What is the most "good" thing you have ever done

[wdfifteen]

Educating the ignorant over at PARF.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by look 171

One cop pulled me away and started asking if I, or we set the fire. I said no, but he kept insisting that we did and tell the truth. Bastard kept repeating the same questions asking different ways for maybe 5 minutes. It sure seem like much longer than that at 16. I was actually scared.

I just read "Police Interrogation and American Justice" about police interrogation (duh). Asking over and over is a technique they use. The only way to counter it is to give the same answer over and over.

[Z-man]

Here's perhaps the most humbling moment of my life:

I spent one summer in South Africa with an organization called "Teen Missions International." This organization sends nearly 50 teams of teens on short-term work projects. In South Africa, my team built up a building next to an orphanage that was way beyond full capacity. It is culturally acceptable to abandon a child by the side of the road if he or she is not healthy.

At the end of one long day of mixing cement, I was cleaning off my shovel in a barrel of water, and splashing water onto my boots. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice two tiny hands cleaning off the mortar that had caked onto my boots.

So here I am - helping build a building for this little boy, yet he who had nothing - no parents, no home, no future - was willing to serve me by washing my boots. Someone who had nothing - not even shoes - did not hesitate to help me - someone who had things he will never have in all his life. I still well up in tears thinking about what that boy did for me. Seems like a small insignificant act, but it has had a lifelong impact on me.

-Z

[johnsjmc]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Educating the ignorant over at PARF.

I learn more about ignorance on PARF than anything else.

[71scgc]

I took in a homeless kid when I was in college. He had no money or job. He ended up being the best room dog I ever had. Always dead honest with me. Took care of my dog, babysat my daughter when I had studying stuff to do, mowed the yard, did the dishes, etc.etc.
Haven't seen or heard from him since 1993. I hope that he is still OK.

I gave a guy on the Corvette forum a set of 186 double hump heads. He was trying to do a budget motor build.

I provided covering fire and secured a pair of defectors on the former inter-German border in the mid 80s.

After reading the above, none of this seems like ****. Some of these stories read like stuff I used to see in Boy's Life.

I'm a real punk...

[Gretch]

Some very inspiring stories........

I had some interesting experiences in my life, that involved preserving a life or two however I can't say this constituted me doing "good". In truth I just reacted out of concern for the situation.

For me the measure of doing something "good" would have to involve a personal conscious choice and some measure of risk or sacrifice on my part.

My financial circumstances have allowed a measure of charity over the years. Even now, I view this as giving some back. or "paying it forward" as it is sometimes termed.

Anyway, some very interesting stories......... I did NOT expect this thread to go that way.

[livi]

To me this is kind of a philosophical question. I suppose doing a "good" thing must be a genuinely altruistic deed. Problem is how to define that. In most altruistic behavior an egoistic motive can be sensed - although perhaps not deliberately.
Personally I would not mention my line of work, although some Think I do good things. Its just Another job and I get paid.
No, what comes to mind is a dark period in one of my Brothers Life. He was deeply depressed and clearly suicidal. I spent most nights at his Place for several weeks, keeping him Company and guarding his thoughts and actions. It was awful but Little by Little he came back to Life.

[Rikao4]

not gonna let you of that easy Markus..
told you long ago...
not every time or always..
but many a parent is laughing & hugging their little one's..
because you did 'good'..

Rika

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by 71scgc

I took in a homeless kid when I was in college. He had no money or job.

That reminds me, back in college this kind of ragged, nerdy kid was helping me with physics work. After working with him a while it came out that he was barely scraping up enough money for tuition and couldn't afford clothes and books. He was getting better grades in physics than I was and didn't even have the book! I "loaned" him mine and went out and bought myself another one.

[livi]

Originally Posted by Rikao4

not gonna let you of that easy Markus..
told you long ago...
not every time or always..
but many a parent is laughing & hugging their little one's..
because you did 'good'..

Rika

And you Rika, just canīt hide your own goodness. It shines through your posts.

[Don Ro]

Well, many folks did some real good for me back in May, '11.
Quad by-pass!
I felt absolutely taken care of by those I remember - excluding OR nurses (unconscious at the time).
I send a 'thank you' Christmas card each year to the surgeon, Dr. Kenneth Ashton, who told me, "I'm just a high-paid seamstress."
Thank God! for medical people everywhere...genuine 'do-gooders' in this life.

[Bill Douglas]

Well done guys. You have done some great things and made big differences to other peoples lives.



I've been house painting recently and my mind wanders thinking about interesting things from the past.

I remembered when I was about 15 one evening my mom had a rip roaring party at the beach house so young GF and I sat in the sand dunes looking out to sea. A boy about 10 was walking along a sand bar 50 meters out to sea and tried to wade through the channel where there was a very fast rip. He started heading out to sea fast so I ran down the beach and jumped in the same rip and got him at about 200 meters out. By that stage his head or hand was only occasionally popping out of the water and in a few moments he wasn't going to come back up again. I grabbed him thinking I hope the little guy doesn't drown me and told him to lie on his back. He had done life saving in the school pool so he knew what to do and lay there "star jump" style why I swam him back in.

I feel good about this. If I feel I haven't done something right in life, I bet that this guy probably has. And wouldn't be around to have done those things if it wasn't for me.

The funny thing is he didn't think to say thanks he was just happy to be back on shore with is buddy. And my mom and friends just laughed at me saying I owed the little boy $20 for faking it so i could impress the young GF.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I just read "Police Interrogation and American Justice" about police interrogation (duh). Asking over and over is a technique they use. The only way to counter it is to give the same answer over and over.

After the first few minutes, I was scared sihtless. I was 16 or maybe 15 at the time. The cop threatened me with throwing me in the slammer because I would not cooperate with the police, and that I (we)set the fire. The punishment would be the same, long jail time with inmate that will kill little kids like me in jail. He even had his handcuffs out in his hand telling me that my hands belong in there. I asked him to speak to the owner but the cop wouldn't let me near him. This guy was a real piece of work and I know what he was trying to do. Hey I did learn something by watching TV.

[Seahawk]

I pay attention, try to help when I can in person and volunteer a lot of hours in the first world. Lot's of little helping where I think appropriate.

In the Navy, I volunteered to rebuild, paint, contribute in person to orphanages and other places in the Philippines, Bahrain, India and Thailand to name a few. I was there so I thought I would help.

But honestly, I can say that my heart wasn't big enough, or I wasn't. The sheer scale of need terrified me, still does.

It was like a trip to the dog pound every day: who to pick, who to rescue.

I never stopped going when I served, but I won't again. Can't. I still dream about big, young eyes, searching me for an answer I couldn't give.

I write checks and admire the genuine hero's like Speeders brother who can look disaster and helplessness in the eye and move forward in the maelstrom, be there and make a difference.

Give to those who know how to help beyond the first world. Sorry for the diversion.

[LWJ]

Life can humble a person. A very good friend has fought severe depression for a number of years. We talk regularly. She is still alive.

I saved a life or two. Can't really remember. It is not always that big of a deal in the grand scheme.

Some folks will call this the goodest thing I have done. It isn't It is however the most humanizing thing I have ever done. I adopted my daughter at birth. The birthmom handed my daughter to my wife at age 10 minutes. My wife gave my daughter her first bottle. I changed my first diaper that night.

This humbles me. My daughter is a gift of infinite magnatude. I didn't "do" anything but I have been a part of this. It is good. Today, she delivered the closing argument for her mock trial. They won.

Happy day.

Larry