This evening, Holly and I were driving back from San Diego and we stopped into a gas station to buy something to drink for the road. While in there, we overheard a guy talking about how he locked his wallet in his car and had ran out of gas and needed some cash. He was dressed in a sort of tux or something. 40- or 50-year-old white male. He told me his name, but I forgot it.
Anyway, Holly and I decided to help him out, so we offered to get him some gas and perhaps a gas carrier so that he could take it back to his car. I mean, it wasn't gonna cost more than $12, so no big, right? He was grateful, but there was this weird vibe from the cashier. I didn't get it.
When the guy went out to gas up his container, the cashier looked me in the eye and said, "Hey man, y'all are generous people and all, but you can't just do stuff like that." I was spinning... "What?" I was thinking. Is he just saying people shouldn't be generous? I don't get it. Then he's like, "Seriously, that guy is a scam artist, and he just played you." What? I was so confused.
I still don't completely understand what happened, but Holly had some good thoughts regarding the situation. She said that it probably didn't look good that this potential fake was the one who got our 'generosity' when this kid who's working for $6/hour just sat there and watched. I mean, who was being rewarded?
Although I am not necessarily convinced that the guy was a scammer, I can see these points, and honestly, it is kind of humbling... or even humiliating in a sense.
It was kind of a cheap fix for feeling generous. Perhaps being truly generous with resources might not just look like giving money away, but actually giving time and relationship as well. Perhaps the best place to channel funds is into places where we can not only assist, but where we can build relationships. I don't know if it can always look this way, but it is a good idea.
It is actually the idea that Darin and Shane had when putting together Relational Tithe, something Holly and I are a part of... and something we feel great about.
Anyway, just thought I'd share my experience with you.
3 comments:
It is refreshing seeing motorists reach out and help other motorists in distress. I do have a question though? This gentleman locked his wallet in his car and had run out of gas. So did he lock his keys in the car too? If he did, gas would allow him to drive his car, but first he had to get in the car.
And I haven't the faintest idea why the young clerk was so jaded. It is possible that being a gas station clerk he has seen people before scam willing and generous motorists such as yourself.
He is probably like most of us and resents seeing people take advantage of others and give real needy people a bad name and image. In my opinion that is why people in general our skeptical about giving money to people.
It is refreshing seeing motorists reach out and help other motorists in distress. I do have a question though? This gentleman locked his wallet in his car and had run out of gas. So did he lock his keys in the car too? If he did, gas would allow him to drive his car, but first he had to get in the car.
And I haven't the faintest idea why the young clerk was so jaded. It is possible that being a gas station clerk he has seen people before scam willing and generous motorists such as yourself.
He is probably like most of us and resents seeing people take advantage of others and give real needy people a bad name and image. In my opinion that is why people in general are skeptical about giving money to other people.
I had this dude with a similar story ask for money so that he could pay a tow truck driver to open his door to get his keys and wallet out, whereupon he'd pay me back once he got his wallet. I only had like 3 bucks to give him and told him not to worry about repayment. Then I wondered, if he has money in the locked car, could he use that to pay the tow truck? I don't know. If it was a scam, I feel that unless they have a 50% or better success rate, the $3 I gave him was like the money you might give a street performer. He deserves something for all that hassle, I know I could never do it.
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