a question for some of the older folks on here. below are three recent stories i have recently experienced. was society always like this? if not, do you think it is due to the easy access to media about horror stories that happen to people which results in people being more aware of evil in society or do you think more evilness takes place now compared to decades ago?
a couple of months ago, a music artist was performing at universal studios. she left me two tickets to the park and backstage passes. i was by myself, i so i had one extra of each. i looked at the price of admission ($147 for a one day, two park pass, which this extra one was) and thought i would be doing somebody a favor by helping them save money. so, i asked the last two groups in line if they wanted a ticket for $40 (saving them over $100) instead of paying $147 for it. i showed them the ticket, told them i would wait in line with them until the rest of the group bought their tickets, and i would want in with them so they wouldnt think it was a scam. neither of the two groups wanted to do it as they thought it was a set-up. after two minutes talking to those two groups, i tried giving the ticket away to the next couple that showed up. nope. they didnt want the free ticket, which would have saved them $147, because they thought something was up. they questioned me if i was trying to sell something else, if they had to watch a presentation once inside the park, etc. I assured them it was a free ticket exactly like the ones they were about to buy. finally, i just walked away.
at that same show, i went to the outdoor venue where the artist was to perform three hours later. a small group had already gathered in front of the stage to get the best possible seats closest to the artist. these were truly die-hard fans, as some were little kids who would rather sit there all day instead of going to play at a nice amusement park. having one extra pass that gave me access backstage, i approached a woman who was with her young daughter. i asked if her daughter was a big fan of the artist. the woman told me that she, the mom, was the big fan, so it wouldnt have worked as 1) i wanted to do something for a child 2) nobody would be able to stay with the child if the woman went with me. i then went to the next family; a man, woman, and young daughter. i quietly, so the child didnt hear, asked the man if his daughter was a big fan (she was wearing a shirt of the artist). the man said she was, and i explained to him that i had an extra pass and would take his daughter back to meet the artist for a few minutes if she wanted to. i told him that she could get a picture, and then i would have a police officer escort her back out to them since i would be staying back there longer. i told him that i knew he probably would be concerned i was some sort of predator, so if he wanted, i could leave my license with him showing that i would come back out, and that he would be allowed to walk with the daughter and me to the door which leads to backstage where there will be both a police officer and park security escorting us. it wasnt like i was disappearing with his daughter by ourselves. we had police officers with us and he could walk with us to the access point to see where we were going. he was fine with it, but had to ask his wife. she was fine with it. i told them that i was going to get on some rides for a few hours, but i would be back at a 7:15 pm to get the girl (and the dad) and go take her to meet the artist. when i came back, the dad said that his wife decided against it and was concerned something bad could happen. as idiots, they had already told the girl that she was going to meet her favorite singer, so now she was in tears after being told she couldnt do it.
im on the beach for about 10-14 miles every day. during my walk/run, i frequently see dolphins. unless the water is really calm and your eye is trained to see them, it is hard to notice them from the beach. even after being here for years, i still take time to watch them every day. i know tourists love them, too. so, i make it a point to try and point them out to families with little kids on the beach in the touristy areas of the beach. most times, the kids go crazy and the moms thank me for taking the time to point them out. sometimes, people are excited and dont even bother to thank me and i disappear while they are watching them. but, last week, one thing really bothered me. as i was pointing out where to look in the water, a woman turned to another woman in her group and said "grab your purse so he cant run off with it." i laughed, told them to enjoy the dolphins, and walked away.
were things always like this? have shows like 48 hour mysteries, dateline, and widespread access to media simply made people more paranoid or aware of bad things? crime numbers arent higher than the past, so what is it? i still have 10 or so gift baskets full of toys and candy that i cant get rid of to needy children because i cant drive around without a female and pass them out to kids because ill have the police called on me.
a couple of months ago, a music artist was performing at universal studios. she left me two tickets to the park and backstage passes. i was by myself, i so i had one extra of each. i looked at the price of admission ($147 for a one day, two park pass, which this extra one was) and thought i would be doing somebody a favor by helping them save money. so, i asked the last two groups in line if they wanted a ticket for $40 (saving them over $100) instead of paying $147 for it. i showed them the ticket, told them i would wait in line with them until the rest of the group bought their tickets, and i would want in with them so they wouldnt think it was a scam. neither of the two groups wanted to do it as they thought it was a set-up. after two minutes talking to those two groups, i tried giving the ticket away to the next couple that showed up. nope. they didnt want the free ticket, which would have saved them $147, because they thought something was up. they questioned me if i was trying to sell something else, if they had to watch a presentation once inside the park, etc. I assured them it was a free ticket exactly like the ones they were about to buy. finally, i just walked away.
at that same show, i went to the outdoor venue where the artist was to perform three hours later. a small group had already gathered in front of the stage to get the best possible seats closest to the artist. these were truly die-hard fans, as some were little kids who would rather sit there all day instead of going to play at a nice amusement park. having one extra pass that gave me access backstage, i approached a woman who was with her young daughter. i asked if her daughter was a big fan of the artist. the woman told me that she, the mom, was the big fan, so it wouldnt have worked as 1) i wanted to do something for a child 2) nobody would be able to stay with the child if the woman went with me. i then went to the next family; a man, woman, and young daughter. i quietly, so the child didnt hear, asked the man if his daughter was a big fan (she was wearing a shirt of the artist). the man said she was, and i explained to him that i had an extra pass and would take his daughter back to meet the artist for a few minutes if she wanted to. i told him that she could get a picture, and then i would have a police officer escort her back out to them since i would be staying back there longer. i told him that i knew he probably would be concerned i was some sort of predator, so if he wanted, i could leave my license with him showing that i would come back out, and that he would be allowed to walk with the daughter and me to the door which leads to backstage where there will be both a police officer and park security escorting us. it wasnt like i was disappearing with his daughter by ourselves. we had police officers with us and he could walk with us to the access point to see where we were going. he was fine with it, but had to ask his wife. she was fine with it. i told them that i was going to get on some rides for a few hours, but i would be back at a 7:15 pm to get the girl (and the dad) and go take her to meet the artist. when i came back, the dad said that his wife decided against it and was concerned something bad could happen. as idiots, they had already told the girl that she was going to meet her favorite singer, so now she was in tears after being told she couldnt do it.
im on the beach for about 10-14 miles every day. during my walk/run, i frequently see dolphins. unless the water is really calm and your eye is trained to see them, it is hard to notice them from the beach. even after being here for years, i still take time to watch them every day. i know tourists love them, too. so, i make it a point to try and point them out to families with little kids on the beach in the touristy areas of the beach. most times, the kids go crazy and the moms thank me for taking the time to point them out. sometimes, people are excited and dont even bother to thank me and i disappear while they are watching them. but, last week, one thing really bothered me. as i was pointing out where to look in the water, a woman turned to another woman in her group and said "grab your purse so he cant run off with it." i laughed, told them to enjoy the dolphins, and walked away.
were things always like this? have shows like 48 hour mysteries, dateline, and widespread access to media simply made people more paranoid or aware of bad things? crime numbers arent higher than the past, so what is it? i still have 10 or so gift baskets full of toys and candy that i cant get rid of to needy children because i cant drive around without a female and pass them out to kids because ill have the police called on me.
