The very familiar side of American's Generosity

[panama hat]

I've lived in the US for a while, elementary school, post-grad and work, and the one aspect of American's (US) personality in general is their generosity.

Here's a brilliant example . . . I'm not saying this doesn't happen in other countries, it does, but for all the crap the US as a country undertakes it is still the ordinary people on the ground that does make the country a 'great' country.

Vanless in Seattle: robbed Aussies win hearts

May 13, 2009
For the rest of his life Australian surfer John Bowler will let out a chuckle when he looks down at his left ankle and sees the crude little tattoo of an old Toyota mini-van.


That little tattoo and the rusty, beaten-up 1985 maroon Toyota mini-van have become the focus of an international media story.


The tale began a couple of weeks ago when Bowler, 22, and his girlfriend, Lauren George, 21, both from Adelaide, landed in Vancouver, Canada, and bought the old mini-van for the sum of just $US700 ($A925).
The van was supposed to take them on a 12,800km dream trip - from the cool climate of Vancouver in the north to the tropical central American surfing paradise of Costa Rica.
But the adventure turned into a nightmare last week just a fraction into their journey when the couple parked the van, containing all of their possessions - every piece of clothing, camping equipment, George's diary, laptop and mobile phone worth a total of $US3,500 ($A4,620) - on a Seattle street while they went to watch a Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball game.


When they returned the van was gone.


A thief had broken in and driven off.


The only clothes they had were the items they were wearing, and they were soon saturated.
Seattle is renowned for its wet weather, and as the young Australian couple stood on the sidewalk slowly realising the old Toyota was gone, dark clouds above unleashed a rainstorm.


They didn't even have a toothbrush.


Bowler called his mother, Michele, back in Adelaide to break the news.
Ms Bowler was distraught and felt helpless, just as any mother would knowing a child was marooned in a foreign city across the world.
Bowler and George were lucky enough to know a mate's girlfriend in the city who had an apartment where they could sleep on the floor. Back in Adelaide Ms Bowler jumped into action and put a call into the Seattle Times newsroom.
"I felt so helpless," she told AAP.


She spoke to a journalist at the newspaper, Erik Lacitis, who then wrote a story about the young Aussie couple's plight.


The next day the people of Seattle, touched by the hard luck story, began donating items.


Paul Lopiccolo, a 49-year-old father of three who had an unfulfilled dream of doing a similar surfing trip, offered his old surfboard.
"I'm from Southern California. I'm married, with three kids all grown up. I wanted to do that my whole life," he told the Seattle Times.
Blogs on the Times' website are filled with readers' best wishes for the young Aussie couple.


"The Aussies I've come across while travelling around the world have been some of the friendliest, most upbeat and optimistic people I've ever met," a reader wrote on the newspaper's website.


"I'm sorry this happened to this young couple, especially in Seattle, and I hope they can patch together enough stuff to get them on their way again."
Others were not so kind.


"They're just coasting off their parents' kangaroo money (???) ... Plus they're Australian, so you know they have no work ethic," another blogger wrote.


In fact, the young couple saved every cent they had working at an Adelaide surf shop to pay for their adventure.
News has been mixed for the couple in recent days.
Since they had a van and not a car with a boot, their travel insurance company said the stolen items were not covered under their policy.
On the upside, the police found their beloved mini-van abandoned 290km away with an empty fuel tank, the rearview mirrors ripped off and not one personal item left behind.


"A whole bunch of rubbish was left ... it looked like someone had been living there," Bowler told the Times.
The van appears to be in running order so Bowler and George will soon be on their way south to fulfill their dream.


"I can't explain how devastated they were when I first talked to them," Ms Bowler said.
"They were so down.
"But the generosity from the people of Seattle has just been amazing."


Ms Bowler has one issue - the crude tattoo Bowler's mate up in Vancouver inscribed on his ankle with a home tattoo kit.
Her son was so taken with the van when he bought it he wanted the tattoo because it "was our symbol of our big overseas trip".
"I hate tattoos," his mum said.
"When they were in the trauma stage straight after the van was stolen I said to John, 'Hey, do you have a photo of the van?'
"He said, 'No. Ironically, I have a tattoo of it on my foot."'

Vanless in Seattle: robbed Aussies win hearts

[kingwilly]

quite true. the average american on the street, once introduced to you, can be generous to a fault.

[Whiteshiva]

the crude tattoo Bowler's mate up in Vancouver inscribed on his ankle with a home tattoo kit.

The ultimate poor taste cheapskate, in other words.....

[kingwilly]

The ultimate poor taste cheapskate, in other words.....

we are talking about young Australian backpackers...

[panama hat]

The ultimate poor taste cheapskate, in other words.....

we are talking about young Australian backpackers...

That's what Whiteshiva said . . .

It;s the usual Big OS, more people should do it to get their life experience. How many here didn't do it after Uni?

[meow]

About 5 or so years ago I was getting prepared to leave Thailand for the grey shores of the UK when I broke my foot. I was leaving because I was broke and needed to make funds. The last few pounds I had left went into drinking and having a laugh before the dreaded return flight, obviously.

Basically I was hopping about outside a clinic trying to see if they could fit me with a cast etc when this very tall American bloke approached me and asked what happened. I told him my story and he suggested I go to Bumrungrad. If my foot wasn't so painful I would have laughed (me being down to my last few baht).

Realising the rather pathetic predicament I was in he reached into his wallet and handed me a few thousand baht! I couldn't believe his generosity and asked him for a contact address so I could reimburse him when I was more solvent. He wouldn't hear of it and walked off stating that he was glad to help somebody in need.

Never forgot that act of kindness, and never will. He saved my broke ass (and foot!) and all was well. However I consider myself as generous and have helped out a few people (and animals) in need in my time so maybe this was karma lol!

So Thank You Mr. tall American dude, much obliged! (tips hat).

However this escapade occured in my early twenties and I am now a much more wiser, intelligent & helpful individual (ahem!).

:-)

[nedwalk]

^ pay it forward mate, hopefully you,ll be able to be in the same situation one day, take satisfaction in hopeing your good deed will grow

[panama hat]

^ And that's a very good point, nedwalk. I'm not a believer in karma and the like but even in little situations I do what's right and hope that it gets passed on . . . be it letting people in front of me into my lane or waving a 'thank you' when someone does the same to me.
Holding the door open for people, allowing people to go in front of me in a queue at the supermarket if they have only a few items . . .

Doesn't hurt . . . though in Asia it seems like a long time coming for the boomerang to return at times.

[Rural Surin]

The ultimate poor taste cheapskate, in other words.....

we are talking about young Australian backpackers...

Wonder what reaction would have been found amongst those good Americans if these unfortunates were not white and native-English speakers?

[barbaro]

Maybe he had traver's insurance and this is a scam?

[blackgang]

I help who and where I can, Even the locals but I have to know them somewhat as there are a lot of sharpshooters here that will take advantage of foreigners, same as everywhere.
I help mostly schools and children in general as it is not their fault that they are in the dire situation that they are, but will soon be as they grow and continue to refuse to use their heads.
But I do extend courtesy and generosity to most if at all possible.

[panama hat]

But I do extend courtesy and generosity to most if at all possible.

And when will this softer side of you transfer to thai forum?

[nidhogg]

I've lived in the US for a while, elementary school, post-grad and work, and the one aspect of American's (US) personality in general is their generosity.

Excluding the [at][at][at][at] who stole their van of course.

[hafiz]

seattle is a cool city.

[phuketbound]

But I do extend courtesy and generosity to most if at all possible.

And when will this softer side of you transfer to thai forum?

That's what I was wondering too.

--
I've experienced American generosity quite a few times. One in particular, when I drove down to North Carolina from Canada, in an old 1987 Pontiac. As I was driving along the 81, my car started making this loud noise. It sounded as if the muffler had fallen off. I pulled off at the next exit, and realized I was in PA. I thought I must of been in the middle of Amish country, because there was not much around at all.

Unbelievably, I found a gas station and pulled into the empty parking lot. It was a Sunday, and the old Amish looking man with overalls, asked me what the problem was. He said they were closed, but he'd have a look at it. Apparently, I needed a new cable to hook up the converter. He didn't have it in stock, and had to get it from elsewhere ( I really wondered where, as there was nothing around).

I stuck around, and after only four hours, he had my car ready to go. I was in a huge rush at the time, and that is why he fixed it as fast as he did. He didn't even charge me labour. I made it to NC almost on time.

[panama hat]

I've lived in the US for a while, elementary school, post-grad and work, and the one aspect of American's (US) personality in general is their generosity.

Excluding the [at][at][at][at] who stole their van of course.

Well, yes there's that but . . . . according to some here the thieves were probably black or Mexican.

[DrivingForce]

Brings a tear to my eye....If only there were that sort of generosity towards honest, responsible, stranded, hardworking people in this part of the world, most especially from the expats here.. My predicament is virtually identical to theirs only I have 2 children to educate and provide for with no family support what-so-ever and my mother is 79 and I came here due to my commitment to my GF who was pregnant and stood up to my responsibility to be here for her given that she had no one also being a foreigner.. I've been lied to, stolen from and victimized ever since, shamefully mostly from expats more so, less from the locals..

All I get in spite of my past compassionate generosity to other people, an Aussie here and a British lady in France whom I saved from choking (as well as various animals) is a bunch of incrimination's and vilification's from similar citizens from those countries as if I'm just some sort of lazy street beggar.. No reasonable offers for work or suggestions based in consideration and reality of our predicament, in spite of hundreds of continual CV's and inquiries, nothing but worthless suggestions based on ignorance of the facts of my situation because no one can relate, nor listens long enough to be able to..

Really quite hypocritical from my point of view.. and by the way before some moron chimes in with some mindless comment like "make it happen man" I just attempted to do that once again this past week as I already have hundreds of times since being here and am continually doing anyway both by computer and in person whenever possible and all it was, was an entire waste of money and time we didn't have available to waste in the first place..That same thing happened last month when one Aussie in particular I met turned out to be lacking in any sort of character what-so-ever and made insincere commitments and promises to a project I proposed... It is a very pathetic statement on the cynicism of the general population especially here among expats.

Too bad I'm not stranded in the States trying to have a "dream trip" like these Aussies were, instead of trying to be a good father to my children and husband for my wife by not abandoning them like so many have suggested I do..
for example let me ask these questions..

How many of you have 2 kids to feed and educate and only 3 bahts to your name to last the rest of the month?

How many of you do not own a car? (had to sell it to survive, turned a liability at the time into an asset, it was quite old and taking a lot to keep running)

how many of you, in spite of 6 years of intense effort and hundreds of CV's have not had any employment or income save for 3 months over that time?

I came over because there was no other option at the time and little time to plan it perfectly. In spite of that I had several plans in place but like the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes (especially here) things don't work out like you planned especially when so many others sabotage them out of their own lack of conscience. I got bogus information from every direction even so called professionals such as attorneys which all just served to drain my limited funds.

But if even one of the people that I have networked with since even prior to my arriving here had an ounce of the integrity and character that I have displayed and lived up to their promises and commitments we would all have been better off for it in the end and I certainly wouldn't be in this position.

How do you avoid other peoples lack of integrity and character bringing you down with them??
Flame on now, I expect nothing else of the people here, you've demonstrated your vile form of cynical hypocrisy continuously...But it might be nice to get at least one really sincere HUMANE response out of the effort.

What I find most disheartening and hypocritical is how so many people here claim not to take this forum seriously nor the persona's on it yet they are so willing to condemn not only a person but his entire family too based on that persons board persona, it's sincerely shameful and pathetic...

Like NR once said we don't all fit into that neat little TEFLer or school teacher niche that others do here or something to that effect, the point was clear and valid..Does that make a person lazy or a worthless individual?? I was successful enough to have been able to make it here in the first place and make the relocation that in itself is no cheap or simple feat..

[DrivingForce]

I help who and where I can, Even the locals but I have to know them somewhat as there are a lot of sharpshooters here that will take advantage of foreigners, same as everywhere.
I help mostly schools and children in general as it is not their fault that they are in the dire situation that they are, but will soon be as they grow and continue to refuse to use their heads.
But I do extend courtesy and generosity to most if at all possible.

You're a lying bastard and I'm calling you on it!! you've done nothing but taken low class pot shots at me and my family's predicament when I made a sincere and realistic offer to you.. and I wasn't looking for charity either nor was it any sort of scam nor the only possibility...so you've no leg to stand on your credibility and character is nil....

[DrivingForce]

Doesn't hurt . . . though in Asia it seems like a long time coming for the boomerang to return at times.

and far from exclusive to Asians..

[panama hat]

You're a lying bastard and I'm calling you on it!! you've done nothing but taken low class pot shots at me and my family'

Nooooooooooooo, not our Blackgang?! Surely not!!!!

[blackgang]

[quote=DrivingForce;1053378]

I help who and where I can, Even the locals but I have to know them somewhat as there are a lot of sharpshooters here that will take advantage of foreigners, same as everywhere.
I help mostly schools and children in general as it is not their fault that they are in the dire situation that they are, but will soon be as they grow and continue to refuse to use their heads.
But I do extend courtesy and generosity to most if at all possible.

=DF=You're a lying bastard and I'm calling you on it!! you've done nothing but taken low class pot shots at me and my family's predicament when I made a sincere and realistic offer to you.. and I wasn't looking for charity either nor was it any sort of scam nor the only possibility...so you've no leg to stand on your credibility and character is nil....

OK I do not have the PM, but here it is, I want to bring used travel trailers from the USA to here [I guess Phuket] and repair them and keep them up and it can be a money making deal for both of us.
I have no money to invest myself as I have been trying to support my family with no work or income for sometime. but do have the tools and know how to do that part of it and I will fix the first one for you.,,,,

So I did answer and ask how money was to be made as there seems to be no market for used travel trailers for sale or rental here, as Australia was renting them and motor homes in that country and if it was a feasible business here that it surely would be covered from there............
I never heard any more.

I have never said a word about your family as I know nothing about them, or know for sure that you even have a family.
And I did comment on you having a few schemes to make money using someone Else's as seed.

[blackgang]

Originally Posted by blackgang
But I do extend courtesy and generosity to most if at all possible.

Posted by PH
And when will this softer side of you transfer to thai forum?

OH yes, and for the longest time you have been fucking up threads with your diatribes about me and you have been so complementary to me in general, and even if I ignore you , you are still a hopped up asshole. But you can not help that I now know.

[DrivingForce]

I never heard any more.

First off there is a massive potential market here for them and that is the point, to be a pioneer and not a follower. Secondly you never heard anything else because you began openly making tasteless, low class pot shots at me and my proposal and demeaning both on the open forum when I PM'd you in private and confidentially and you showed your complete lack of character..

Thirdly that was but just one possibility I proposed to make some profitable income here in Asia and take advantage of a real untapped opportunity especially given the depressed market in the states that has created a glut of very high quality trailer and motor homes at significantly discounted values it was relative the thread at the time. If you had listened instead of showing your ass these trailers could have also been sold to people who don't want to travel necessarily but want a quick and inexpensive place to live that isn't a shack and has all the amenities built in but also will need maintenance over time so a parts business could also be spawned off from that as well.. There was nothing silly or ignorant about this proposal but you turned into something it wasn't..As I said though had you not shown your ass other possibilities could have been discussed it was but one possibility..and it wasn't/isn't charity either but a viable business proposal and you trashed it and worse yet me in the open forum for giving you the serious consideration and respect to approach you...

If you had any future vision it is a business you could have set up your extended Thai family up into as well with my future networking stateside. There was no market for trailers in the States when they were first introduced either and this market is relative to that time but yet look at how many millions of dollars the market is worth now.. The only reason there is no market here currently is because like so many other things Thai's don't know about it, have no resources to build it and hasn't yet been introduced. They are just now being introduced in the last few years and those are very expensive as new units and the larger market is less financially endowed and better for introduction on a mass scale..
Anyway this isn't about my singular business proposal it's about your claim of character and integrity and you've displayed you have none when you claim to..

[DrivingForce]

Originally Posted by blackgang
But I do extend courtesy and generosity to most if at all possible.
And when will this softer side of you transfer to thai forum?

OH yes, and for the longest time you have been fucking up threads with your diatribes about me and you have been so complementary to me in general, and even if I ignore you , you are still a hopped up asshole. But you can not help that I now know.

The only hopped up asshole here is you!! (whatever that means? ) You're fecking deluded and not taking your meds properly prescribed not to mention projecting. I have never attacked a single one of your threads until you unleashed on me. More over I agreed with and still do agree with many though I'll never acknowledge that again. I do disagree with many too but that's my prerogative and for you to deal with. Unlike it is for you for me it's not a personal attack, just a different point of view which you have trouble allowing other people to have..

Actually if you had any observation skills what ever you'd see that we actually have quite bit in common but you're too busy puffing yourself up to cover your insecurities to notice and if I had those opinions of you initially that you claim and was attacking you why would I have approached you in the first place?? ever asked yourself that?? you fecking idiot??

By the way PH, nice OP sorry it got overwhelmed..

[tjyflhol]

Why would anyone do business with somebody that has only managed to earn 3 months income in 6 years?