Speaking of random acts of kindness......

[captain spaulding]

I wen't to McDonald's at 5:00am this morning and wen't through the drive through. Only two cars ahead of me to start the day. I pull up to pay and the lady says, "the guy in front of you already paid for your meal."  Awesome! So I asked how much the person's bill behind me was and I paid for theirs. Hopefully they keep it going. Very cool way to start the day. 

[sawman]

That same thing happened at a Starbucks recently, it kept going for hours.

[Grathr]

I hope its still going


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk

[powernoodle]

I must be a curmudgeon, because this kind of stuff makes me cringe.  It has something to do with my aversion to group think, conformity and superficiality.  I just want to pay for my own venti iced coffee, and then encourage, equip and edify -  no social pressure to conform - someone who truly needs it.  Same reason that you will never see me on Facebook dumping a bucket of ice water on my head, or wearing a lapel ribbon at the Academy Awards.  Its feeling good without doing good.  There is nothing wrong with feeling good - just don't expect me to play along because the last 20 people at Starbucks have engaged in the superficial and conformed to social pressure.  It goes much deeper than that, but there are some things we can't talk about on MTO. 

Powernoodle is very, very a bad person.


Venti iced coffee:  if you are destitute and parched, I'll give you mine and we'll both be blessed in the process.  If you drove up to Starbucks in a BWM on the way to the law firm, its time to buy your own. 

[Nhoj]

That's a cool story. I had no idea these things were going on.

[pfrsantos]

I must be a curmudgeon, because this kind of stuff makes me cringe.  It has something to do with my aversion to group think, conformity and superficiality.  I just want to pay for my own venti iced coffee, and then encourage, equip and edify -  no social pressure to conform - someone who truly needs it.  Same reason that you will never see me on Facebook dumping a bucket of ice water on my head, or wearing a lapel ribbon at the Academy Awards.  Its feeling good without doing good.  There is nothing wrong with feeling good - just don't expect me to play along because the last 20 people at Starbucks have engaged in the superficial and conformed to social pressure.  It goes much deeper than that, but there are some things we can't talk about on MTO. 

Powernoodle is very, very a bad person.

(Image removed from quote.)
Venti iced coffee:  if you are destitute and parched, I'll give you mine and we'll both be blessed in the process.  If you drove up to Starbucks in a BWM on the way to the law firm, its time to buy your own. 

+1

 

I is bad, 2!

[nate j]

I must be a curmudgeon, because this kind of stuff makes me cringe.  It has something to do with my aversion to group think, conformity and superficiality.  I just want to pay for my own venti iced coffee, and then encourage, equip and edify -  no social pressure to conform - someone who truly needs it.  Same reason that you will never see me on Facebook dumping a bucket of ice water on my head, or wearing a lapel ribbon at the Academy Awards.  Its feeling good without doing good.  There is nothing wrong with feeling good - just don't expect me to play along because the last 20 people at Starbucks have engaged in the superficial and conformed to social pressure.  It goes much deeper than that, but there are some things we can't talk about on MTO. 

Powernoodle is very, very a bad person.

(Image removed from quote.)
Venti iced coffee:  if you are destitute and parched, I'll give you mine and we'll both be blessed in the process.  If you drove up to Starbucks in a BWM on the way to the law firm, its time to buy your own. 

+1

 

I is bad, 2!

While the observation that this type of activity is conformist and superficial is accurate, this doesn't mean it is completely devoid of value.  If the only benefit of this event is that the few (or few hundred, as the case may be) participants feel their day brighten a bit, and perhaps feel an increased sense of kinship with and benevolence toward their fellow man, is it really a such a bad thing on balance (especially once the cost is considered)?

[captain spaulding]

While the observation that this type of activity is conformist and superficial is accurate, this doesn't mean it is completely devoid of value.  If the only benefit of this event is that the few (or few hundred, as the case may be) participants feel their day brighten a bit, and perhaps feel an increased sense of kinship with and benevolence toward their fellow man, is it really a such a bad thing on balance (especially once the cost is considered)?

Exactly. I felt like my day started out extremely well and it brought a bit of happiness to me. I also wanted to share that feeling with the car behind me.

[AimlessWanderer]

I must be a curmudgeon, because this kind of stuff makes me cringe.  It has something to do with my aversion to group think, conformity and superficiality.  I just want to pay for my own venti iced coffee, and then encourage, equip and edify -  no social pressure to conform - someone who truly needs it.  Same reason that you will never see me on Facebook dumping a bucket of ice water on my head, or wearing a lapel ribbon at the Academy Awards.  Its feeling good without doing good.  There is nothing wrong with feeling good - just don't expect me to play along because the last 20 people at Starbucks have engaged in the superficial and conformed to social pressure.  It goes much deeper than that, but there are some things we can't talk about on MTO. 

Powernoodle is very, very a bad person.

(Image removed from quote.)
Venti iced coffee:  if you are destitute and parched, I'll give you mine and we'll both be blessed in the process.  If you drove up to Starbucks in a BWM on the way to the law firm, its time to buy your own. 

If that makes you a bad person, then so I must be too. I'm anti hype, anti Facebook, anti synthetic social movements, and all the other putrid meaningless nonsense that tries to infest our lives.

Random acts of kindness don't come with fanfares and announcements and ancouragement to do the same .... that's not random! You want to do a random act of kindness, help a stranger for no good reason, and tell no one about it. If you have to announce it and tell all your mates about it, then it wasn't genuine kindness, it was a coerced social contract trying to strongarm those around you for some attention and praise. Sometimes those acts of kindness just seem so painfully hollow (or make the person desperate for attention seem so hollow) it's sickening.

That's no reflection whatsoever on the Cap'n here by the way - just on general social cringeworthyness.

But that's just my take on it all, and we're all different 

[zoidberg]

I can't handle this thread.     

[sawman]

I can't handle this thread.     

+1 We need a thread-ignore feature 

[zoidberg]

I can't handle this thread.     

+1 We need a thread-ignore feature 

Amen to that. 

[captain spaulding]

Okie Dokie. 

The whole point of the thread was just to say someone payed for my food the other morning. It caught me off guard and started the day out on a positive note. That is all.

[Mercury]

I think it's awesome that someone did the Captain a favor, and it's equally awesome that he passed it on.  That's the point of goodwill.  To say that he felt obligated due to social pressure cheapens the goodness that is in him, and was inspired in him by the deed done for him by the other driver.  We would be better as a species if everyone tried every day to do something nice for someone else, and I agree that public acknowledgement isn't necessary.  Captain S was just bringing a bit of good news to the forum, and seeing as how we are all about being good to others here, I see no problem with that.   


I also can't stand Facebook and bumper stickers and feel good nonsense.  I take care of my fellow man as much as I can, when it doesn't put my family in danger.  I don't tell everyone about it, and I don't care if anyone ever finds out the extent of my deeds. 


The point of this thread was that someone helped Captain S out, not that he passed it on.  There are two extremes, and cynical criticism of the act is one of them.  I try to avoid extremes.  This is a public forum, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I didn't have anything to add really the first time I read this, but after seeing a few folks jump on the OP(indirectly) it appears that keeping our mouths shut if we have nothing nice to say isn't a requirement.

[captain spaulding]

Thanks bud. 

[Mercury]

Thanks bud. 

 

[AimlessWanderer]

I think it's awesome that someone did the Captain a favor, and it's equally awesome that he passed it on.  That's the point of goodwill.  To say that he felt obligated due to social pressure cheapens the goodness that is in him, and was inspired in him by the deed done for him by the other driver.  We would be better as a species if everyone tried every day to do something nice for someone else, and I agree that public acknowledgement isn't necessary.  Captain S was just bringing a bit of good news to the forum, and seeing as how we are all about being good to others here, I see no problem with that.   


I also can't stand Facebook and bumper stickers and feel good nonsense.  I take care of my fellow man as much as I can, when it doesn't put my family in danger.  I don't tell everyone about it, and I don't care if anyone ever finds out the extent of my deeds. 


The point of this thread was that someone helped Captain S out, not that he passed it on.  There are two extremes, and cynical criticism of the act is one of them.  I try to avoid extremes.  This is a public forum, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I didn't have anything to add really the first time I read this, but after seeing a few folks jump on the OP(indirectly) it appears that keeping our mouths shut if we have nothing nice to say isn't a requirement.

Well said!  I do agree with most of that.

I'm certainly one of life's cynics, but don't see that as a failing. It's kept me and those I care about from being taken advantage of on a few occasions. Plus, there's far more diversity here than just Phillips vs corkscrew  Despite those differences we all get along and embrace our diversity, that's the MTo way 

I tend to feel quite uncomfortable when I encounter unusual acts of kindness and am usually looking for the catch. I have actually had a few folks in real life have a go at me for shattering illusions of niceness, even when there's a very definite undercurrent of something else. Seems a lot of people would rather fawn over the illusion and ignore a hidden motive A few times I've had a playful slap and been told to stop ruining it  Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong, the maths seem to suggest I should stay cynical though

Bottom line, if those acts make someone's day brighter in both giving and receiving, then that is fantastic There are some people however who react differently - and they're not necessarily wrong to do so

[Mercury]

I think it's awesome that someone did the Captain a favor, and it's equally awesome that he passed it on.  That's the point of goodwill.  To say that he felt obligated due to social pressure cheapens the goodness that is in him, and was inspired in him by the deed done for him by the other driver.  We would be better as a species if everyone tried every day to do something nice for someone else, and I agree that public acknowledgement isn't necessary.  Captain S was just bringing a bit of good news to the forum, and seeing as how we are all about being good to others here, I see no problem with that.   


I also can't stand Facebook and bumper stickers and feel good nonsense.  I take care of my fellow man as much as I can, when it doesn't put my family in danger.  I don't tell everyone about it, and I don't care if anyone ever finds out the extent of my deeds. 


The point of this thread was that someone helped Captain S out, not that he passed it on.  There are two extremes, and cynical criticism of the act is one of them.  I try to avoid extremes.  This is a public forum, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I didn't have anything to add really the first time I read this, but after seeing a few folks jump on the OP(indirectly) it appears that keeping our mouths shut if we have nothing nice to say isn't a requirement.

Well said!  I do agree with most of that.

I'm certainly one of life's cynics, but don't see that as a failing. It's kept me and those I care about from being taken advantage of on a few occasions. Plus, there's far more diversity here than just Phillips vs corkscrew  Despite those differences we all get along and embrace our diversity, that's the MTo way 

I tend to feel quite uncomfortable when I encounter unusual acts of kindness and am usually looking for the catch. I have actually had a few folks in real life have a go at me for shattering illusions of niceness, even when there's a very definite undercurrent of something else. Seems a lot of people would rather fawn over the illusion and ignore a hidden motive A few times I've had a playful slap and been told to stop ruining it  Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong, the maths seem to suggest I should stay cynical though

Bottom line, if those acts make someone's day brighter in both giving and receiving, then that is fantastic There are some people however who react differently - and they're not necessarily wrong to do so

 


Well put Al.   

[captain spaulding]

I think it's awesome that someone did the Captain a favor, and it's equally awesome that he passed it on.  That's the point of goodwill.  To say that he felt obligated due to social pressure cheapens the goodness that is in him, and was inspired in him by the deed done for him by the other driver.  We would be better as a species if everyone tried every day to do something nice for someone else, and I agree that public acknowledgement isn't necessary.  Captain S was just bringing a bit of good news to the forum, and seeing as how we are all about being good to others here, I see no problem with that.   


I also can't stand Facebook and bumper stickers and feel good nonsense.  I take care of my fellow man as much as I can, when it doesn't put my family in danger.  I don't tell everyone about it, and I don't care if anyone ever finds out the extent of my deeds. 


The point of this thread was that someone helped Captain S out, not that he passed it on.  There are two extremes, and cynical criticism of the act is one of them.  I try to avoid extremes.  This is a public forum, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I didn't have anything to add really the first time I read this, but after seeing a few folks jump on the OP(indirectly) it appears that keeping our mouths shut if we have nothing nice to say isn't a requirement.

Well said!  I do agree with most of that.

I'm certainly one of life's cynics, but don't see that as a failing. It's kept me and those I care about from being taken advantage of on a few occasions. Plus, there's far more diversity here than just Phillips vs corkscrew  Despite those differences we all get along and embrace our diversity, that's the MTo way 

I tend to feel quite uncomfortable when I encounter unusual acts of kindness and am usually looking for the catch. I have actually had a few folks in real life have a go at me for shattering illusions of niceness, even when there's a very definite undercurrent of something else. Seems a lot of people would rather fawn over the illusion and ignore a hidden motive A few times I've had a playful slap and been told to stop ruining it  Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong, the maths seem to suggest I should stay cynical though

Bottom line, if those acts make someone's day brighter in both giving and receiving, then that is fantastic There are some people however who react differently - and they're not necessarily wrong to do so

I know what your saying and I am for the most part the same way. I grew up always feeling uncomfortable with situation that people insist you must do something. My father always told me "you always have a choice" and "you never have to do anything you do not wan't to." There is always a choice even when someone tells you there is not. I also feel more compelled to challenge something if someone says you must do it or you have no choice because in reality you always have a choice.

I am also very skeptical of any time anyone asks me for anything. Even more so now since it seems everyone is trying to scam you and it ruins it for the people that genuinely need help. For example I moved recently and had a girl approach me at the gas station saying her car ran out of gas down the street and she needed money. I told her sorry, but I cannot help. I then saw the same girl (I say girl because she was about 18-19) walking through my apartments and she saw me smoking a cigarette and approached me and asked me if she could have one. A few days later I see her at Walmart and she gives me the same car ran out of gas story and asked me for money which I obviously refused. Now I had seen her on three different location as she was asking me for something on all occasions and played the car ran out of gas story multiple times. I always see her walking everywhere so obviously she has no car. The money she asks for is just for cigarettes and/or drugs I assume.

[AimlessWanderer]

An all too familiar situation Cap'n    I had a similar chap approach me for "bus fare" earlier today, but the Spidey sense said it was really for liquid refreshments. The trouble is that every so often a genuine case will get the knockback by people assuming they're a scrounger because there's so many preying on those who are easily badgered into parting with their cash.

On the flip side I know a good friend of mine saw a homeless person several years ago shivering in the depths of winter huddled in a corner asking for small change from passers by. She walked over and said no small change for you and thrust £50 in his hand and told him to go and buy a decent coat. A few days later she passed him again on her commute, and saw him sat in the same place asking the same question but with his new big warm coat on. They exchanged big smiles and a cheery wave as she passed by. The most heart warming thing for me is not just her deed, but that the guy did go and get the coat, and wasn't someone who would just turn that cash into something drinkable or injectable 

[Mercury]

That's awesome to hear Al, I wish there weren't as many scammers out there.  We have a whole syndicate of them here.  They all hang out in front of walmart, taking turns holding the same sign on a corner.  Every time I see anyone giving them change I get angry, because they live to not work.  I work as many hours as I can, soon to be at two jobs, just to make sure my little ones have new clothes and good food to eat.  I am proud to work, these smurfholes make a career out of begging. 


Then you have situations like my friend at work.  He's a foreman like me, and he started as my shophand, sweeping floors and loading material.  Inside of 2 months he was promoted out of that position and kept climbing.  He's also a Sergeant in the National Guard, with three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.  But he struggles financially, and has to sell his stuff every time he gets ahead because of creditors.  The more he makes the more they take.  Does he stop?  No, he asks if he can moonlight on my shift for hours, then goes and coaches peewee football after work.  I truly admire this guys work ethic.  He's a good man who does what he should and more.  This guy I try to take care of, screw the "beggars".

[pfrsantos]

While the observation that this type of activity is conformist and superficial is accurate, this doesn't mean it is completely devoid of value.  If the only benefit of this event is that the few (or few hundred, as the case may be) participants feel their day brighten a bit, and perhaps feel an increased sense of kinship with and benevolence toward their fellow man, is it really a such a bad thing on balance (especially once the cost is considered)?

Exactly. I felt like my day started out extremely well and it brought a bit of happiness to me. I also wanted to share that feeling with the car behind me.

My earlier comment wasn't "against" what the captain (and the other persons) did. It was "against" me. I know I'm not a very friendly person to strangers, whether in terms of giving or receiving.
 

I admire people who believe and trust and help others "just 'cause". Maybe I should be a bit more like that.

Anyway, it's good to know that once in a while something happens that makes you feel good for the rest of the day. If someone makes you feel good and you can pass that along, it's great!