If you saw someone struggling

[hyphenate]

with shopping bags and having a difficult time climbing steps, would you help them? I know one guy who pretty much walks by without even a second thought. Does this mean he is mannerless, or just not thinking like a gentleman? To me, it's outright boorish behavior.

[wildhorses]

1. I bet he is young too....

you should see some of these younger generation Nurses....and they are Nurses mind you!!
callous and jaded and only 23
do NOT care about a thing but their PAYCHECK
it is disgusting!!!

[hyphenate]

3. He's in his mid fifties

That's not exactly "young" but it's not exactly old, either. He just doesn't seem to either notice other people or care. I'm not sure which applies. You literally have to spell something out to him and state the obvious before he "gets" it.

[mzteris]

7. Aspie........

[hyphenate]

8. If you're referring

to Asperger's, I've been thinking about that. I'm not completely familiar with it, but does it kind of make people somewhat antisocial? It makes sense to me in a way--someone who finds it difficult to interact with other people under normal circumstances?

He was an only child, and Asperger's wasn't diagnosed very often that long ago. It kind of gives me a better idea of the sublimal personality. And a lot of it fits.

[mzteris]

9. yes.

It's hard to give "A" definition of Asperger's - it's a spectrum disorder and with differing "severity" and differing coping abilities (depending on one's experiences and support system growing up and as an adult.)

For some - picking up on social cues can be "very" difficult. It's not that they're "anti-social" per se - it's that for some - they're a bit "socially challenged", shall we say.

A lifetime of that, however, might MAKE one a bit anti-social, though, if they've been treated badly enough by others.

[LeftyMom]

2. I try to help in those situations

Certainly people have helped me while I struggle with packages and kid before, so it only seems fair to return the favor.

[Placebo]

4. It depends really.

In the city, if you tried to help a woman out with bags or whatever, she might scream or flip out. So I pretty much avoid helping people when I'm not asked.

In a smaller community or the suburbs or whatever, I suppose that's different.

[hyphenate]

5. In this one particular case

it was someone he knew. That should make it obvious--at least to me.

[ContraBass Black]

6. If possible, I would circle around to the front and offer to help from

Ten or more feet away.

To do otherwise would be to beg for a macing.