Community Chat

[minkbunny]

Well, we don't drink Starbuck's coffee but we do tip well wherever we are.

[occasionalrain]

I don't want anyone to pay for me, I'd much rather they donated to an animal shelter or PETA. In a way it can be insulting, the person has to wonder whether it was just a nice gesture or did the payer think they looked needy.

[biancardi]

On 9/14/2014 Pook said:

On 9/14/2014 minkbunny said:

Pook, it is just a random act of kindness.

People at church today will bring fresh vegetables from their gardens to share with others. We will get a basket of wonderful tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, etc.

Can we afford vegetables? Yes.

Are we grateful these people were kind enough to share? Yes.

Do they also share with the food pantry in town? Yes.

All random acts of kindness. All appreciated.

I can understand bringing produce to share if someone has a lot or even baked goods, etc but to pay for the person's order behind you (unless you overhear them saying they've had a bad day or something and everyone keeps doing it, to me, isn't a random act of kindness but craziness. To pay for someone's meal who has well behaved kids or an elderly couple who you notice who you have a conversation with or serviceman and 1st responders makes sense. Random acts of kindness are also more like helping an elderly person with their packages or to find their car in a large parking lot or holding a door for a handicapped person or a woman with several kids in tow with packages, shoveling a handicapped or elderly person's walk or mowing the lawn of a person who is having medical issues, or paying for someone to do it, etc. A lot of those things take time and it's easier to just pay for the person's coffee behind you than to spend time helping someone who actually needs help and then pat yourself on the back about it.

To me, that would not be a random act of kindness. That would be an act done out of observing that a person needed help.

A random act of kindness means that someone did something nice, whether they ACTUALLY NEED help or not. It is random, whereas someone needing help is not random - it is observed and there is a reason to help.

This reminds me of the forgiveness discussion several years ago. Forgiveness means more to those who do not "deserve" it but receive it anyway. There were many people stating that it was only for those who deserve it, but really, it means more to forgive someone who is considered "unworthy"

just my opinion. I am sure others will disagree

I see nothing wrong with paying it forward. It is a nice surprise in a world where most people are too busy to notice their fellow comrades...

[terrier3]

On 9/14/2014 occasional rain said:

I don't want anyone to pay for me, I'd much rather they donated to an animal shelter or PETA. In a way it can be insulting, the person has to wonder whether it was just a nice gesture or did the payer think they looked needy.

Are you always looking to be insulted and/or offended?

It's not based on who looks "needy" - it's just a nice gesture...I don't even glance to see what the people are like behind me in line.

Expecting someone else to donate to a charity of your choice - that's a bit beyond the scope of this little gesture.

[biancardi]

On 9/14/2014 Hildegarde Withers said:

If one feels like throwing money around, it might be nice to consider leaving the barista a huge tip rather than paying the bill for those who think nothing of spending big bucks on overpriced coffee drinks.

it isn't throwing money around. I certainly can pay $5.00 for the person behind me in line AND give the barista a tip at the same time.

[terrier3]

On 9/14/2014 Hildegarde Withers said:

If one feels like throwing money around, it might be nice to consider leaving the barista a huge tip rather than paying the bill for those who think nothing of spending big bucks on overpriced coffee drinks.

I always leave a tip for the barista too.

I guess I'm doubly d@mned!!!

[missy1]

I have if the customers were a little short on the bill.

[Cakers1]

On 9/14/2014 Hildegarde Withers said:

If one feels like throwing money around, it might be nice to consider leaving the barista a huge tip rather than paying the bill for those who think nothing of spending big bucks on overpriced coffee drinks.

barista: fancy name for Liberal Arts majors. lol

[muttmom]

I can honestly say I've never been aware that the customer's credit card ahead of me was declined. It really isn't my business.

We have picked up a tap for a few travelers in uniform, at the airport.

I've never been in a pay it forward line as I do not use drive-thru windows.

[Suziepeach]

Happy?