Tom

Hey again,

So, getting on the bus this evening after a trip into Manchester Town Centre to get some clothes, I felt somewhat uncomfortable surrounded by University Students and a large number of people with their hoods up who were sending me suspicious vibes, a little harsh maybe, but I hate crowded places with people who look like their up to something. Anyway, as I sit down and get my phone out to put some music on, a five pound note falls onto the floor which I'm unaware about, and as the bus moves so does the Fiver, right to the back of the bus, into the centre of these hooded guys. Looking up, I mutter a swear word in annoyance. I just knew I hadn't the heart to face them, even if they turned out to be nice guys, their appearances scared me.

So I sat there, a little worried, but not exactly shitting a brick, but still looking back to see if my fiver had been picked up. It hadn't yet, so I was hoping that they'd get off and I could go back there and pick it up without anything happening. Well, like God had heard my thoughts and slyly smiled at himself, one guy goes down and picks it up, laughing to his mates about his discovery. I didn't really know what to do, so I turned away and decided that my Fiver was gone.

Until about a minute later when this chinese guy to the left of me stands up and goes back there. He asks for his fiver back, and I just look back in shock. I didn't know how to react so I didnt, and after a conversation, the guys at the back give up and give it the Chinese guy back. He goes back to his seat, and sits down. Woah.

Anyway, it gets to this stop and all the hooded guys get off the bus, and as the bus gets going again the Chinese guy leans over and hands me the fiver. I take it and say 'Thanks' a little shocked at what he had just done. He told me that he'd seen me checking the fiver and realised that I was too much of a chicken to go get it, so he'd gone to get it himself. Then he got up, told me that not everyone wearing a hoodie was as bad as I thought and got off the Bus.

So, yeah, wierd bus ride home. That chinese guy showed me that there were still good people who'd do the right thing about, and that I'm too scared for my own good.

Thanks for reading, anyone...

Tom.

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Malone

Not sure what to say to that. Congrats on getting your money back.

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There Is A Policeman Inside All Our Heads: He Must Be Destroyed

Ana Kata

Good story.

flashgordon

Yes, there are still a few good people out there.

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Editor: Indigenous People's Issues Blog
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Sam Winchester

Glad to hear you got your money back, Tom. Sometimes money isn't worth getting into a situation over, and you did the right thing in staying seated. Glad it worked out.

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Don't unlock doors you're not prepared to go through.

Malone

This has been buggin me all day. You shouldn't be scared to say "Excuse me," and bend down for your five bucks. That's hardly a reason for someone to harass you. The last story about the park incident I could understand, but this just seems overly paranoid. I think you need to give yourself and other people a little more credit.

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There Is A Policeman Inside All Our Heads: He Must Be Destroyed

Ben

Yeah, I agree. I remember reading your post about what happened in the park, so maybe you were a bit nervous about that, but next time just approach them. Seriously, you'll find that most people are pretty cool if you just talk to them. Maybe you should surprise yourself next time and go for it.

Tom

Re-reading this over, I understand why it was a bit...wierd.

And yes, you're all right. I should give people the benefit of the doubt, I'm a huge wuss.

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Malone

I was thinking too socially anxious rather than wuss.

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There Is A Policeman Inside All Our Heads: He Must Be Destroyed

Tom

That's probably the best word yes.

But y'know, that cliche saying...you learn from mistakes fits in well here suppose.

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virginia

I just love that Chinese guy! Doesn't everyone want to be that cool?

Dear Tom (and I admit I'm speaking to you now as I would my son - also Tom!), you must try to have more confidence. Because Malone is right: most people - even "Hoodies" are perfectly decent, underneath.

I think you could have just grinned (you know, as though you felt a fool!), said "Excuse me!" if necessary, and picked it up (like the other poster - sorry, forgotten name - said).

It's the old "Give a dog a bad name..." thing isn't it? I mean, if you treat them like criminals, surely they'll act like criminals, but if you treat them like saints... well, maybe not. But you get my meaning. (And you never know!)

Anyway Tom, you're a good guy - you can set an example.

Take care.

Virginia

P.S. I used to write for a south-east London newspaper where we'd put a "happy" human interest story on the front-page because there were so many murders and other horrific crimes they'd be deemed boring and used to fill the back-pages.

Talk about depressing. I'd never want that "news" out of choice (it's still the same)!

And my point is (because I know my son has paid it too much attention): please make sure you avoid the tabloid media - they play on the fears of innocent (maybe bored), vulnerable people. I know because I was one of the former but am now right in there (housebound - MS) with the latter.

Keep smiling. We're in this together - all of us!

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Ana Kata

I bet he will take your advice and talk to them, then you will feel guilty as hell when he never logs on again.

KangTheMad

Huh?

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Emily Allison

Hahaha, I wouldn't have said anything either, probably. That's pretty funny though, what that man did. :]

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- Emily R.

Industrial

dude you need to stop being a pussy plain and simple.

Stand up for yourself.

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That's just more ammo for my arsenal.