How likely would you be to help a complete stranger?

Nightingale03 · Aug 14, 2010

I'm kind of new new here and a lot of you don't know who I am. To all of you, I am a stranger because aside from this message board, none of you have ever met me in person.

So, if I need help, and I ask on this message board, would you help me? It would be a simple request and the only action it would require from any of you would be to click a link and read something. It's something that would take one minute or less of your time. Would you give one minute of your time to help someone you do not know, who now needs to ask for the help of strangers to reach a goal?

I can tell you a little bit about me first. My name is Marie. I have been married for 26 years. I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandma. I have 3 kids ages 25, 23 (married with 2 kids), and (almost)18. I have 2 grandkids ages 1 and 4.

My son, 25, his name is Erik, and he is the one I am requesting help for. He is in the lead to win an engagement ring and honeymoon in a legitimate, online voting contest. He needs more votes to stay in the lead until the contest ends on Aug 25. We've already asked our friends and family, who, of course, helped us out, but now it's time to turn to the help of strangers.

Erik is a storm chaser in Texas and he asked me to help him spread the word that he needs votes.

It's really easy to do and you DON'T have to register or anything. Just click their link, read their story, and then click on "Vote For This Couple" to cast your vote for Erik and Amanda! That's all! It's easy and I promise the link is completely safe.

Thanks to everyone who chooses to help!!

Love Rocks | Diamond Nexus Labs | Erik and Amanda

Macx · Aug 14, 2010

Reminds me of a passage in the Bible. . . .

Seems like Jesus told a parable about a woman who wasn't afraid to ask and keep asking. I am guessing this thread will be locksville pretty quick but I clickied your linkage. The sky didn't fall, good luck to your son.

Mystman · Aug 14, 2010

I'm perfectly willing to help strangers.

I sometimes even click links from strangers without fully realizing the serious danger that booby-trapped websites can pose to your computer!

I do not, however, help 1 person that I don't know, if it means disadvantaging another person that I don't know. Voting for your son means that another guy has less of a chance to win.. and maybe that other guy is much more worthy. The only "morally sound" solution to this whole thing is to actually go and read all the stories.. and that may just be a bit too much trouble.

Anyway, my best wishes to the happy couple.

Nightingale03 · Aug 14, 2010

Well thanks for your help. There's really nothing sneaky behind this. Nobody is trying to sell you anything, no registration or email is required...we just genuinely need some help.

Beanieboy · Aug 14, 2010

I don't have a problem helping to vote for a total stranger.
I think part of it depends on what "help a stranger" means. If your son wanted a big screen TV, and why don't we throw him $20, it isn't a need but more of a want.
Voting on a site where I don't know any of the competition is not even really helping a stranger, really. I am not giving anything but 20 seconds of my time and clicking on a link.

What is really a "sacrifice" for me is voting for your son, when you or your son may actually be working actively to make gay people like me unable to marry the person they love. I remember going to a gay club with friends, and having a Bachelorette Party of drunk girls come stumbling in, and saying, "I'm getting married tomorrow!" I responded, "That's nice. I can't. Kind of insensitive, don't you think? And I am NOT your entertainment."

That said, I hope they win.
I would also suggest doing something on Facebook. You will be able to get responses from people worldwide.

Good luck.

Macx · Aug 14, 2010

Mystman said:
I do not, however, help 1 person that I don't know, if it means disadvantaging another person that I don't know. Voting for your son means that another guy has less of a chance to win.. and maybe that other guy is much more worthy. The only "morally sound" solution to this whole thing is to actually go and read all the stories.. and that may just be a bit too much trouble.

Yeah, the thought crossed my mind. . . . on the otherhand, resources are always limited and generally the first to ask gets. I don't think it is morally right to withhold help on the off chance that someone more worthy will appear.

For example: If you saw an old lady struggling to change a flat tire by the side of the road (on her way home from the grocery), would it really be morally superior to drive right on by on the off chance that there will be an old lady struggling with a flat tire by the side of the road (on her way to the hospital with her sick husband) a little further along the way?

It is an interesting moral question.

visionary · Aug 14, 2010

Willing to help.. it does a soul good to help another soul in its struggles.

Mystman · Aug 14, 2010

Macx said:
Yeah, the thought crossed my mind. . . . on the otherhand, resources are always limited and generally the first to ask gets. I don't think it is morally right to withhold help on the off chance that someone more worthy will appear.

For example: If you saw an old lady struggling to change a flat tire by the side of the road (on her way home from the grocery), would it really be morally superior to drive right on by on the off chance that there will be an old lady struggling with a flat tire by the side of the road (on her way to the hospital with her sick husband) a little further along the way?

It is an interesting moral question.

Depends on how big that "off chance" is.

In this case, there are 632 participants. (if you sort by couple name, there are 90 pages of 7 couples, and a 91st page with 2 couples). The chance that the OP is the most worthy out of the 632 is tiny. 1/632 to be precise, or 0.16%

But when you see the old lady changing her tire, the chance that this old lady is the best opportunity for you to do a good deed is pretty big. At least something like 95%.

Of course, you don't only have to take the chances of any better deed coming along into account.. you also have to think of "how much better is that other event?". Like I could stop to help an old lady cross the street, with a 99% chance that that's the best thing I could do, but with a 1% chance that I could've used that time to save someone's life.. in that case, it's pretty hard to decide what the correct course of action is and things start getting complicated

visionary · Aug 14, 2010

Do that which is in front of you. God has laid it in your path to help. HE never gives you something bigger than you can handle.

Nightingale03 · Aug 14, 2010

I'm enjoying reading everyone's different perspectives on the subject.... Aside from actually seeking some help, I also thought it would be an interesting subject as well.

rambot · Aug 14, 2010

I do it for my work.... and for those non working times when I'm only thinking about helping that elderly couple move their dinette, my wife is the one who slams on the breaks and says "Go help them"... which I gladly do.

I love helping people. The less prescriptive it is, the more i enjoy it.

MesoSearch · Aug 15, 2010

visionary said:
Do that which is in front of you. God has laid it in your path to help. HE never gives you something bigger than you can handle.

This is all that had to be said! :clap:

How likely would you be to help a complete stranger?

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