I was on my way into work today somewhere in the countryside between here and there. An old man flagged down the car, waving arms etc. So I stopped thinking he needed help. He actually wanted a lift to the town I was going to, duh. Said his car needed picking up. I was flummuxed and gave the old geezer a lift thinking the chances of him being dnagerous were slim. He reeked of alcohol, and he was going to the garage to collect his car, that's where I left him.

So what would you have done?? In retrospect maybe I should have said no and told him to ring for a taxi.

Was he Canadian? If so, you should've asked him why beavers chew their nuts off.

He was hyphenated eastern european

Oh. No idea then.

About the nuts or the psychopath potential?

Interestingly, after all the talk about real and perceived levels of violence, on both sides of the Atlantic, noone has commented. It's not that dull a thread and I can't believe that you all all holding back from saying plonker. So, what would you have done, in the UK, in Canada??

Same as you did, UK or Canada or anywhere else. Except the USA.

My heart would have said yes, but my brain would be screaming NO.

Which would have won?? I wouldnt have stopped for a hitchhiker but once waved down and spoken to its hard to say no.

Think I would have done the same as you either in the UK or in Canada, dropped the chap off, and later had horrific knife murderer scenario's running through my head......

Would not tell OH as he would tell me what a plonker I was!

I would probably have stopped - depending on just how isolated I thought the area was - but would probably not have given him a lift. That would be the 'head screaming no' bit coming into play. I think I would have offered to call him some help or ring a taxi for him. Maybe.

But how do you feel now? Quietly pleased that you were able to help the old guy out - or quaking in your boots that you could have been murdered in your driver's seat?

I don't think I would have helped him - and then felt bad about it!

I teach safety to people. I wouldn't be advocating that my course participants stop in the middle of no-where to pick up a guy on the road. I can quote too many incidents where things did not end well. But the optimistic side of my nature sadly reflects on the state of the world where we don't feel able to help out someone in need - just in case .....

I feel annoyed with myself for not being assertive. I should have told him to ring for a taxi because he was just too mean to pay for one. I bet the mechanics would have come out to collect him as it was only 10 mins from them. The chances of him being a nutter are remote, I spend most of my working life alone in rooms with half dressed strangers after all.

If we didn't know your profession, this would be highly titillating.

I knew this. The devil took control of the keyboard and made me type it anyway.

Its a difficult one flelder - I would also have been worrying after - if I had given him a lift, whether I should have let him drive his car away if he was intoxicated - you said he smelt of alcohol - maybe just drive on by next time or lock the car doors ?