What would you do?

[jtm1631]

What would you do in this situation?

I was walking my dog last night at about 7:30 and came across a kids school bag. It was raining pretty steadily and the bag and all its contents were wet. Inside the bag were several books and a folder with some soggy papers in it.

I thought it would be rude to just leave the bag so I took a look to see if there was a name on it. The folder had a name and I decided to knock on the nearest door to see if anybody had lost their book bag or if they had recognized the name (I did not recognize the name and was about 10 blocks from my house).

There was no answer at the door despite their being a TV on and my having heard voices inside. As I started to walk away from the house, I heard a voice coming from the car that was parked in the drive way. The guy in the car starts yelling at me to "go away" and "what the BLEEP do you want" I started to explain about the books I found but he just kept yelling. After exchanging some words, I walked away.

I am thinking that next time, I just won't get involved. I thought I was doing something nice, but it has become just another source of aggrevation.

Is it just me?

[Kevin y Pam]

I believe that your heart was in the right place. Just think if it was your kid that lost the school bag and someone knocked on your door to see if it belonged to you.

[SunKneeMarie]

Originally Posted by jtm1631

What would you do in this situation?

I was walking my dog last night at about 7:30 and came across a kids school bag. It was raining pretty steadily and the bag and all its contents were wet. Inside the bag were several books and a folder with some soggy papers in it.

I thought it would be rude to just leave the bag so I took a look to see if there was a name on it. The folder had a name and I decided to knock on the nearest door to see if anybody had lost their book bag or if they had recognized the name (I did not recognize the name and was about 10 blocks from my house).

There was no answer at the door despite their being a TV on and my having heard voices inside. As I started to walk away from the house, I heard a voice coming from the car that was parked in the drive way. The guy in the car starts yelling at me to "go away" and "what the BLEEP do you want" I started to explain about the books I found but he just kept yelling. After exchanging some words, I walked away.

I am thinking that next time, I just won't get involved. I thought I was doing something nice, but it has become just another source of aggrevation.

Is it just me?

I think you definitely did the right thing in trying to find the owner of the backpack. And like Kevin Y Pam said, you know you would want someone to try and return your child's backpack. I mean, for school, that's basically my son's whole life!

You just happened to run into one of life's many jackasses. Ignore him and move on. It's discouraging when you know you're trying to do a nice thing and not only does someone not appreciate it, they yell at you for it. But don't let the jackasses of the world deter you from being a nice guy. The world needs as many nice guys and gals as it can get. So keep on with your nice self!

[Quinn]

unfortunatly your story is very typical of people these days...

[baylainphilly]

I would have done exactly what you did. Apparently, the poor kid doesn't have a very good homelife. If the adult would listen to you, he surely must not listen to his child. Although the outcome wasn't quite what one would expect, it will surely bring you good Karma for the future.

[Sheristw]

Originally Posted by jtm1631

What would you do in this situation?

I was walking my dog last night at about 7:30 and came across a kids school bag. It was raining pretty steadily and the bag and all its contents were wet. Inside the bag were several books and a folder with some soggy papers in it.

I thought it would be rude to just leave the bag so I took a look to see if there was a name on it. The folder had a name and I decided to knock on the nearest door to see if anybody had lost their book bag or if they had recognized the name (I did not recognize the name and was about 10 blocks from my house).

There was no answer at the door despite their being a TV on and my having heard voices inside. As I started to walk away from the house, I heard a voice coming from the car that was parked in the drive way. The guy in the car starts yelling at me to "go away" and "what the BLEEP do you want" I started to explain about the books I found but he just kept yelling. After exchanging some words, I walked away.

I am thinking that next time, I just won't get involved. I thought I was doing something nice, but it has become just another source of aggrevation.

Is it just me?

I think you did the right thing, I know if it were my childs bag I would have appreciated your effort. Some people in this world are just impossible to please. Don't let this effect your kind spirit.

[baylainphilly]

Originally Posted by Quinn

unfortunatly your story is very typical of people these days...

I'd like to think differently. Recently my daughter lost her cell phone at a movie theatre the people who found it called the "Dad" number on the phone and it was returned. I bought a small gift and a thank you card for the finder - basically saying "people like you make the world a better place".

[kskobra]

I think you did the right thing. We need more nice people in the world.

Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most. It is not complicated but it takes courage. It takes courage for a person to listen to his own goodness and act on it.

[Big Kahuna]

I would have definitely attempted to find the bags owner. It was the right thing to do. The only thing I would have done differently was tell the guy in the car just where he could get off and then run like hell!

[Nerak936]

Waaay to go, JT!!!

Yup, this world has jerks in it; that's a given. And it was bad luck for you that you ran into one while trying to do a good deed.

And you'll do it again the next time and the time after that and the time after that..... It's just the way you are, JT!! Don't ever let the jerks of the world change you from being you.

And, in my opinion, there are WAAAAAY more nice people in this world than bad. It's just that sometimes it's the bad ones who get our attention.

[jtm1631]

Thank you all for the reminders of what was right. Like many of you said, if it had been something that had belonged to me or one of my kids, I would hope someone would try to return the bag.

When I got home I was able to find the person who the bag belonged to through our school directory. I called the family to let them know I had the bag (a bit soggy now), and that I would have my daughter take it to school with her in the morning.

[Quinn]

Originally Posted by baylainphilly

I'd like to think differently. Recently my daughter lost her cell phone at a movie theatre the people who found it called the "Dad" number on the phone and it was returned. I bought a small gift and a thank you card for the finder - basically saying "people like you make the world a better place".

Amen to that!

[traci]

KEEP IT UP
The world does have a lot of jerks , and usually it's the squeaky wheels that get the grease. Karen is right, tho, there are many more good people than we sometimes think! Very nice, Thanks for sharing and reminding us all to grease the "good" wheels more often! :p
Traci

[Softy57]

Even when we get sh#t for it,we know when we do the right thing. You did,Karma & Aura get better it's a win-win situation. Never let the A-holes win. BTW your dau. got a message-"do the right thing". A bonus!

[Mikey]

Always do the right thing. In the end thats all that matters. Way to go. But you can always fantasize about dragging the jerk out of the car and beating the crap out of him. I do it on a daily basis.