The Anti-Knob thread. Good Deeds on the Roads
Discussion
On my way home from a night out years ago - a real 'pea souper'. On a fast twisty A road come across a Jag stopped in the road, hazards on, so I stopped and backed up to the chap stranded on the roadside. Living in the countryside, the well-spoken chap in tweed and corduroy explained that he had run out of fuel, so I happily gave him a lift home a few miles out of my way - and despite my offer turned down a lift back with some petrol to get him on his way.
It wasn't a huge problem for me, but the guy just hopped out when we got to his house and walked off without saying thanks. As far as I know he just left the car there until the next day. Ungrateful posh
.
It wasn't a huge problem for me, but the guy just hopped out when we got to his house and walked off without saying thanks. As far as I know he just left the car there until the next day. Ungrateful posh
.I once got a little bit stuck in some snow. My neighbor at the time drove past in his big 4x4 without stopping, I grumbled to myself about it, I knew he was a farmer and would've made the tools to rescue me.
Not long after I see him approaching again, this time he stops, he'd just nipped home to get his towrope.
At the weekend I alerted an old chap in a yaris that he'd cut into my lane without even looking in the mirror with a quick honk. He didn't appreciate me trying to warn him that he could have a nasty accident and shook his fist at me. Grumpy old man.
Not long after I see him approaching again, this time he stops, he'd just nipped home to get his towrope.
At the weekend I alerted an old chap in a yaris that he'd cut into my lane without even looking in the mirror with a quick honk. He didn't appreciate me trying to warn him that he could have a nasty accident and shook his fist at me. Grumpy old man.
Several spring to mind
Last Xmas eve (5pm) I think I was picking up Mrs BC who works in the middle of nowhere and I saw a white Astravan parked at the entrance to the estate as I drove in. As I drove out again with Mrs BC I could see he had a flat. So I stopped - the drivers english wasn't great but he wanted to know where a tyre garage was - Xmas Eve no chance - He had aftermarket alloys and different bolts a std OE wrench and steel spare. I said I'd drop the other half home and come back with some tools I'm really not sure he believed me. Anyway I droped off Mrs BC and grabbed a old telescopic wrench and several old sockets and went back to help him. Didn't take long to swap the spare on and I gave him the telescopic wrench and correct socket and said merry xmas. He was amazed and tried to offer money but I said to him Play it forward - remember being helped and when you see someone in trouble help them.
Last Xmas eve (5pm) I think I was picking up Mrs BC who works in the middle of nowhere and I saw a white Astravan parked at the entrance to the estate as I drove in. As I drove out again with Mrs BC I could see he had a flat. So I stopped - the drivers english wasn't great but he wanted to know where a tyre garage was - Xmas Eve no chance - He had aftermarket alloys and different bolts a std OE wrench and steel spare. I said I'd drop the other half home and come back with some tools I'm really not sure he believed me. Anyway I droped off Mrs BC and grabbed a old telescopic wrench and several old sockets and went back to help him. Didn't take long to swap the spare on and I gave him the telescopic wrench and correct socket and said merry xmas. He was amazed and tried to offer money but I said to him Play it forward - remember being helped and when you see someone in trouble help them.
Twin2 said:
When my brother crashed and was waiting on the AA coming a gentleman in a CLS63 stopped and offered him a lift.
I think he was more upset about not being able to take the lift than the fact he'd written off our car
I had a bloke crash into my kit car a couple of years ago and while parked up waiting for a tow home a Ferrari 360 convertible pulled up and asked if he could help at all. I smiled and said a lift would be nice, he smiled back and apologised that his wife was in the passenger seat! I thanked him for his concern and off he went, my tow turned up a couple of minutes after that.I think he was more upset about not being able to take the lift than the fact he'd written off our car
It's like Band of Brothers on way down to Le Mans.
People will always stop if someone has broken down on the way.
Our group years ago was towing a car trailer down just in case one of us in our kit cars went pop.
A chap in a Evo broke down on the A28 at the services, offered to put his car on the trailer and get it to LM, did not want any money for it, he offered but we refused, he bought 48 cans of beer instead.
What goes around comes around, Karma.
Steve
People will always stop if someone has broken down on the way.
Our group years ago was towing a car trailer down just in case one of us in our kit cars went pop.
A chap in a Evo broke down on the A28 at the services, offered to put his car on the trailer and get it to LM, did not want any money for it, he offered but we refused, he bought 48 cans of beer instead.
What goes around comes around, Karma.
Steve
Our housing estate is at the bottom of a fairly steep hill. In the winter it can be pretty difficult to get up.
I went out to B&Q (other DIY retailers are available) and bought a few bags of grit.
My dad and I spent the evening (several hours) digging up the snow and ice on the entire road, beyond sections that we would need, gritted the area... Not one neighbour came out to help, despite much window twitching and several driving past.
I would still do it again.
I went out to B&Q (other DIY retailers are available) and bought a few bags of grit.
My dad and I spent the evening (several hours) digging up the snow and ice on the entire road, beyond sections that we would need, gritted the area... Not one neighbour came out to help, despite much window twitching and several driving past.
I would still do it again.
Fruitcake said:
Ah I feel pretty good about myself now. I'm pretty good at stopping and helping people out, especially in the snow.
A few weeks ago a local facebook page asked for help as an Icecream van had got itself stuck in the mud. It took us 2 hours of digging and shoving all manor of stuff under its wheels to get it out whilst Range Rovers and other 4x4's just drove past.
On Saturday I noticed an RAC van outside my work looking at the now Tesla showroom that used to be Mercedes. Funnily enough he was towing a merc. After trying to direct him to the new Merc showroom I thought it best I just drive out of my way with him following.
You may be the first nice person in Crawley, ever.A few weeks ago a local facebook page asked for help as an Icecream van had got itself stuck in the mud. It took us 2 hours of digging and shoving all manor of stuff under its wheels to get it out whilst Range Rovers and other 4x4's just drove past.
On Saturday I noticed an RAC van outside my work looking at the now Tesla showroom that used to be Mercedes. Funnily enough he was towing a merc. After trying to direct him to the new Merc showroom I thought it best I just drive out of my way with him following.
I got out at the side of the M50 in Ireland to help 2 girls change a tyre in the rain. They had apparently been there an hour trying to get the flat off! I didn't believe them until they tried to restart the car when we were done changing it and had let the battery die from having the radio on for the hour and a bit.
Luckily I had my jump-leads as well...
Luckily I had my jump-leads as well...
I've had a couple of occasions where I've assisted people, one was an old chap who'd been hit by a builder's van (think the old guy pulled out without looking properly), and had a buckled wheel with a flat tyre. He'd only got some ancient ring spanners that he was trying to get the wheel nuts undone with, so as I lived only a mile away, I nipped home and got my sockets and wrench. Only took a few minutes to get him on his way.
The other was a young neighbour living in a nearby flat, she'd got a puncture, my missus saw her struggling with it in the street, so sent me outside to help (), but by the time I'd got my shoes on the neighbour had vanished, leaving the car sitting on the jack. I went and knocked on her door, and offered to help, she looked like she'd been crying as it happened. I tried to explain to her how to fit the jack to the car; she'd put it under the floor so as she raised it all it did was push the floor panel upwards without lifting the car. Again, it only took a matter of minutes to get the wheel changed, but I made a point of trying to pass on a bit of advice about how to undo wheel nuts by leaving the wheel on the ground until the nuts were cracked off, and suggesting she get a telescopic wrench so that it'd make things a bit easier.
I also had some courtesy shown to me years back, I'd burst both driver's side tyres on a country road on my way to a night shift, and while waiting for recovery to come and fetch me, a lone woman pulled up and asked if I wanted help. It surprised me a bit that a woman would do that, especially given it was around 22:00, although it was farming country and I guess those girls are more than capable of looking after themselves
.
The other was a young neighbour living in a nearby flat, she'd got a puncture, my missus saw her struggling with it in the street, so sent me outside to help (
), but by the time I'd got my shoes on the neighbour had vanished, leaving the car sitting on the jack. I went and knocked on her door, and offered to help, she looked like she'd been crying as it happened. I tried to explain to her how to fit the jack to the car; she'd put it under the floor so as she raised it all it did was push the floor panel upwards without lifting the car. Again, it only took a matter of minutes to get the wheel changed, but I made a point of trying to pass on a bit of advice about how to undo wheel nuts by leaving the wheel on the ground until the nuts were cracked off, and suggesting she get a telescopic wrench so that it'd make things a bit easier.I also had some courtesy shown to me years back, I'd burst both driver's side tyres on a country road on my way to a night shift, and while waiting for recovery to come and fetch me, a lone woman pulled up and asked if I wanted help. It surprised me a bit that a woman would do that, especially given it was around 22:00, although it was farming country and I guess those girls are more than capable of looking after themselves
.I was on a fairly straight fast country road in Scotland when I swerved to avoid a pheasant that from a distance looked dead but started flapping about as I drew closer.
The girlfriend gave me a sad look and suggested I go and save it, so I swung around, hazards on with my car protecting the thing as other motorists had to overtake, and gingerly approached whilst traffic was speeding by at 60/70mph. It seemed to be stunned but no blood or signs of broken wings so I pick it up where it starts going batst crazy and scratching at me, I threw it over a stone wall where it ran away.
It was probably trying to commit suicide to avoid being blown to smithereens with a shotgun, and I've only gone and fked up the plan
The girlfriend gave me a sad look and suggested I go and save it, so I swung around, hazards on with my car protecting the thing as other motorists had to overtake, and gingerly approached whilst traffic was speeding by at 60/70mph. It seemed to be stunned but no blood or signs of broken wings so I pick it up where it starts going bats
t crazy and scratching at me, I threw it over a stone wall where it ran away.It was probably trying to commit suicide to avoid being blown to smithereens with a shotgun, and I've only gone and f
ked up the plan During the very cold winter 2010/11 I was on my way to work very early one morning. I'd already had a bit of a 'moment' on a patch of ice so drove accordingly. Still managed to get stuck behind a micra doing 30mph though and there was another car behind him. As we were coming up to a notoriously slippy corner a blue box van (transit sized but French I think) pirouetted off the road into a fence right in front of the micra, forcing him to a halt. Much to my surprise, the micra and other car just drove around the front of the van and carried on!
I stopped with hazards on, knocked on the window at the driver slumped over the steering wheel (uh-oh!). Thankfully he was just in despair! I held up my towrope, he got out to help attaching it and then dragged him out of the ditch/fence with my 309 GTi!
The wire link fence made an impressive pattern in the paint on his bonnet!
Couldn't believe the other drivers for not stopping to at least check if the driver was unhurt!
I stopped with hazards on, knocked on the window at the driver slumped over the steering wheel (uh-oh!). Thankfully he was just in despair! I held up my towrope, he got out to help attaching it and then dragged him out of the ditch/fence with my 309 GTi!
The wire link fence made an impressive pattern in the paint on his bonnet!
Couldn't believe the other drivers for not stopping to at least check if the driver was unhurt!
Welshwonder said:
Couldn't believe the other drivers for not stopping to at least check if the driver was unhurt!
I know the feeling. - Just about every time I watch one of those Russian dash cam videos, I just can't get my head around those that are too selfish to stop and help another human being in distress. 
A few years ago, I pulled-in to a supermarket car park and drove to the quiet end away from the entrance (to avoid the door bangers etc.), then noticed a brand new Citroen C5 on it's jack with an older (65+) chap struggling underneath. I realised he'd got a puncture and decided to offer help. I quickly realised he had no idea what the odd wheel nut was - the locking one - and found his key but as the car was brand new, even with the bolts removed the wheel didn't want to come off. I ended-up raising the suspension (a clever trick on the C5), then sitting on the floor and using my legs to work the wheel free before we could put the spare on.
He and his wife were very grateful and offered money but I wouldn't have felt right taking it. I was about 18/19 at the time, so hopefully did something to counter popular opinion about young lads!
yellowbentines said:
I was on a fairly straight fast country road in Scotland when I swerved to avoid a pheasant that from a distance looked dead but started flapping about as I drew closer.
The girlfriend gave me a sad look and suggested I go and save it, so I swung around, hazards on with my car protecting the thing as other motorists had to overtake, and gingerly approached whilst traffic was speeding by at 60/70mph. It seemed to be stunned but no blood or signs of broken wings so I pick it up where it starts going batst crazy and scratching at me, I threw it over a stone wall where it ran away.
It was probably trying to commit suicide to avoid being blown to smithereens with a shotgun, and I've only gone and fked up the plan
Very long time ago, 16 odd years, driving with then then GF saw a rabbit in the road that had been hit by a car, couldn't move and twitching away. The girlfriend gave me a sad look and suggested I go and save it, so I swung around, hazards on with my car protecting the thing as other motorists had to overtake, and gingerly approached whilst traffic was speeding by at 60/70mph. It seemed to be stunned but no blood or signs of broken wings so I pick it up where it starts going bats
t crazy and scratching at me, I threw it over a stone wall where it ran away.It was probably trying to commit suicide to avoid being blown to smithereens with a shotgun, and I've only gone and f
ked up the plan "We have to do something"
Says the GF,
so I do a u-turn and as we approach precisely place the wheel over its head to put the little blighter out if it's misery.
Apparently she meant take it to the vets or something....
Whoops.
I stopped to let a couple of pensioners cross the road at a bend in the road. I was in my sisters Punto complete with "L" plates so the car behind me I guess assumed I had stalled or was the learner. As they blasted their horn, revved the engine and pulled out to overtake I opened the door. They stopped and I politely pointed in front of me where the old dears were in line with the drivers side headlight of the car I was in.
The overtaker's head fell between his shoulders, he waved to apologise and reversed his Audi A3 TDi back behind me.
It reminded me of half the overtakes I get on my bike. If drivers would take a moment to observe instead of assume the world would be a safer happier place.
The overtaker's head fell between his shoulders, he waved to apologise and reversed his Audi A3 TDi back behind me.
It reminded me of half the overtakes I get on my bike. If drivers would take a moment to observe instead of assume the world would be a safer happier place.
Neil_M said:
Our housing estate is at the bottom of a fairly steep hill. In the winter it can be pretty difficult to get up.
I went out to B&Q (other DIY retailers are available) and bought a few bags of grit.
My dad and I spent the evening (several hours) digging up the snow and ice on the entire road, beyond sections that we would need, gritted the area... Not one neighbour came out to help, despite much window twitching and several driving past.
I would still do it again.
Carbon copy.I went out to B&Q (other DIY retailers are available) and bought a few bags of grit.
My dad and I spent the evening (several hours) digging up the snow and ice on the entire road, beyond sections that we would need, gritted the area... Not one neighbour came out to help, despite much window twitching and several driving past.
I would still do it again.
Grew up on a steep hill, one of the bad snow periods me and the old man dug two clear lines out of the snow all the way down the road. As most people were home due to the snow and the noise a shovel makes you know they could hear and no one came to help.
Eventually some neighbours followed with a bit of salt, didnt offer to help and got congratulated on their work.
I mean, it was a nice move by us for no reward, but it still pissed me off.
And I cleared about 6 houses worth of snow on the pavement too before I got knackered.
The Knob Thread said:
Me today, well yesterday.
I stopped for petrol but was distracted by what looked like a drug deal doing on in the corner away from the forecourt. Went in to pay grabbed a couple of other things for lunch and asked how good the cctv was because I couldn't make out the number plates of the two cars involved as they were in the dark and forecourt was obviously lit up so it was like an ID parade from where I was.
Scanned stuff, chip and pin paid and went to work.
Sent a text to a mate in the Police Service to tell him about the suspicious behavior and descriptions of the people and vehicles involved. Got a knock on the door this afternoon. I'd paid for the food and drink but not the Petrol.
I was that distracted I didn't check the till reading, the chip and pin readermebob or the receipt so it's as much my fault as theirs for not charging me.
I'm undecided about this if I'm a complete knob for being distracted or not a knob for seeing something suspect and doing something about it. I stopped for petrol but was distracted by what looked like a drug deal doing on in the corner away from the forecourt. Went in to pay grabbed a couple of other things for lunch and asked how good the cctv was because I couldn't make out the number plates of the two cars involved as they were in the dark and forecourt was obviously lit up so it was like an ID parade from where I was.
Scanned stuff, chip and pin paid and went to work.
Sent a text to a mate in the Police Service to tell him about the suspicious behavior and descriptions of the people and vehicles involved. Got a knock on the door this afternoon. I'd paid for the food and drink but not the Petrol.
I was that distracted I didn't check the till reading, the chip and pin readermebob or the receipt so it's as much my fault as theirs for not charging me.
I don't think there's enough scope for a 50/50 thread so I've posted on both.
Better than being distracted on the road and hitting something.
It's an innocent mistake, I'd say not knobish at all. But then I'm a total scatter brain so I might be biased, though I've not yet done anything like that, I did once accidentally steal a pen
(and the other day I was in Decathlon browsing as I was in the retail park anyway, picked a bike multitool off the shelf and very nearly put it in my pocket 
)
Must have seemed a bit dodgey, asking how good the CCTV
It's an innocent mistake, I'd say not knobish at all. But then I'm a total scatter brain so I might be biased, though I've not yet done anything like that, I did once accidentally steal a pen
(and the other day I was in Decathlon browsing as I was in the retail park anyway, picked a bike multitool off the shelf and very nearly put it in my pocket )Must have seemed a bit dodgey, asking how good the CCTV
Edited by scarble on Monday 17th November 11:17
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