people get weird with this stuff.
I've towed cars out of ditches, pulled folks out of wrecked cars, changed flat tires, and taken stranded motorists to a store or pay phone. I've been snookered, too.
when there's too much testosterone, I walk away. sometimes it works out. 5 men trying to erect a volleyball net for the girls team... I offered, was quickly seen as the runt of the litter, I walked away. 10 minutes into practice, no net. coach approaches me. "sure, i have rope, climbing webbing, and beaners in the jeep." I came back and not only included the "bigger" men but also put them to work, what to tie, and where, and invited their opinions. the good vibes did last; was nice.
I recall jumping off a LTD by shorting the solenoid, which blew the owner's mind. I also jumped a dodge with a bad solenoid (on the motor) by jumping directly to the motor input while he keyed the solenoid.
but also got burned-- helped out a young lady that said she was out of gas. she hopped in my car for a 1 mile drive to a gas station and back. got real suspicious when she couldn't figure out the gas pump. back to her car, and the starter spun and spun... without ever catching the flywheel. I told her gas wasn't the problem, and try as I could, I couldn't twist the engine enuf to get to a good tooth on the wheel (sounded like a stripped tooth). she got upset, saying her mom was going to be mad... and I assured her that a new cavalier with 17,000 was under warranty, this wasn't her fault. she said her mom only lived 2 blocks away-- can I get her car there? No... then her friend said, "oooooh your mom's gonna ground you again when she finds out you took the car...."
and I said, "what?"
and she looked sheepish. and her friend looked VERY sheepish.
so I said, "how old are you?!?"
her friend said, "I'm walking home" and turned to leave.
and she said, "15."
and I said, "ok. you go stand over there. I am going to coast your car off this road, into that parking lot so it's out of the middle of the road. then you are to either walk home or follow your friend." I turned on my heels, did exactly that, gave her the keys and drove off, STUNNED. I'd had a 15 year-old girl in my personal vehicle during that trip to the gas station and back, as she posed as someone older. I don't know what liability I could have faced, but in this day and age who knows. I wanted no part of that, and certainly wasn't going to help out a 15 year old kid that had taken her mom's car. she said she lived close by, her friend obviously did, so she was in no harm by me leaving. and i did. quickly.
