To pick up hitchhikers... or not to pick up hitchhikers...
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 7:34 pm
Now that is the question....
Nowadays, it's quite rare to spot a nomad on the side of the road, thumb erect, arm out straight, silently seeking a hitch. But when I do, I cant help but wonder if he's a present day Chris McCandless, or just some fellow patron without a car trying to spot a ride to a destination not far away.
I realize if I was ever tramping around... I would most definitely want or need to hitchhike places... And would become vastly frustrated waiting hours in, in some cases, cruddy weather conditions, for someone to pull over and offer me a ride. But you know there are a wide range of horror stories related to hitchhikers. Whether your the one pulling over... or the one hopping in. I think that's what scares me the most. Not knowing what your about to get your self into, who this person is, where they come from, what their hiding. We don't know. And in the back of our heads... We imagine the worst case scenario. But we pick them up anyways. Are we taking chances, purposely ignoring our thoughts, or just not afraid?
I couldn't tell you if next time I see a drifter asking for a ride, I'll pull over and invite him in. But I will think twice about who this character is. For all I know... he could be the most extraordinary person I will ever meet. Or he could just be a serial killer about to plan his next attack.
I don't really know where I was going with this. But what do you guys think? Do you Pick up strays or just leave them be on the side of the road?
Do tell, I'm curious.
Nowadays, it's quite rare to spot a nomad on the side of the road, thumb erect, arm out straight, silently seeking a hitch. But when I do, I cant help but wonder if he's a present day Chris McCandless, or just some fellow patron without a car trying to spot a ride to a destination not far away.
I realize if I was ever tramping around... I would most definitely want or need to hitchhike places... And would become vastly frustrated waiting hours in, in some cases, cruddy weather conditions, for someone to pull over and offer me a ride. But you know there are a wide range of horror stories related to hitchhikers. Whether your the one pulling over... or the one hopping in. I think that's what scares me the most. Not knowing what your about to get your self into, who this person is, where they come from, what their hiding. We don't know. And in the back of our heads... We imagine the worst case scenario. But we pick them up anyways. Are we taking chances, purposely ignoring our thoughts, or just not afraid?
I couldn't tell you if next time I see a drifter asking for a ride, I'll pull over and invite him in. But I will think twice about who this character is. For all I know... he could be the most extraordinary person I will ever meet. Or he could just be a serial killer about to plan his next attack.
I don't really know where I was going with this. But what do you guys think? Do you Pick up strays or just leave them be on the side of the road?
Do tell, I'm curious.