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How do you handle strangers asking to use your cell?

On a recent trip overseas I was early for my flight home sitting in the terminal when an old lady was going around frantically asking if anyone can lend her a cell for what sounded like an emergency call.

No one volunteered so I gave her my iP5 to make the call. It didn't much matter what number she dialled as all calls were being billed at one rate, international roaming, all I was thinking throughout was "just don't drop my phone".

That's the only time I've ever been asked by a stranger to use my cell and I was glad to help.
 
dazedxar said:
I always let them use it, but I have to dial the number for them to make sure they need to make a call.

With how expensive iphones are, I would guess no one here allow any strangers to use their phone.
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i usually take the person's credit card, drivers license, social security number, and proof of insurance.

lol oh wait, nevermind. :D

in actuality, nobody has ever asked me to borrow my phone for phone call purposes. ive offered to look stuff up for people all the time, but never to let them make a phone call. nope :D.

although if someone did run off with my phone, i would just pop out my iPad and activate activation lock within 5 minutes. jokes on them.
 
dazedxar said:
I always let them use it, but I have to dial the number for them to make sure they need to make a call.

With how expensive iphones are, I would guess no one here allow any strangers to use their phone.
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If you're afraid of theft, instead of handing them your phone; give them a Bluetooth headset and make the call for him.
 
Of course I would let anyone use my phone if they asked, because:

1) I don't want to go through life assuming the worst of people.

2) I don't want to put material objects before other human beings.

3) I'm not a sociopath.

Every single person in this thread is a horrible person. You are venal, oblivious to your own cruelty, and shallow. The only time anyone would ask to use a phone is for help. Sad, sad, sad...
 
justiny said:
I was at an international airport baggage claim and someone I didn't know asked, albeit politely, to use my phone for a phone call.

I told him my battery was dying (yeah, I lied). But I replied kindly in return.

I was kind of appalled of someone walking around a baggage claim with no luggage asking to borrow a cell phone to make a call. :confused:
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Many people either don't bring or use their phones when traveling to another country... if only to avoid outrageous international rates.

I could name plenty of reasons why someone would be in a baggage claim area without luggage or a cell phone.

I'm not saying that person wouldn't have ran off with it, but there are many more reasons why they really could have needed it for a call.

Not to mention, people flying into foreign countries usually don't carry foreign change with them, so, even if they could find a pay phone, it may not do them any good.


I'd expect airports to be where people need to borrow someone else's cell phone the most.
 
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PaulOBrain said:
How wonderfully naive.
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35 and only been proven wrong once. You call me naive and I'd call you someone who thinks they're "jaded" but is probably just a jerk.

Here's a tip folks. Don't buy things you can't afford to lose. Try being the Good Samaritan some time; apple's auto correct even capitalizes both words for you.

I'd like to think I'd give a man the shirt off my back if asked.
 
Usually I say no. Unless the person explains that it's an emergency. If it's an urgent situation, glad to help.

Airports are also a spot I'm comfortable letting someone use my phone. In a foreign airport or even traveling domestically, I understand that unfortunate situations happen. I've been stuck in a few of those myself. I was always polite and people helped me out when I needed to call someone. If the person asking is also polite, I'll help as well.

But never anyone from the bars or someone I don't know who has been drinking.

I'm often stingier with my friends than I am with strangers when it comes to my phone, just because some of them like to explore my texts, emails and calls.
 
Bargle said:
35 and only been proven wrong once. You call me naive and I'd call you someone who thinks they're "jaded" but is probably just a jerk.

Here's a tip folks. Don't buy things you can't afford to lose. Try being the Good Samaritan some time; apple's auto correct even capitalizes both words for you.

I'd like to think I'd give a man the shirt off my back if asked.
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The irony of being a "good smartitan" yet calling me a jerk and the people on this thread "sad".
 
PaulOBrain said:
The irony of being a "good smartitan" yet calling me a jerk and the people on this thread "sad".
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You don't understand irony, unless you happen to be a poor soul in need of pity? Because nothing about a Good Samaritan says you can't call someone out on ********.

The Good Samaritan isn't mother Theresa, it's someone willing to help someone others won't help. Nothing about calling jerks, jerks.

You are a jerk who wraps his cruelty and distrust in a veneer of worldliness. Perhaps some Good Samaritan will come by and explain irony to you...

Don't worry, I'd still let you borrow my telephone. If doing the right thing were easy, Jesus wouldn't have needed to make a parable on the subject now would he?
 
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How do you handle strangers asking to use your cell?

If they hand me their wallet/purse while they use my phone then I wouldn't have any issue. I would give them a condition that the phone call has to be short (if it's an emergency it usually is short).
 
xraytech said:
If you're afraid of theft, instead of handing them your phone; give them a Bluetooth headset and make the call for him.
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I wouldn't want my Bluetooth in a strangers ear.

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I had a French lady ask me to use it while I was in NY in front of the Empire building. I asked her for the number and dialed it myself. Called the number twice but no one picked up.
 
Bargle said:
You don't understand irony, unless you happen to be a poor soul in need of pity? Because nothing about a Good Samaritan says you can't call someone out on ********.

The Good Samaritan isn't mother Theresa, it's someone willing to help someone others won't help. Nothing about calling jerks, jerks.

You are a jerk who wraps his cruelty and distrust in a veneer of worldliness. Perhaps some Good Samaritan will come by and explain irony to you...

Don't worry, I'd still let you borrow my telephone. If doing the right thing were easy, Jesus wouldn't have needed to make a parable on the subject now would he?
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You say you see the good in people yet you call random people on the internet names. Wow just wow. Such kindness.

I think il refrain from taking advice on life from someone who's a hypocrite with half a brain.
 
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If she's on a bike, grab her handlebars first (happened to me once).

If she's on foot, grab her bra strap (not sure I'd get away with that, but you never know where it could lead...)
 
I'm a germaphobe, so it's more about the germs than actually worrying about my phone getting stolen.

I have problems with using phones of people I know!

Anyway, if out in public and someone wants to use my phone, they better be someone I know or an acquaintance. Otherwise my battery is low and my phone is about to die.
 
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I've only been asked once and I said no. The guy got mad and caught an attitude. I didn't care. No I wouldn't let a stranger use my phone under any circumstances. You pay full price for one of these iPhones and hand it to a random person that can just run off with it if you want to. I won't take that gamble with nearly $1000 worth of my hard earned money. Not only do they get your phone but they get access to tons of personal information that's on there before you have time to go home and do anything with iCloud. Sorry but I've been out in the real world long enough to where "seeing the good in people" isn't worth $1000 to me.
 
Bargle said:
Of course I would let anyone use my phone if they asked, because:

1) I don't want to go through life assuming the worst of people.

2) I don't want to put material objects before other human beings.

3) I'm not a sociopath.

Every single person in this thread is a horrible person. You are venal, oblivious to your own cruelty, and shallow. The only time anyone would ask to use a phone is for help. Sad, sad, sad...
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People in this thread have offered some very reasonable and safer solutions such as making the call for the person, or offering them change and directions to a pay phone, or trusting them with a bluetooth headset while you hold the phone. Furthermore, I would like to think that most stores or public buildings would let someone use a phone for a quick local call.

Someone brought up the point, would you let a total stranger borrow your car? From a moral standpoint there's not really a difference. It's just a matter of how valuable a possession you're willing to risk. A phone is an expensive investment, and people do steal them. Protecting a several hundred dollar investment doesn't make you a bad person or mean that you care about things more than people.
 
I don't understand when this thread became all about civility and how most peoples' responses are heinous, which I do not agree with.

I would have to believe most, if not all of us, would gladly help out another human being in an emergency situation.
 
Bargle said:
Of course I would let anyone use my phone if they asked, because: Every single person in this thread is a horrible person. You are venal, oblivious to your own cruelty, and shallow. The only time anyone would ask to use a phone is for help. Sad, sad, sad...
Click to expand...

Wow, for someone who referred to Jesus later in this thread you certainly are making a big judgment call on others. I'd suggest removing that big ole' plank from your own eye before trying to remove the speck of dust in the eyes of others. According to the belief you adhere to hypocrites are in even bigger trouble than other sinners so I'd work on that if I were you.

Criminals prey on the kindness of others and nowadays with all the personal information contained on one's cellphone, I would be cautious handing mine over to a complete stranger. Names and phone numbers and addresses of family and friends, personal photos, banking info, etc., and you've not only given them a cellphone, but a way to steal your identity and others as well.

If an emergency situation came up I would call someone for them or the police/ambulance if need be. Is that Good Samaritan enough for you?
 
dazedxar said:
I always let them use it, but I have to dial the number for them to make sure they need to make a call.

With how expensive iphones are, I would guess no one here allow any strangers to use their phone.
Click to expand...

and if they drop and ruin you phone?

Sorry but I NEVER would allow a stranger to use my phone.

Where do you hang out, at bus stops?:confused:

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Bargle said:
You don't understand irony, unless you happen to be a poor soul in need of pity? Because nothing about a Good Samaritan says you can't call someone out on ********.

The Good Samaritan isn't mother Theresa, it's someone willing to help someone others won't help. Nothing about calling jerks, jerks.

You are a jerk who wraps his cruelty and distrust in a veneer of worldliness. Perhaps some Good Samaritan will come by and explain irony to you...

Don't worry, I'd still let you borrow my telephone. If doing the right thing were easy, Jesus wouldn't have needed to make a parable on the subject now would he?
Click to expand...

I doubt that your Jesus would approve of your words and would not like you at all.:cool:
 
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