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I live in a very rural area so this is perhaps not a problem for many people, but I'd like to hear your thoughts about this:
This morning I helped an old biddy whose exhaust had dropped off her car and was stranded in a remote country lane. I stopped, found a dog lead in her boot, tied the exhaust on and pointed her in the direction of the nearest garage with instructions to go slowly and avoid bumps. She thought me chilvalrous and helpful, but that's the way I was brought up - to help where I can.
I'm also the kind of guy who will cross the road rather than risk stressing a female if we're walking along the road at night - it's wrong to treat women differently I know, but many are grateful for the gesture and thank me.
But I thought twice about stopping today. A month or so ago there was a Range Rover with hazards flashing on a different remote road that I use to go to the gym. It was dark but I stopped, lowered the window and shouted in the general direction of the car if they needed a help. A 30s something woman got out and I could see there were a couple of young kids strapped in the back seats. Her gearbox had gone and I offered to call for help but she said she had a phone and her husband was on his way. I offered to wait until he arrived but she declined. I told her not to get out of the car in this situation and drove off, but when I got home I was stressed. What if anything happened to her and her kids? I may have been the last person to see them alive - and therefore a prime suspect. Alternatively she may have been a nutter and caused a problem for me - after all, any circumstance where a man initiates a conversation with a woman he doesn't know is generally viewed as weird or perverted these days thanks to our media.
When I was younger I wouldn't have thought twice about helping anyone or offering a lift etc - but nowadays it's a concern. What do you think? Am I putting myself at risk or am I just being paranoid?
This morning I helped an old biddy whose exhaust had dropped off her car and was stranded in a remote country lane. I stopped, found a dog lead in her boot, tied the exhaust on and pointed her in the direction of the nearest garage with instructions to go slowly and avoid bumps. She thought me chilvalrous and helpful, but that's the way I was brought up - to help where I can.
I'm also the kind of guy who will cross the road rather than risk stressing a female if we're walking along the road at night - it's wrong to treat women differently I know, but many are grateful for the gesture and thank me.
But I thought twice about stopping today. A month or so ago there was a Range Rover with hazards flashing on a different remote road that I use to go to the gym. It was dark but I stopped, lowered the window and shouted in the general direction of the car if they needed a help. A 30s something woman got out and I could see there were a couple of young kids strapped in the back seats. Her gearbox had gone and I offered to call for help but she said she had a phone and her husband was on his way. I offered to wait until he arrived but she declined. I told her not to get out of the car in this situation and drove off, but when I got home I was stressed. What if anything happened to her and her kids? I may have been the last person to see them alive - and therefore a prime suspect. Alternatively she may have been a nutter and caused a problem for me - after all, any circumstance where a man initiates a conversation with a woman he doesn't know is generally viewed as weird or perverted these days thanks to our media.
When I was younger I wouldn't have thought twice about helping anyone or offering a lift etc - but nowadays it's a concern. What do you think? Am I putting myself at risk or am I just being paranoid?
