Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

Jusselin · 09:16 AM

ok so the wife and i get back from south padre last night our plane landed in houston about 9pm....when we get off my wife sees a friend of hers and they start talking, my wife mentions we live in Beaumont now...well some guy standing next to them hears this, and follows me into the restroom....so when i come out, before i can even wash my hands, the dude comes up to shake my hand, then tells me he lives in beaumont and needs a ride. Well most of you who have seen my truck know that i have a lazy boy seat as my drivers seat and then a small bucket seat for the passenger, who is my wife, now i am not racist my wife is hispanic and so is her family, but with a hispanic man asking for a lift becomes another concern?....is this man a legal citizen? and then i have to worry about drugs and getting pulled over and all this other stuff that a passenger, who i have no idea who he is, carries....and yes he looked sketchy...so i told the man look i am sorry but i only have two seats and am limited for room (i am worrying about my wifes comfort and safety also) so he says thats ok he can sit in the bed....i told him i am sorry but i have a bed lid on my truck and its 90 degrees outside and i dont want him to get a heat stroke or suffer to death in the back of my truck (i for sure dont need a dead body if i get pulled over) so i told the man twice no i am sorry but i can not give you a ride, so the man pulls out a $100 dollar bill and says...i will give you this if you bring me to Beaumont....the money doesnt change the risks involved...money wasnt a problem i had gas and i was going to beaumont anyway...i told the guy to meet me in baggage claims and that we would give him a ride.... he scampers off to get his bags and the wife and i take the next elevator to the parking garage and never look back.

im sorry but if the dude was willing to pay $100 then he could have taken a cab, and i just didnt have the room or need to take the risks that were involved...what would you have done?

d2creative · 07-06-2009, 08:45 AM

I don't know how I would have handled it (probably not as good as you) but I would NOT have given him a ride, ESPECIALLY after he whipped out the benjamin.

photonewb · 07-06-2009, 08:45 AM

just simply put say no and walk away

all your concerns are justified, especially when looking out for people other than yourself. Don't give it a 2nd thought.

MHampton · 07-06-2009, 08:47 AM

Would have done much the same in that situation. Tell the guy no, give him the reasons, and walk away. Go with the gut feeling especially in the case where you don't have the room in the first place.

ChristopherCoy · 07-06-2009, 08:47 AM

#1 he's at an airport, I would have suggested he contact the airport police to find out his options. #2 if he can pay you, he can pay for a cab. And #3 did I mention he is at an airport, not stranded on the side of a highway, two totally different situations.

KenJulio · 07-06-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photonewb

just simply put say no and walk away

all your concerns are justified, especially when looking out for people other than yourself. Don't give it a 2nd thought.

I try not to agree with Richard, but in this instance, I do agree.

When you said a guy standing next to them, apparently listening, then following you into the restroom asking for a ride, is just part of the 'dont talk to strangers 101 class'. Your gut feeling is justified, even if there is monetary compensation, your life is worth it.

And offering $100 for a ride out there is just plain stupid as I would suspect a taxi ride is cheaper than that.

Watch the movie 'Taken' and you'll wonder if you should talk to strangers at an airport again

Jusselin · 07-06-2009, 08:49 AM

word...i told him no like 3 times though and the man was just really nto taking no for an answer thats why we finally told him yes and then bailed

janikphoto · 07-06-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChristopherCoy

...#2 if he can pay you, he can pay for a cab...

Here's the deal. It sounded a bit sketchy, so saying NO was the correct thing to do. As stated above, his best option was a cab.

With that said, he was probably harmless. Many people come up from Mexico to either have an extended stay with relatives or to stay permanently (legally or otherwise). They speak little English and carry a lot of cash. They are afraid of Police and was probably didn't know how to successfully call a cab. Their relative in Beaumont probably suggested they hitch a ride and pay someone fifty or a hundred bucks for the long journey. Once they got to Beaumont, they probably had a farm/ranch job waiting for them.

Now, even though that is PROBABLY what the case was, it wasn't worth risking things. What would I have done? Probably walked with the guy down to baggage claim, then showed him where the cabs were and helped him get in one. But I would never let him in my car.

Jusselin · 07-06-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janikphoto

Here's the deal. It sounded a bit sketchy, so saying NO was the correct thing to do. As stated above, his best option was a cab.

With that said, he was probably harmless. Many people come up from Mexico to either have an extended stay with relatives or to stay permanently (legally or otherwise). They speak little English and carry a lot of cash. They are afraid of Police and was probably didn't know how to successfully call a cab. Their relative in Beaumont probably suggested they hitch a ride and pay someone fifty or a hundred bucks for the long journey. Once they got to Beaumont, they probably had a farm/ranch job waiting for them.

Now, even though that is PROBABLY what the case was, it wasn't worth risking things. What would I have done? Probably walked with the guy down to baggage claim, then showed him where the cabs were and helped him get in one. But I would never let him in my car.

your right that wasnt the case...i speak spanish and english so i was able to communicate, he lived in beaumont but coming back from mexico, still didnt want to involve the risks though....

jgrindal · 07-06-2009, 09:43 AM

I agree, there is something awkward in this. Aside from the fact that he could have taken a taxi, it's just weird to try to ask someone for a favor in the bathroom. That is a no talking zone. Seriously. Also, offered to shake your hand? Do I need to go into the cleanliness issues there? Eesh.

donlfaulkner · 07-06-2009, 10:55 AM

I probably lived in Dallas too long and got jaded by too many pan handlers downtown. I would have told him no and what part of "no" do you not understand. Then made a hasty exit, looking for security or the cops on the way out.

Jusselin · 07-06-2009, 11:26 AM

^^^lol^^^

Dobick · 07-06-2009, 11:30 AM

you shoulda said -- gimme the hundred and I'll meet you at the car....

You'll find it

Jusselin · 07-06-2009, 11:38 AM

"i'm not a crook" :D

CallMeAl · 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janikphoto

Here's the deal. It sounded a bit sketchy, so saying NO was the correct thing to do. As stated above, his best option was a cab.

With that said, he was probably harmless. Many people come up from Mexico to either have an extended stay with relatives or to stay permanently (legally or otherwise). They speak little English and carry a lot of cash. They are afraid of Police and was probably didn't know how to successfully call a cab. Their relative in Beaumont probably suggested they hitch a ride and pay someone fifty or a hundred bucks for the long journey. Once they got to Beaumont, they probably had a farm/ranch job waiting for them.

That might have been the case. But then again, it might not have. If any of you are familiar with the Melanie Goodwin case, you know that he might have other motives.

If you are not familiar with Melanie Goodwin, a UNT student, do a Google search. A very tragic story. ABC Primetime Crime is profiling her case this Wednesday.

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=7996299&page=1