Well, this was a new sort of dilemma.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

So I am pushing a shopping cart out to the admittedly sort of far away corral, and a lady over near the garden supplies (you know how some places keep mulch bags and whatnot in the lot in a sort of parking lot turned garden area sort of thing) called to me that she would take the cart and put it over on that side for me.

Hard to explain this...the garden area was pretty cluttered up with shopping carts people were too lazy to put away...you know how it is.

Anyways, the lady was trying to be nice and do me a favor. By just sort of shoving my cart off to the side for me.

So I just said, very politely, "thanks, but I don't think they go there. I'll just take it to the corral, I don't mind."

And she says "Well, this is where people are putting them."

Wow. What to do? She's trying to be nice by being a sucky herd animal. Everyone is doing the wrong thing, so the wrong thing becomes the right thing. Insert deer in headlights from me. I honestly did not know what to do or say.

What actually eventually came out of my mouth was something like "er...you know, thanks a lot, but I don't want to leave it out rolling around the lot, I'll just put it away. Thanks for the offer, though, that's very kind of you."

She probably thought I was nuts.

[Exaspera]

You Maverick, you!

[Sheldonrs]

"And she says "Well, this is where people are putting them." "

To be fair, she has that same phrase sewn into her underwear.

[fma_fanatic]

Quoth Sheldonrs

"And she says "Well, this is where people are putting them." "

To be fair, she has that same phrase sewn into her underwear.

And I'm sure if she were asked to jump off a bridge, she'd do that too. Sheeple, people. Sheeple. They're everywhere!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I know, it's actually two fails for the price of one. Shoving carts any old place, causing hazards to other cars and making it tough on the cart guy is one. Neglecting to think for yourself and giving yourself a pass to be lazy because others before you have done so is the other.

But then, here she is trying to help out a fellow human on a hot day. So what can you really say but thank her and move on?

Oh, well, at least she wasn't offering to shove it into the handicapped space for me. I probably would have had a brain seizure.

[Kogarashi]

I think that's the point where I'd just put on my friendliest smile, thank her very much for the offer, and add, "but I think I'll just put it over there where it belongs," and continue toward the corral. Her follow-up, "this is where people are putting them," would just get an "okay" or "I know" and no further response.

But really, what can you do? She's trying to be nice, and yet ends up being somewhat sucky (to other car owners, to the cart guys) in the process.

[PepperElf]

well even if others are doing it i'm giving you a for putting it away in the right spot.... cos when carts are loose they can damage cars. (mom & dad's minivan got wacked by one - the insurance covered it but they would have preferred it had never damaged the vehicle in the first place)

[Mr Hero]

Quoth fma_fanatic

And I'm sure if she were asked to jump off a bridge, she'd do that too. Sheeple, people. Sheeple. They're everywhere!

Well, that would depend on many factors, including height, training, and equipment. But if 100% of the people enjoyed it, as in my skateboard example, then I would conclude it was safe. A better question might have been 'If everyone else wore clothes, would you do that?

[Seshat]

Okay, okay, yes I would willingly abseil down the pylon of a bridge, given appropriate equipment and supervision.

But I have a sneaking suspicion that that wasn't exactly the point.

[Record Store Tough Guy]

Quoth Sheldonrs

"And she says "Well, this is where people are putting them." "

To be fair, she has that same phrase sewn into her underwear.

What you did there. I see it.