Did I do a good thing?

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On my way back from my part time job I saw an older guy, sitting on a bench. I was about to ignore him but he said "Can you help me get to the bus station? My leg is broken". So I decided to help.

I found it surprising though - what is a guy with broken leg doing in middle of a park and why won't he call an ambulance? But I was afraid he might say he has no phone and ask me to make the call - I am terrified of making phone calls, I just can't, kill me but I can't. No questions. I just can't. It's a phobia. So I asked him how he even got there instead. He said his sister is living close by, he got there by cab and he left his cane in the car. I am not buying it - how can a guy unable to walk leave his cane in a cab? Furthermore - he was drunk, his clothes were dirty and he knew 2 other drunk guys that we met on the way (they didn't stop to help, they only asked him if I am his granddaughter and went away before getting an answer). Between his thanks and the whole story he asked me if I want some coffee as thanks and said I am pretty.

It was going really slow with me alone so I asked some other passerby for help. He asked "Why don't you call an ambulance?". I didn't answer. The injured guy said "I just need to get to the bus station to get home" and discussion ended. The injured guy kept stopping, thanking us, telling us how much it hurts, thanking again and asking us just to get him to the bus stop.

We brought the guy to a bench nearby the bus stop and we left. I said "Don't leave home anymore." at the end and he answered "If it was just that easy".

Now I am wondering - shouldn't I ask someone to call an ambulance? And was the guy even actually injured or just a drunk that made up a story so he can hold an arm of a girl? And even if he was injured - should I really have helped him? Perhaps I should have just let him be due to "not my business"? He was drunk and dirty, perhaps homeless - something tells me he probably got the leg broken and didn't even go to doctors.

I'm not good with people obviously so im not sure whether he was lying. But i think you did a good thing. Regardless of whether he was really injured or not you just wanted to help someone. You doubted but couldn't leave him alone. That shows you're a good person. Even if he was drunk he's obviously in a bad condition so helping him isn't a bad thing i think.

I'd be more worried that he'd take the phone off my hands, with or without making the call himself, maybe doing nasty things to the phone while he tries to make the call, and perhaps not giving it back to me.

Yesterday, I was asked by a young lad for my phone to make a call, though I'm not sure whether letting me make it would've satisfied him. I didn't know how to refuse politely enough, and didn't hide my distress while I looked for such an answer. At last, I told him no bluntly, rather annoyed. I'm sure sooner or later someone will forcibly steal my phone and beat me up to teach me some manners.



Isn't it wonderful when someone tells you some obvious BS, and you both know it doesn't matter if you don't buy it, because you'll behave exactly as if you did?



That looks increasingly dangerous.



Sounds like a good idea, unless you or the person you ask to make the call have to pay for the ambulance.



Good questions. All I know is that he probably touched more female skin not belonging to a family member on that occasion alone than I will in my whole life. No, I won't take any ideas from him—I'd expect someone to reäct by at least breaking my leg for real

I think you made a mistake. Your intention was good, but this could have ended badly for you. I hope you will be more cautious next time. Sorry if that's too blunt.

I don't trust drunk people. I remember once a drunk man came over to me in the street and start giving me this sob story about he needed to get a train to see his dying relative in a hospital but he didn't have any money for the train, and so he was trying to ask me for money to help him. My good heart was saying yes, but my logic was saying no. The guy was drunk, and he might not needed to catch a train at all, and might have just been begging for money, just to buy more drink or drugs. Later that day I told a friend about him and she said that she knew of him and that he is an alcoholic and when he's drank all his money away he asks for more to buy more drink, by telling random people these sob stories. She said that some believe him and feel sorry for him, whilst others figure him out and walk away. So I was one of those who figured him out, and I was glad I did.

OP - I'd say your heart was in the right place. But sometimes you've got to be careful because some men can pretend to look sick or injured as a way to rape, kidnap or murder. So, you did nothing wrong. You was in an awkward situation.

I thought so.

The problem was he didn't seem drunk at first - he just looked like a guy that needs help (usually I ignore drunk people too - this one caught me off guard). I only realized he is probably drunk after he got close enough to feel the smell on him. And I am still not sure if it was him or just his clothes. The way he talked when I was walking him sounded kinda drunk though.

And I don't think I was in a danger - it was a public place, with a lot of people around. There was even a family I know walking a little further behind me (they were slow because they had a stroller and the area wasn't exactly designed for wheels - lots of stairs) so if I felt any danger I would call them for help. I met the guy no further than 300meters from the bus stop, we only needed to walk through a big open space with fountain and benches and there was many other people passing by from my part time job place, customers and workers - because working hours just ended.