Strangers asking you to "watch my stuff"?

Post Reply New Topic

Whats with strangers asking others to "watch their stuff" while they are gone for a minute or two?

Why would you trust a stranger? Or does it mean that they already have a vivid description of you and if anything goes missing, they are putting you responsible for it?

Perhaps you have a really trustworthy face? That is, if this keeps happening to you.

I get strangers asking me that favour all the time.

If you're asked this by strangers, it's probably because they think you'd be weak and overly compliant. So, I would refuse or tell them where to go if I were you, no need to take responsibility for their stuff.

I rarely have strangers ask me this. I also don't look like the approachable type so maybe that is why lol

It's a trap or they're just plain dumb.

I don't know what that's about either. It's like announcing "hey, I'm going to be leaving something valuable unattended long enough for me to be concerned about someone stealing it." People ask me to watch their stuff all the time, but if it's not my friend's stuff I probably wouldn't do anything if someone tried to take it.

Perhaps if anything happens to it they'll come round your house and stamp on all your toys?

Well, it happened to me ONE hour after my previous post. I refused to do the favour, stating that the guy's drinks were not my responsibility.

I've been asked now and then at an airport, on a train and in a restaurant. I think it has to do with the feeling of being all in the same boat. Nobody's likes to drag all their luggage or shopping to the lavatory or to the coffee vendor machine.
So you pay a favour that probably will not be repaid by the same person, but somebody else, who joins this "community" and adheres to their unwritten code. It has also to do with the eroding sense of trust into your fellow human being that many people feel anxious or rightly cautious to comply with this simple request.
I think even I would think twice were I to be asked to watch a suitcase at an airport nowadays, .

I agree. In fact, I think one could get into trouble with airport officials for babysitting someone's things. Especially nowadays!
The last time I was asked to do this, was at a Starbucks. This woman that was sitting at one of the outside tables asked me to keep an eye on her laptop, purse, etc while she went to her car for something. Since I was sitting there anyway I didn't know why I shouldn't but it made me uneasy to feel responsible for her stuff.

I've been asked this and pondered whether I'd actually do anything if someone else came by and stole the things. I mean, it's very likely that I forget what the person who asked me looks like anyway.

I've wondered that too. Plus the people who say "watch my kid" for a sec and then run off without my even answering. I hate that.

someone asked me to watch her baby D:

anyway, be a love & watch my stuff whilst i go browse the other forums

I've been asked to do it on some occasions, such as in an airport. Since I'm generally a nice guy, I'll do it for them, but for all they know, I could mess with it (but I won't). I rarely ask strangers to watch my stuff, because they could do something to it (especially in an airport - one of the first questions they ask you at the counter is if your luggage has been with you at all times)

That.