'Have some faith in humanity…20 tales of good deeds'

Former_MSE_Helen

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "Have some faith in humanity…20 tales of good deeds" Blog.

Please click 'post reply' to discuss below.

JimmyTheWig

We dropped all of our Euros (about £250 worth) in a supermarket car park in Calais on a day trip. Went back to look but couldn't find it.
Reported it to supermarket security, but hadn't been handed in.

Got back home to find an answerphone message from a couple in Kent. They'd found it and with the language barrier meaning they couldn't get security to find us at the time they brought it home with them. Had our contact details from where we'd reserved the money at the travel agent (thanks to MSE!). They posted it to us recorded delivery.
I suggested they should keep 50 Euros, but they said no. We sent them some flowers as a thank you, but still can't really believe it happened.

jiggyquincy

A girl sitting across from me on the train left her phone behind. I picked it up and phoned "home". Her mum picked up and I told her I was leaving it at the next station's ticket office for her to collect. Her mum seemed very grateful. When I went to hand it in the station staff she looked bewildered that I was handing in such a valuable phone. I guess it doesn't happen very often.

Reaper

Without doubt the most inspiring story I have ever read is this one when one small kind act changed the life of author Bernard Hare:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12043294

jamesd

People trying to do the right thing is one of the sometimes unappreciated joys of living in a developed country where most people are ethical. You might find the Bribe Payers Index and Corruption Perceptions Index of interest to see how well we do compared to most of the world.

ammonite

I found £200 one December when I was about 13, it was outside a local Asda shop and it was clearly Christmas money. Without a second thought I handed it in to the local Asda. They said if it wasn't claimed, they'd ring me and I could have it (I would have donated it to charity as I don't believe that that sort of money brings any luck to someone who it wasn't meant for, weird superstition!).

I had hoped to hear from someone, or even someone at Asda. I rang back in the New Year but no one in the shop even knew anything about it. I was sad to think I'd been honest about it but one of the workers might have not been so honest or the person who did claim it wasn't grateful enough to drop a thank you phonecall.

I would definitely do the same thing again in a heartbeat!

JasX

At uni I was staggering home late at night when I found a handbag in the gutter on my way back to halls, contaned the usual trinkets plus credit cards, the poor girl's passport, driving license etc etc.

Traced the owner the next day via the emergency info that'd been completed in the passport (said she was out celebrating her 18th hence had all the ID she had in the world on her and sounded just a little hungover ) and told her I'd leave it at the Porter's security desk for her to pick up.

Had a phone call 2 hours later saying the girl had popped in to collect it and would I mind comming down as she'd bought me a bottle of champagne she'd like to give me in person to say thank you

lazer

If i found a phone or something and there was a way to contact the owner, would contact them directly to arrange returning it.

By involving someone else such as bar staff, shop staff ect, you are relying on them being trustworthy. It is not being holier than thou, it is trying to ensure the "lost property" gets returned to its rightful owner

JimmyTheWig

JasX wrote: »

she'd bought me a bottle of champagne she'd like to give me in person to say thank you

Unwanted birthday present!

evespikey

On my way to work as a teenager I stopped in the park for a rest. My phone must have slid out of my back pocket when I sat down. While I was a work I got a phonecall from my mum saying a man walking his dog had found it, called 'home' and returned it. Can't say it changed my view of humanity...more my view that the people in my town were wealthy enough to not feel the desire to keep things they found.

Denando

One Friday night on my way out, my (2 week old) phone fell out of my pocket on the tube. When I arrived at the class I was going to I realised and was beginning to panic. My phone’s home screen had a couple of numbers to call if found (my friend and my boss). A complete stranger saw me looking upset and asked why, then lent me his phone to call the numbers (I had memorised) and the guy sitting next to me on the tube had called them both and left his details. He didn’t live far so I jumped back on the tube and went to his house to collect it. I gave him £20 as a thank you and we spent the next 10 minutes on his doorstep as he tried to refuse it. I won when I pointed out I would just put it through his letterbox as I left. He said he’d put it in the charity box and I believe that he would. My phone controls my life – work and personal. To lose all that data would have been so inconvenient that now £20 seems pretty mean! My new phone doesnn’t have this home screen function. Think I need to find a way to have it displayed … just in case!