these days. It is more of a risk than I am willing to take.
It's not that you're not a nice and caring person, it's that you're not unwise.
In my city a few years back, a lady felt compassion for a mother and her infant child to the point of giving them a ride. The slimeball of a mom shot the lady. Thankfully she survived.
Location: RI, MA, VT, WI, IL, CA, IN (that one sucked), KY
41,936 posts, read 36,974,024 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy_J
Note many times the person picking up the hitchhiker is interested in sex... But note the person hitchhiking only wants a ride - wants to get where he is going! But not uncommon for the person picking up the hitchhiker to "hint around", or proposition the hitchhiker. And the hitchhiker can politely say no, then that is that.
Yes and no. I've picked up people who were clearly stranded or in distress. They weren't standing on the road with their thumbs out though. I also wasn't afraid of them being serial killers.
Here's some unwritten hitchhiking etiquette. My accumulated experience. As the list got longer I picked up fewer and fewer. Feel free to add.
- Say hello, state your destination, and say 'thank you' before the ride
- Be polite; smile sometimes
- Basic grooming
- No incessant talking
- No incessant texting (I feel being targeted)
- No quiet grumpiness
- Don't smell of sweat, cigarettes, or marijuana
- Don't have animals
- Don't have oversized luggage or objects
- Don't be more than two adults
- If two adults, don't be two males
- Don't carry drugs or contraband
- Don't be armed
- Don't bring small children/babies
- Don't expect me to make pit stops for your bowel movements
- Don't eat, smoke or drink in my car without permission
- Stay off controversial topics or agree with driver
- No conspiracy theories. Ever. Or agree with driver
- Offer to pay a few bucks for gas
- Don't steal anything from my car
- Don't leave anything in my car. Especially contraband and fleas
- Don't be half naked
- Have most teeth. In its original color
- Wear something on your feet
- Don't answer my cell phone. Don't ask to use it either
- Only play an instrument if you know how to
- No whistling, humming or singing along to the radio
- Don't be over 200 lbs
- Don't wear your reeking dreadlocks open
- If you ride in my truck bed, don't urinate there.
- Don't roll out your personal misery
- Don't use drugs in my car
- Don't try to sell me drugs or meds
- Do not ask for money, drugs, or meds
- Don't offer sex for drugs, meds, or money
- Say 'thank you' & good bye after the ride
Yes, driving back from Canada two years ago I picked up an older couple in Waco, TX who were also heading to Austin. They seemed exhausted and hungry, so we went out for tacos before I dropped them off at their home.
I cashed in my hitchhiker karma a couple of weeks ago when I ran out of money stranded in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Found a ride who took me all the way to the German border, and everything was OK from there since I had a semester pass for the train. He shared his sandwich without me asking, for which I was grateful. I hadn't eaten in a day or so. We had good conversation the whole hour -- would call up to hang out again if we lived in the same city.
I can understand why they say no, actually. Since they weren't looking for a ride, and we're all told as young kids to be careful about drivers who try to lure us to their car, it ends up looking shady for you to offer.
I haven't personally picked up hitch hikers. I've wanted to a couple times, but decided it was probably a bad idea. I think if I traveled with other people more often, I'd do it - but as I'm a woman, I just wouldn't feel comfortable with it being me alone with a stranger (usually male).
EDIT: I was once picked up by a bus. I put my thumb out mostly as a joke, and the bus stopped and didn't charge me anything.
Could be. But I know that when im walking down the street in 95+ degree weather and ive got sweat pouring off of me and someone pulls over to offer me a lift youd better believe im going to accept it.
Oh and i never offer rides to women. You all are too dang paranoid about males (no offense).
Yes, not really. And definitely yes if a hot female
Of course, I've mostly picked up hitch hikers in Northern California, the Mendocino/Lost Coast area. It's a little different there. People who are more normal hitch hike. Couple times around Santa Cruz as well, but that was people I met and interacted with a little bit. Had I just been driving by I'd have kept on going. I've picked up some train hoppers as well. They have interesting stories =D
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