So who here still depends on the kindness of strangers?
1986
Baby Facepalm GIF by MOODMANGiphy"I was leaving the hospital in 1986 with my husband and newborn. A lady in the elevator admired the baby and then looked at us and said, 'be good to each other.' We weren’t."
potato_bod_mom
Pay it Forward
"When I was 18 I was at McDonalds trying to get breakfast for all the guys from work, I came up like 5 bucks short and this old guy paid the difference and said 'you’ll have to help somebody out someday too.' So now whenever I get the chance to do something like that for someone that’s what I say. I hope the cycle makes it back to that guy."
hockeybag7
Thank You!!
"One day I woke up and had a headache. And that headache lasted every day for 2 years. I saw every doctor I could and tried every diet I could. No answers. My quality of life was non-existent and I was on the cusp of losing my job. I was at a restaurant with my mom, I was on one of my specialty diets that was supposed to help with headaches (spoilers, it wasn't)."
"I asked the waitress what was in the salad dressing. She asked 'I know it's none of my business, but can I ask why"' A short conversation later, she mentioned a doctor that worked specifically for people dealing with mold toxicity, otherwise known as MYCOTOXICOSIS."
"That waitress saved my life that day and I don't even remember her name. This was in Superior, Colorado at the now closed CB&Potts. If you happen to read this, you have no idea how grateful my family and I are to have run into you that day. Thank you."
thisendup76
Thanks Sweet Lady
"I had a person like this when I was a kid and I left my wallet next to a vending machine at the mall and when I came back it was gone. I lost a whole 7 dollars and I was devastated. This sweet little old lady saw me having a melt down and I was freaking out about how my parents were going to kill me and this lady legit gave me a 20."
"To an 8 year old who gets 2$ allowance per week a 20 was like getting handed 300$ as an adult. I hope it came back around for her too. Since this was in 1997 and she was probably 70 I don't think she would still be alive today."
mikee8989
Eat Up
Hungry Food GIF by America's Funniest Home VideosGiphy"The Sikh man I met on a flight from god-knows-where to London who invited me to their temple to eat for free."
EbonicalHillbilly
I'm amazed. There are good people in the world. Still jaded.
Thank you stranger...
Ufc 205 Thank You GIF by UFCGiphy"My anxiety was at it's peak and I was walking home from school. Then someone came up to me and just started talking to be like I was a normal person."
"Social skills were @ss, but he didn't seem to care. Gave me the confidence I needed to start doing the same and helping others who were lonely. Thank you, stranger. It was because of him that I was able to help others get out of their Social awkwardness."
p1tch-dark__
Freezing
"It was around February 2016 and the city got hit with a massive snow storm, I remember waiting at the bus stop with a mother and her child in a stroller. The bus was 45 minutes delayed, it was very cold with the wind chill, when the bus arrived we both got on."
"I chose a seat of the opposite side of the bus and this mother and her now crying child was sitting near the front, I could see that the mother was trying to warm her sons hands but was having no luck while her child kept crying. I moved from my seat and sat next to her and took her child’s hands in my hands. His hands were freezing while mine were toasty from my gloves."
"After about 5 minutes, the child calmed down and the bus was quiet again. I stayed with that mother and child for almost 2 hours on the bus until we finally got to our stop. I never learned of the child’s name or the mothers. I just simple sat there with them warming her child’s freezing hands up."
Niishin
Stay for Me
"I don’t remember him, just what he did for me. I was 19, got t-boned in an intersection by someone running a red and was knocked unconscious. He was a witness, and I think someone said he was the first person to call 9-1-1. He took my phone while I was out (before the days of locking phones), called my house, no one home, called my dad’s cell, which was answered."
"He told my dad what had happened and which hospital the paramedics said they were taking me to, and somehow managed to avoid making my dad panic about me. I mostly came to before I got loaded into the ambulance, at which point he gave me back my phone and said my parents would meet me at the hospital."
"I gather he then stayed to talk to the cops to speak up for me because I didn’t remember what had happened and the other driver kept saying it was my fault. I never got to thank him for going so far out of his way to help a complete stranger."
DefunctPenguin
I think about her often...
"I believe I was 19 at the time. I worked at Walmart at time and was working in the back that day when a lady that worked in the meat department was walking past me crying, I hugged her and asked what was wrong. She was covered in bruises and she told me her boyfriend beat her. She opened up and told me she was leaving him so I asked if she needed a place to stay that way she's safe and she told me no."
"Turns out he was waiting outside for her during her lunch, I once again asked if she was okay and if she needed help and she said no. After that night I never saw her again. I have no idea if she is alive and safe. I hope she's okay, I think about her often."
Vampire_Bun
Crash
Crashing Relapse Records GIF by Red FangGiphy"This guy that helped me out after I rolled my truck, he was late for work because he stayed with me until the tow truck got there. Really restored my faith in humanity."
hockeybag7
Look me up...
"About 11 yrs ago my boyfriend unexpectedly passed away in his sleep. I had moved to his state so after his passing I was making plans to move back. I was sitting at the cemetery, in tears, basically saying one last goodbye. A really nice lady stopped and came over and asked if I was OK."
"She sat for a few minutes and talked with me. She gave me her name, which I didn't remember, and said to look her up in FB if I wanted to talk. She was on her way to church and stopped to check on a stranger, which I always thought was a nice thing."
depressed_jess
Beautiful
"I was at the 99 cent store when I was twelve with my aunt, picking up some balloons. An older lady asks her if she can touch my shoulder and my aunt said yes (she thought if she said no I would get evil eye) and then she turned to me touched me, then said 'you have a beautiful soul.'"
"'I don’t see many these days. Hopefully it will stay that way' then she walked out leaving me baffled and confused.Sometimes i still think about her and what she said. Think about if I’m still the same person and the growth I’ve had as a person was for better or worse."
notafoetoallenpoe
"Elly"
"One time when I was younger me and my family went to Washington D.C. We went to the holocaust museum, and near the end of it, there was this lady handing out books. They were called 'Elka's Growing Up in a Changing World.' She explains that she is the author of the book and she was handing copies out to children."
"It turns out she is a survivor of the holocaust and this book is just a few of her memories from WW2. This woman is named Elka 'Elly' Gross and I got to meet her before I knew it would probably be a one-in-a-lifetime experience."
Surnamesalot
Wordless
Come Sit Down GIF by BounceGiphy"In Hungary, I live in Budapest, it's a big city with 2 million people, but there is very few African people. I was 11 or 12 years old when I first met a black gentleman with his daughter. I couldn't speak English and I give them my seat on the tram. They were so kind and grateful. It was special to communicate without words."
osami2002
Cry...
"Walking home from school one day, a guy was audibly crying on the step in front of his house path. As I'm walking by I look at him a bit and he says something along the lines of 'It's ok boy, I'm just upset. My mum died. I'm so upset.' and I don't really know what to say so I just sorta keep walking and as I'm walking away I hear him yell what sounded like 'WAAAAHHHH' you know like how a baby cries? But not in a baby voice at all. Idk who that guy was but I hope he's doing well."
KindaAlrightPerhaps
The Collection
"I bought a stuffed animal from this fair, and this kind, elderly woman saw it and started talking about how cute it was. I told her how I had this wall covered with shelves of stuffed animals, and she told me she had a lot as well. In the end, she told me to never be ashamed of my stuffed animal collection no matter how old I got and if somebody makes fun of me I have the right to say that I met an 80+ year old woman who still has a bunch of stuffed animals at home."
thetinytiger2021
Next Time
"I was going into work and saw a homeless dude crawling out of a drenched sleeping bag. I had $5 on me, so I gave it to him so he could get a hot coffee from the donut place across the street. He thanked me and said he bets I'd have won if I bought a lottery ticket instead, but I don't buy them I replied. He says to me, 'you'll win the next time you buy one.' It's been over a decade and I still have the hobo luck he gave me that day. I've still never bought a lottery ticket."
RoadsideLuchador
Hey Bud
Surfer Dude Tyler GIF by Big BrotherGiphy"This random guy, beach surfer type, pulled up on me and my boyfriend on 4/20, knew we didn’t have bud, and gave us a fat 4g nug for the holiday AND smoked us up. Wish I could return the favor."
allshewrote0131
Some people just leave a lasting impression. So better. Be kind.
Everytime I've cried in public, people have lent a hand. Made me smile and move forward.
Accomplishments
Russian Sport GIF by OlympicsGiphy"Friends who honestly recognize your hard work achievements."
el_buzzsaw
Kindergarten
"When someone remembers little details about me."
spicegrl17
"Bro this guy was in the same kindergarten class as me. We were friendly but as we grew up we kinda drifted. Like middle and high school I don't even remember talking to this guy. He sorta became popular and I was just vibing in middle class territory."
"One time we sat at the same table in a class in 8th grade and again in 12th. And each time he would bring up some super random memory of us from kindergarten that even I don't remember. and when I tell you that sh*t would have the biggest impact on me. Like we were still always friendly and would smile in the halls, but even typing this now makes me smile. Never expected him to remember such random little things."
Careful_Pickle555
Connection
"When strangers are kind to me for no reason it gives me hope for humanity."
Crafty-Tangerine-491
"When I lived in a new city as a broke masters student, I would pick the cashiers that I knew would chitchat with me just to get some human interaction. Not easy in England it turns out. Now I’m on the other side of this situation and I try to read when someone might need that kind of interaction."
Ndeipi
Praise You!
"When people openly praise me/others or they are comfortable communicating their positive feelings. There are a few notable people in my life who are like this and every time i'm around them I either blush or get a loss for words for how much their words/actions matter."
"I think it's because I'm used to criticism or not really being noticed and when they say kind words or are considerate my brain melts. I notice people like this usually have a quiet pulse or sense of others confidence levels/ anxiety levels and they are naturally nurturing or comfortable with building others up."
g0ldf1nch_
Genuine
Dog Reaction GIF by MOODMANGiphy"Hearing from others that positive things have been said about me when I wasn’t around. Makes me feel like they’re really genuine."
neuro_illogical
I love all of those. It would make me feel warm and fuzzy.
Season 2 Love GIF by FriendsEven if it's small...
"Being polite and using basic manners."
withurwife
"As a teenage retail worker, it's sooo nice when people say can I pay for this please. Or just something nice. Or treat me like a normal human being and have an actual conversation with me. Even if it's small. It helps me get through the day and deal with the crappy customers that act like I'm they're slave."
tomahawk167
Look Up
"Making eye contact with someone and realizing you both have the same reaction to whatever the hell is happening in front of you."
NormalVermicelli1066
"This is awesome. It's like a universal language when something crazy is happening and you catch the eye of the person next to you and she widens her eyes slightly. It's like I'm not alone in my head."
flowergirl0720
Time
"My social skills are practically nonexistent thus holding a conversation with someone is impossible. I stutter and my accent comes out. I just started working a week ago and have had to introduce myself to the staff. Afterwards, people came up to me to start a conversation yet left after they realized I wasn’t really speaking."
"I understand why, but I still feel guilty and sad as I don’t want to be alone. Therefore, it is a blessing when someone still keeps trying. I swear I slowly start opening up, I just need time. Most people aren’t willing to spend that time though."
No-Anything-0
Join Us
Season 4 Group GIF by FriendsGiphy"Being included."
sturglemeister
"This 100%, being included makes all the difference. Even if you don't know the friend group, just being asked makes a massive difference."
No-Fig-8614
So Pretty
"When my neighbor called me handsome. Too bad her grand daughter doesn’t agree."
Foolishincel
"Oh man, same thing like that happened to me. In a restaurant, the waitress said I was handsome and walked away. Another waitress went up to her and said, You think he is handsome? Oh well each her own."
thomas4004
Be Calm
"I didn't have my wallet at the gas station and started to panic and the guy said no problem, you are good."
Rotterddoom
Thanks
"Letting in cars in traffic and getting a wave of acknowledgement and thanks."
northjersey78
"Getting a wave back after you wave is always my favorite. I kinda lightly scorn the people who don't wave back. Only slightly because we are driving death machines."
teenytiny77
Booster
Youre Cute Emma Stone GIF by ZombielandGiphy"When random old ladies call me cutesie names like 'hun' or 'sweetie.' It's like getting a grandma love booster shot from a stranger."
SchrodingersNutsack
"I can play this card now and it works as well both ways. I try to be as patient, kind and encouraging as I can. It's good to hear it's appreciated."
holdonwhileipoop
Different
"Friends who hold different beliefs and opinions who stick by you despite the differences. Everyone needs to have friends around them who will challenge their beliefs."
RolyPoly1320
"Honestly this is so rare these days, I remember in my high school days there was this one kid who listened to dead mouse, and he was a respectable guy, so everyone respected him for being different."
Fresh_Proposal2938
So Happy
U Know Flirt GIF by WimbledonGiphy"As a male, getting compliments from the opposite sex. It’s just a really good feeling and can make a guy happy for along time. We receive so few that each one feels special. And this actually goes for relationships too. My last gf never really complimented me and it kind of bothered me. But when she did they meant a lot because they actually seemed more genuine."
saosin702
all by kids...
"Little kids being friendly to me at work. I’m a host at a pretty busy chain restaurant and have been hugged randomly by kids, been told i’m pretty, had my hair complimented, my makeup and jewelry complimented, my boots. all by kids. it just flatters me so much, especially knowing that most small children just say what they’re thinking in all honesty. Makes work a little more bearable."
disco-paradox
Compliments
Ufc 205 Thank You GIF by UFCGiphy"People who notice. For instance: The driver in front who pulls forward and a bit over so I can make a right turn at the red light. People who pick up trash. People who compliment you. You all just makes the world a bit nicer."
momofdragons3
Defending Me
"People defending me when I'm fat shamed. It seems like a little thing, but it means a lot. The suckiest bit about starting at 375 is that it'll take me two years to safely lose what I need to and with that said, people don't see progress and often doubt me, especially if I take a step backwards. So when people defend me, it makes me feel so much better about what I'm doing."
1BoiledCabbage
It takes so little to make others feel good. Just do it.
Redditor MelonExtinguisher wanted to hear what "conversations" we could have from beyond our solar system that would be too much.
They asked:
"What could be the creepiest message from space?"
I figure a nice warning would even be creepy. Kind, but creepy.
Farewell
Bye Bye Peace GIF by Cappa Video ProductionsGiphy"Don’t remember where it’s from, but there’s a book or something where humans start getting messages from everywhere that are goodbyes from other species as the universe ends."
KhaoticKrabb
Sound Off
"Audible human screams."
Uncannier
"Winner right here. Yikes."
doctora_novia
"Or your planet's extended warranty."
kooshipuff
Where is Everybody?
"What the hell did you guys do with all our dinosaurs?"
FranksRedWorkAccount
"Bonus scare if the aliens tells them that the earth is like a breeding ground for dinosaur pets like we have for cats and dogs."
skisawsome
"We thought that asteroid was you getting tired of them, so we evolved into intelligent life."
GunzAndCamo
Tick Tock
"A countdown without context."
WodkaAap
"Would be fun to project a countdown into space to just mess with however did it. But just make our countdown end before theirs."
Kelmeckis94
"If it ends with 'Happy stellar new year' I think we'd be good."
Just-Call-Me-J
YOU
Happy Penn Badgley GIF by LifetimeGiphy"One claiming to be from Earth. In English. Describing us humans but very clearly not from Earth."
TheFreshHorn
Well that is more than we need to hear?
The Voice
Hannibal Lecter Killer GIFGiphy"A voice which is almost human but just off enough to make your skin crawl, telling us to stay away."
TheChainLink2
Hush
“Be quiet or they will hear you.”
Quint89
"I reread this every time it comes up in a thread - at least a dozen or so times now. One detail just occurred to me that hadn’t before: if the message left earth 40 years ago (eg this race of aliens are relatively close), and we’ve been broadcasting for 100."
The realization that a scientist has is much more profound then 'oh crap, this is scary better stop broadcasting'… more like “oh f**k, our 100 years of broadcasts are traveling out into space already, there are millions more potential recipients, and stopping now won’t change much, we’re already f**ked”
"That first message 100 years ago could just be reaching the big bad aliens now… and they have decades worth of a radio trail to follow."
Brown_notebook
Trust Issues
"Be careful, don't trust them."
Jumpingtojupiter
"There’s actually a really good Kurzgesagt video about this concept. And how it is actually quite logical that upon detection of another intelligent species both will immediately try to annihilate each other. And for this reason we probably should not advertise our existence to the galaxy."
nick1812216
DONE!
“Exterminate. Exterminate. Exterminate.”
MomCat23
"Yeah I was surprised we hadn't gotten more of these responses. Thought it'd be a go-to for a lot of folks, given how The Stolen Earth went."
nairbeg
Owl What GIF by NickelodeonNo thanks...
"It'd probably be an unsolicited alien nude pic."
Mr_Otingocni
"What if that's what crop circles are?"
Nobody_Super_Famous
Don't be Shocked...
"'People of Earth, your attention please. ..This is Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz of the Galactic Hyperspace Planning Council. As you will no doubt be aware, the plans for development of the outlying regions of the Galaxy require the building of a hyperspatial express route through your star system, and regrettably your planet is one of those scheduled for demolition. The process will take slightly less than two of your Earth minutes. Thank you.'"
"'There's no point in acting all surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display in your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for fifty of your Earth years, so you've had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it's far too late to start making a fuss about it now'"
Fragrant-Pass-3568
Strike 3
"We tried to give you a second chance. Unfortunately, you have failed us again and now we shall correct this mistake. Forgive us, goodbye."
Spidermanzinho
"Maybe the way the world's been the last few years has messed with my head but why does that scenario just seem so plausible?"
Loofs_Undead_Leftie
Just Us
Fall Scrolling GIF by Fia OrueneGiphy"We are dying. By the time you receive this, you will be the last sentient species in the universe."
peon47
Flood It
“'We’re sorry we couldn’t hold them any longer, may the cosmos protect you from the imminent horror you're going to suffer.'” And then a timer of 14 days shows up all around the globe and a blueprint of items to build something displays."
God_of_hoodies
"At this point I won't be surprised especially if it's the flood or tyrants."
variogamer
Change the Channel
"I'm getting bored of watching these. I was into for a few thousand years and they still haven't evolved past their own consciousness. Let's restart the simulation. Maybe the next ones will be interplanetary by this time."
RuneAcademy
"There’s no way for us to know for sure, but it’s theorized that there was calculus in there, among other things. Calculus wouldn’t be invented by other means until Isaac Newton in the renaissance. So yeah, it set us back at least a thousand years."
rl231661
Left Behind...
"We're sending a transport to pick you up. They will kill anyone who stays behind. The transport will arrive in 12 of your hours, and leave in 24 hours, departing for the refugee center at alpha-centauri. Don't worry, the transport has room for at least 1 million of you. And we're told the refugee center isn't so bad. Consider taking some pictures of your planet before you go, to remember it. Unfortunately we can't take cultural artifacts unless they fit in your carry-on. Please form orderly lines at the transport pickup location."
snapwillow
No One is Home!!
Season 1 Episode 3 GIF by Rick and MortyGiphy“Communication is dangerous. Stop reaching out, stop trying to find other life. We exist, we’re out here. But if they find out about you, they’ll be the first to visit.”
GunsandIndica
"What then?"
"One thing. I had a dream like this scenario once. In a voice that's just barely human, but too softly spoken to be something otherworldly, a message sent to NASA from an unknown source; saying: "'They've been giving us chances. For years now. I tried telling you guys...but my messages were never received...'"
"'It's all over. I'm sorry. All I can tell you now is that they're plotting... planning... waiting. I don't know how advanced things are on Earth now but... you NEED to come up with something to get out of Earth NOW. If not, get people underground. Deep underground, as low as possible. The world you know now? Forget it.'"
"'Everything you once knew is going to die. Prepare yourself, because if I know anything things are about to become a living hell. Good luck. And oh yeah! The most important thing you need to know is-'"
"The message cuts out."
"What then?"
sunwooosh
Let's all hope none of this can happen. My 2022 Bingo card is already full.
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