Hitchhiking

Ticktactoe · 28-07-2010 08:45AM #1

Do people still hitchhike??

I ask this because I saw someone the other day standing by the road with the thumb out looking for a lift. Its been a while since I saw someone hitchhiking. Interesting thing was he wasn't attempting to walk at all. Just stood in the one spot, thumbing...

Taking into account the security issue, would you give a lift to someone who hitchhikes??

monkeypants · 28-07-2010 08:52AM

Depends on the 'get up' of them

Probably not. Not for any security reason, but I know a family back home who've made a good living by "falling" out of people's cars and suing.

chin_grin · 28-07-2010 09:57AM

Only if said hitchhiker looked like a really hoopy frood. Then I would. Cos I'd know hilarity would ensue.

pickarooney · 28-07-2010 10:10AM

In theory yes, but I never have room in the car. There are hitchhikers all over the place here, but they're all incrdibly dumb, standing in the worst places imaginable.

Tip: if you want to increase your chances of getting a lift, and reduce your chances of getting sunstroke/pneumonia, go to a petrol station and talk to people. If they get some idea of who they're dealing with, people are much more likely to be inclined to give you a lift as far as the next station. And don't be an arse about asking for a lift, either hassling people or pretending you're not actually looking for a lift are dick moves.

biko · 28-07-2010 10:14AM

Yeah stand at the exit with a sign with your destination.
That way I don''t have to guess where you're going and I'm going slow anyway.

I've given plenty of lifts to backpackers but also a few people looking for a lift just up the road.

Gummy Panda · 28-07-2010 10:15AM

Only if it was a girl and she followed the book of the road.

Leeg17 · 28-07-2010 10:16AM

Depends on the 'get up' of them

Ticktactoe wrote: »

Do people still hitchhike??

I ask this because I saw someone the other day standing by the road with the thumb out looking for a lift. Its been a while since I saw someone hitchhiking. Interesting thing was he wasn't attempting to walk at all. Just stood in the one spot, thumbing...

Taking into account the security issue, would you give a lift to someone who hitchhikes??

I like to indicate in towards them, pull in but don't stop, then pull back out again. Love seeing their faces haha

azezil · 28-07-2010 10:17AM

I pick them up all of the time in my van... front seat is always full though, but plenty of room in the back. Door only opens from the outside, should probably get that looked at. *strokes chin*

biko · 28-07-2010 10:23AM

Leeg17 wrote: »

I like to indicate in towards them, pull in but don't stop, then pull back out again. Love seeing their faces haha

Banned permanently

Only joking. Ha, you should have seen the look on your face, priceless

easyeason3 · 28-07-2010 10:29AM

Not a hope in Hell would I pick up a hitchhiker.

Most of the ones I see are complete scumbags or raging alcoholics.

Terry · 28-07-2010 10:29AM

No

Ticktactoe wrote: »

Do people still hitchhike??

Umm...

I ask this because I saw someone the other day standing by the road with the thumb out looking for a lift.

I'm going to have to say yes.

RobbieTheRobber · 28-07-2010 10:32AM

easyeason3 wrote: »

Not a hope in Hell would I pick up a hitchhiker.

Most of the ones I see are complete scumbags or raging alcoholics.

So what if the hitchhiker was wearing a Pioneer medal and a Tux, would you think about picking them up then?

weiland79 · 28-07-2010 10:34AM

biko wrote: »

Banned permanently

Only joking. Ha, you should have seen the look on your face, priceless

Hey Hey Hey that's abuse of power. Are you a politician by any chance?

easyeason3 · 28-07-2010 10:35AM

RobbieTheRobber wrote: »

So what if the hitchhiker was wearing a Pioneer medal and a Tux, would you think about picking them up then?

No. Just pointing out that most of them I see are scum or gone demented from drink.

Even if I did see a 'normal' looking person thumbing a lift I'd stay going.

I have no interest in letting a stranger into a car that I pay for so they can wreck my head with small talk &/ or kill me.

WindSock · 28-07-2010 11:14AM

I've picked up one the odd time when I was feeling adventurous. I'm usually the type of person that they don't want picking them up though.

Daisy Steiner · 28-07-2010 11:20AM

I'm usually in the car on me own so don't pick anyone up. Not that I believe they will hurt me but because I have to be responsible for myself and boy would my face be red if they turned out to be pillaging scum.

In saying that, I had a passenger in the car a few months ago, saw a guy hitching and picked him up.

He was very sexy and I really enjoyed his company. He even asked me for my number but alas, I was involved with someone else at the time and had to decline.

Raging now though coz I broke up with that asshole soon after, but never met sexy hitch-hiker again.

Ticktactoe · 28-07-2010 11:26AM

Depends on the 'get up' of them

I would be thinking more along the lines that they were serial killers and at best wouldn't get out of the car at their requested stop....

So why do people Hitchhike?

Terry, I knew someone would pick up on that. I just wasn't ar$ed to go back and change it after i had posted

Ms. Captain M · 28-07-2010 11:29AM

I have picked up people on Fleadh Cheoil weekends when i've seen them with boxes, banjo cases etc., don't even need to ask where they're going.

alwaysadub · 28-07-2010 01:00PM

I saw some just the other day,for the 1st time in ages actually.
I live in quiet a rural place, and there were a couple of backpackers standing literally in the road,not at the side of it, so you had to swerve around them.
I did think about picking them up, till i looked in the rearview mirror,and saw about 5 more of them hiding in the bushes.

Royal Seahawk · 28-07-2010 01:18PM

Yeah I pick them up. 9 times out of 10 it's just a couple of young lads who are beyond the stage of cycling around but still too young to drive.

Ticktactoe · 28-07-2010 01:43PM

Depends on the 'get up' of them

alwaysadub wrote: »

I saw some just the other day,for the 1st time in ages actually.
I live in quiet a rural place, and there were a couple of backpackers standing literally in the road,not at the side of it, so you had to swerve around them.
I did think about picking them up, till i looked in the rearview mirror,and saw about 5 more of them hiding in the bushes.

Ive heard thats a common thing! People who are hitchhiking split up into two's or three's. If the first group get picked up they point out their friends when the driver is approaching them i.e pick them up too!

Gummy Panda · 28-07-2010 01:50PM

WindSock wrote: »

I've picked up one the odd time when I was feeling adventurous. I'm usually the type of person that they don't want picking them up though.

Why? What do you do to them?

kfallon · 28-07-2010 01:51PM

Picked up a hitchiker the other day....as a thanks he gave me a great guide to the galaxy!!!

IT-Guy · 28-07-2010 01:52PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

No. Just pointing out that most of them I see are scum or gone demented from drink.

Even if I did see a 'normal' looking person thumbing a lift I'd stay going.

I have no interest in letting a stranger into a car that I pay for so they can wreck my head with small talk &/ or kill me.

Not sure where you're living but I'd say you're a little bit on the paranoid side there! Have picked up a few hitchhikers over the last few months, an Israeli couple, a guy on his way home from work, another guy whose bike had gotten a puncture - dropped him to a bike shop and back again. It's grand when you're not under pressure for time and most of them are quite open and talkative, like myself. Certainly had no fear of impending doom or death by boring small talk!

Jelly2 · 28-07-2010 01:53PM

Daisy Steiner wrote: »

I'm usually in the car on me own so don't pick anyone up. Not that I believe they will hurt me but because I have to be responsible for myself and boy would my face be red if they turned out to be pillaging scum.

In saying that, I had a passenger in the car a few months ago, saw a guy hitching and picked him up.

He was very sexy and I really enjoyed his company. He even asked me for my number but alas, I was involved with someone else at the time and had to decline.

Raging now though coz I broke up with that asshole soon after, but never met sexy hitch-hiker again.

You must be one of the very few women in Ireland who would give a lift to a male stranger while alone in the car.:eek:

RachPie · 28-07-2010 01:55PM

Depends on the 'get up' of them

I'm afraid I have watched too many horror movies to even consider hitchhiking/picking one up.
I'd just keep imagining the axe they have hidden up the leg of their trousers.

Daisy Steiner · 28-07-2010 01:57PM

Daisy Steiner wrote: »

I'm usually in the car on me own so don't pick anyone up. Not that I believe they will hurt me but because I have to be responsible for myself and boy would my face be red if they turned out to be pillaging scum.

In saying that, I had a passenger in the car a few months ago, saw a guy hitching and picked him up.

He was very sexy and I really enjoyed his company. He even asked me for my number but alas, I was involved with someone else at the time and had to decline.

Raging now though coz I broke up with that asshole soon after, but never met sexy hitch-hiker again.

Jelly2 wrote: »

You must be one of the very few women in Ireland who would give a lift to a male stranger while alone in the car.:eek:

Read my post again! I said I already had a passenger in the car when I picked up the hitcher.

Ticktactoe · 28-07-2010 01:59PM

Depends on the 'get up' of them

RachPie wrote: »

I'm afraid I have watched too many horror movies to even consider hitchhiking/picking one up.
I'd just keep imagining the axe they have hidden up the leg of their trousers.

I have to say im the same. It creeps me out just thinking about it. If some said to me 'I'l give you €20,000 if you pick up the next hitchhiker you see' I honestly think i couldn't do it.... and I need €20,000!!

Wazdakka · 28-07-2010 02:02PM

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Why? What do you do to them?

Nothing that several years of therapy and a colostic remodelling surgeon cant fix....

*Twitch*

caseyann · 28-07-2010 03:34PM

Depends on the 'get up' of them

Never hitchhiked never will,and never picked up anyone in car and never will.
Unless it is a woman with kids in trouble, scenario may never arise.So i can say no

Kasabian · 28-07-2010 03:42PM

As I have said the last time a thread of this ilk was posted ..

I do pick up hitchhikers because there was a time my thumb was my only form of transport and it reminds me of the long hours I have spent trying to get somewhere with no funds.

Hitchhiking

Would you give a lift to a hitchhiker? 116 votes

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