The Kindness of Strangers
I think that people tend to drastically underestimate the honesty and integrity of people in general, including themselves. I think people are naturally "good" and that social circumstances are what prevents the inherent "goodness" from coming through. And my forgetful oblivious ass is full of great examples that reveal this.
Over the years I would really be beyond fucked were it not for the kindness of strangers. I lose shit, leave shit behind, drop shit. I'm almost on a mission to ruin myself. And time and time again a stranger or almost stranger helps me. A few months ago my cell slipped out my pocket after I stepped out of a cab. Were it not for the people getting in the cab right after me I doubt I would've gotten it back. The guy immediately let me know I left it behind. A few years back I did the same thing. But I didn't realize it until I got home. I called it and the cab driver drove back to give it back to me.
When I get change I count it then haphazardly stuff it in my pockets. So I tend to have money sticking out of my pocket. I cannot count how many times people have let me know this. What's funny is they usually say "Someone else might try to take it from you." We assume the worst about each other. So many people extend themselves to help me and each assumes that someone else would not only have not helped me, but that they would try to steal from me. But I have yet to have been pickpocketed while people constantly try to prevent that from happening to me.
Earlier this year I lost my ID. Someone in my building slipped it under my door with a note asking me to be careful, saying someone else gave them back their ID, but also warning me about what "other" people might do. After that my school loan check was sent to the wrong building (but the same block). The person came over to my building slipped it under my door with a note letting me know it went to the wrong place. Just this past friday I lost my wallet. My wallet has my LIFE in it. Non-driver's license, school ID, work ID, debit card, social security card!!!! You can basically look in my wallet and know everything about me (though that mug shot calling itself my ID picture is NOT accurate). One of my neighbors went out of her way to get it back to me. Granted there was no money in it, but someone could've done damage with pretty much any of the other pieces of ID.
I wonder if it's a NY thing, a US thing, a those who live in a capitalist society thing or what. But I really think people don't realize how good people are, even themselves.
...Then again, maybe it's a "ghetto" thing. The only time my debit card was used illegally was when someone not in Harlem got the number. And no one ever warns me when I'm downtown. I'm not too sure, generally though I just think human nature is better than what most people think it is.