Motorists typically friendly: readers

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This article was published 15/01/2019 (2818 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I read the letter to you from Friendly Manitoba, the mother of a young woman whose car was stuck at a gas station.

(She needed a boost at a gas station at night, and eight people, plus the station attendant, refused to help her even though she had her own cables and it was -38 C. — Miss L.)

I think it could be a one-off situation. Yesterday, after heavy snow, my car got stuck in the ruts. I was trying hard with my shovel to remove the ruts and get into my back lane. Within 30 minutes, three sets of unknown “Friendly Winnipeggers” helped me.

One person with his teenage kid pulled my car out with a cord tied to his truck.

A second person came out with a shovel and plastic tracks. Two youngsters came over and gave me a push. A very big thank you to all of them. — Terry, Winnipeg

Dear Terry: These were lovely, generous people, but not everyone is so helpful and friendly.

Maybe it helped that it was daytime in your case. It was nighttime for this young lady in distress, and it was not in a residential neighbourhood. She could have been a bad person, I guess, but still, she was just one woman. They all refused to help.

Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I think you may have been a bit too critical of those who wouldn’t provide a battery boost to the young woman who needed it.

I drive a very average 2012 Honda, and I’ve been warned not to let anyone give me a boost because it might fry my electronic ignition.

Most cars nowadays have all sorts of electronics which could be destroyed by a mistake during boosting. Many people would love to be heroes and help the lady in distress, but they are constrained by the warnings they’ve received. — Respectfully, RJH

Dear RJH: Do you think all eight people who came to the gas station would have refused her on this account? It was New Year’s Eve, according to her mom’s letter, and a bone-chilling -38 C.

Even if some of them had been warned about possibly damaging the ignition, my guess is a few of them just didn’t want to get out in the cold or make themselves late for whatever they were doing that night.

If one or two people had refused her, I wouldn’t be so critical, but all eight people plus the attendant? That doesn’t sit well with her mother or me.

Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave. Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6.

Miss Lonelyhearts
Advice Columnist

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