Fnord Incorporated

dimwitted.

the first night i was in Utah the neighbors across the street from my dad’s place left the door to their minivan open overnight. the next day i had the pleasure of watching them attempt to jump start the beast for about 2 hours.

i could have walked over and shut the door for them and saved them a load of trouble but did not. i learned years ago that my appearance and the unlikeliness of social kindness works against me when doing good deads for strangers. i used to open doors and turn peoples headlights off in parking lots. this was an act intended to assist them. once i was caught in the act and had the police called on me. now i dont even think about it. not even if their driver window is down and it would be a quick act. fuck it. some people would appreciate the guesture but most likely i would be greeted with suspicion and dismay.

tonight, i have to laugh. it is my last night in Utah and i have a similar situation.the dimwits across the road left their vehicle in park and it has been idleing for hours with a door open and the interior light ablaze. at first i thought they had just run inside and were coming back. now, at 3am, as i was out braving the cold to smoke (it is 7º F outside) i find that they are still running, and the passenger door is still partially open.
i walked up to their front door and knocked at a reasonable level. it is early morning and they have kids i did not want to wake. after about 5 minutes and losing feeling in my ears i walked away…  i should just go over and turn it off, instead i let the feeling of a 3am police visit sit in my belly for a minute and decide against it.

alternately, they could have left it running on purpose.. i do not know what reason this would be for and would like to slap some sense into them with a 2×4 if this were the case.

anyone else have this social helpfulness/fear of retaliation?

(i will be home tomorrow night!)