How Would You Handle This?

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 06-01-2012, 08:37 AM
cappyjon431's Avatar
cappyjon431 cappyjon431 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calumet Grove
Posts: 678
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default How Would You Handle This?

This morning I encountered a situation that I did not know how to handle and in hindsight I might have bungled it. Its been bothering me all morning so I wanted to see what others had to say.

Early this morning I took my dog out for a walk (no, this is NOT a dog poop thread!). It was pouring rain and had been doing so for a couple of hours. On my walk I encountered a woman walking in the rain who was not carrying an umbrella, not wearing a raincoat (she was only wearing a light t-shirt and shorts) and she was drenched to the bone. I waved and said "good morning" but she barely acknowledged me. Once I got home I got to thinking that this woman certaintly wasn't caught in a sudden downpour--it had been raining for hours. She was dressed inappropriately (for the weather). I started to wonder if she might have been lost or suffering from dementia. I questioned myself as to whether I should have tried to stop her and render assistance or perhaps called Neighborhood Watch. I found myself in quite a dilemna--should I have been proactive and tried to help and faced embarrassing myself if she turned out to be fine (no one likes to accused of not being "all there"), or should I have just minded my own business and hoped that she just enjoyed a brisk walk in the rain and that everything was OK?

I'm still left wondering what I should have done.
__________________
Captain Jon

"Growing older but not up." J. Buffett
_________________________

Coral Gables, FL, Bahamas, Belize, Wilmington, NC, Bocas del Toro, Panama and finally The Villages
  #2  
Old 06-01-2012, 08:45 AM
graciegirl's Avatar
graciegirl graciegirl is offline
Sage
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 40,184
Thanks: 5,008
Thanked 5,779 Times in 2,003 Posts
Send a message via AIM to graciegirl
Default

Kind of you to worry, Jon, but I think you did the right thing. It isn't a cold rain or a chilly day and I know people, including myself, who like to walk in the rain when it isn't lightning and when it is a decent temperature. I NEVER carry an umbrella.

If you had said something or done something, it might have been not as good as just letting it be.
__________________
It is better to laugh than to cry.
  #3  
Old 06-01-2012, 08:46 AM
jebartle's Avatar
jebartle jebartle is offline
Sage
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LaZamora Village
Posts: 4,831
Thanks: 210
Thanked 1,191 Times in 450 Posts
Default You are a good little angel but

some walkers just like to walk in rain....Have a great day
  #4  
Old 06-01-2012, 08:51 AM
missypie missypie is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,146
Thanks: 1
Thanked 55 Times in 11 Posts
Default

Guess I would have just stopped for a second and talk about the much needed rain. You then would be able to see how she would react.

This is hind sight and I've read your thread and had time to think about it. We all think what should I have said, or done.

Just the idea that you thought about it after the fact shows you are a good and compassionate person.

Have a wonderful day.
  #5  
Old 06-01-2012, 09:07 AM
KEVIN & JOSIE KEVIN & JOSIE is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: PA
Posts: 674
Thanks: 38
Thanked 17 Times in 12 Posts
Default

If unsure, report it to the police. They are professionals and handle different situations daily. To them!
__________________
I rescued my best friend...Adopt a shelter animal.
Baltimore Md 42 years, Currently Pa
  #6  
Old 06-01-2012, 09:31 AM
CarolSells's Avatar
CarolSells CarolSells is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Woodstock, GA, The Villages
Posts: 416
Thanks: 86
Thanked 180 Times in 42 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by KEVIN & JOSIE View Post
If unsure, report it to the police. They are professionals and handle different situations daily. To them!
Are you friggin' kidding me? Call the police? Because a woman was walking in the rain? Maybe her dog just died. Maybe a relative just passed away. Maybe her husband is having an affair. Maybe it's NOYB, as my mother used to say.

Cappyjon. Thank you for being concerned and don't worry...she's probably fine.
  #7  
Old 06-01-2012, 09:32 AM
njbchbum's Avatar
njbchbum njbchbum is offline
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Summer at the Jersey Shore, Fall in New England [Maine], Winter in TV!
Posts: 5,633
Thanks: 3,060
Thanked 754 Times in 256 Posts
Default

her minimal acknowledgement of your morning greeting might have been because she did not want to have to explain her walking in the rain - or - she just might not be a morning person! like gracie said, kind of you to be concerned.
__________________
Not sure if I have free time...or if I just forgot everything I was supposed to do!

  #8  
Old 06-01-2012, 09:40 AM
paulandjean paulandjean is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,327
Thanks: 0
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Default

I agree, Stay out of it. Just like the song,"Walking in the rain" No do not call the Police. Police are for emergencys.
  #9  
Old 06-01-2012, 10:01 AM
Pturner's Avatar
Pturner Pturner is offline
Sage
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 7,064
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Hi Cappyjon,

I agree with others that you are kind to be concerned. Also, by taking the time to post it, you give others a chance to consider what they might do in a similar situation.

Funny thing is, Wednesday afternoon I was driving home in cart from neighborhood pool and saw a women in my Village walking in the sun. I assumed she was walking because she wanted to walk. However, being neighborly, I stopped all the same to ask if she would like a lift. Much to my surprise, she said, "oh yes, thank you very much". Turns out she had walked to the mailboxes and was almost home. However, it was a bit hotter than she expected and she was tired. I took her the rest of the way to her house, which was on my way home. We exchanged pleasantries and I was on my way.

Moral of the story, I think, is we can assume but can't be sure of another's situation. Cappyjon, I suppose in that situation, I might have said hello and asked in a friendly and unassuming way if she needed assistance. Of course, there's always the chance she would have been offended. In all likelihood, the lady was just fine and out for a walk in the pleasing rain!
__________________
Kindness is contagious. Pass it on.
  #10  
Old 06-01-2012, 10:10 AM
thekeithfan thekeithfan is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: The Villages
Posts: 179
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cappyjon431 View Post
This morning I encountered a situation that I did not know how to handle and in hindsight I might have bungled it. Its been bothering me all morning so I wanted to see what others had to say.

Early this morning I took my dog out for a walk (no, this is NOT a dog poop thread!). It was pouring rain and had been doing so for a couple of hours. On my walk I encountered a woman walking in the rain who was not carrying an umbrella, not wearing a raincoat (she was only wearing a light t-shirt and shorts) and she was drenched to the bone. I waved and said "good morning" but she barely acknowledged me. Once I got home I got to thinking that this woman certaintly wasn't caught in a sudden downpour--it had been raining for hours. She was dressed inappropriately (for the weather). I started to wonder if she might have been lost or suffering from dementia. I questioned myself as to whether I should have tried to stop her and render assistance or perhaps called Neighborhood Watch. I found myself in quite a dilemna--should I have been proactive and tried to help and faced embarrassing myself if she turned out to be fine (no one likes to accused of not being "all there"), or should I have just minded my own business and hoped that she just enjoyed a brisk walk in the rain and that everything was OK?

I'm still left wondering what I should have done.
I've seen such a woman walking, soaked in the rain over on Paradise/W Boone. I've also watched her do this for a couple years. I even offered her an umbrella. Poor soul!
  #11  
Old 06-01-2012, 12:56 PM
thistrucksforyou thistrucksforyou is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Brownsburg, Indiana just west of Indianapolis
Posts: 231
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

If that were my mother I would call you and thank you for your concern about her....Everyone else has excuses to do nothing !
  #12  
Old 06-01-2012, 01:02 PM
gmcneill gmcneill is offline
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 481
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Jon: Put me down in support of pturner's last paragraph.
What's the worst that would happen? I get yelled at for being concerned enough to check on someone, for not minding my own business in a situation that most people would deem not usual. I am a big boy, I'm pretty sure that I could handle that.

So many of us are quick to stop and offer assistance to golf cart drivers who appear lost but would walk by w/out checking on someone in this circumstance? Nope, not me. Not ever!!

The lady wasn't dressed for the situation...Does she enjoy walking in the rain in the dark of a developing dawn? Ok, fine! No worries there! But she also could have been looking for an escaped pet, or was lost, or was disoriented, or has sundowners, or worse.

Getting rebuked for expressing concern about someone is a pretty good trade-off to me given the potential negative consequences if the person was in need of help.

Neighbors helping neighbors; villagers checking on villagers. Seems like one of the reasons why many folks have chosen to live here.
  #13  
Old 06-01-2012, 01:16 PM
cappyjon431's Avatar
cappyjon431 cappyjon431 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calumet Grove
Posts: 678
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by gmcneill View Post
Jon: Put me down in support of pturner's last paragraph.
What's the worst that would happen? I get yelled at for being concerned enough to check on someone, for not minding my own business in a situation that most people would deem not usual. I am a big boy, I'm pretty sure that I could handle that.

So many of us are quick to stop and offer assistance to golf cart drivers who appear lost but would walk by w/out checking on someone in this circumstance? Nope, not me. Not ever!!

The lady wasn't dressed for the situation...Does she enjoy walking in the rain in the dark of a developing dawn? Ok, fine! No worries there! But she also could have been looking for an escaped pet, or was lost, or was disoriented, or has sundowners, or worse.

Getting rebuked for expressing concern about someone is a pretty good trade-off to me given the potential negative consequences if the person was in need of help.

Neighbors helping neighbors; villagers checking on villagers. Seems like one of the reasons why many folks have chosen to live here.
In my heart I know you are right. I wish I had stopped and asked. At least now i know how to respond in the future.
__________________
Captain Jon

"Growing older but not up." J. Buffett
_________________________

Coral Gables, FL, Bahamas, Belize, Wilmington, NC, Bocas del Toro, Panama and finally The Villages
  #14  
Old 06-01-2012, 03:30 PM
tainsley tainsley is offline
Gold member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Tamarind Grove
Posts: 1,299
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Hi Jon! Good for you for caring. I was out walking one day this week (shorts, tshirt, hat and sneakers) when it started to pour. I still had two miles to go before I got home! Maybe she was in the situation as I was a couple of days ago and just got caught in the rain! Next time it wouldn't hurt to ask if it gives you peace of mind. You sound like a good guy! (also not everyone is friendly...I pass the same people everyday and there is just one person that never acknowledges me...I say good morning anyway!)
  #15  
Old 06-01-2012, 04:02 PM
mickey100 mickey100 is offline
Soaring Eagle member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,025
Thanks: 331
Thanked 333 Times in 107 Posts
Default

Cappyjon, so nice of you to be concerned. You didn't mention her age. Could she have been a jogger? Sometimes if I jog, and the weather turns bad, I'm at a point where I'm done running, and am doing a cool-down/walking back home. The rain doesn't bother me because I'm hot and tired, and actually, being "wet" feels kind of refreshing. its nice to know people like you are in The Villages.
Closed Thread


You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:15 PM.