My last two trips to Home Depot, in a relatively affluent area, loading somewhat large, heavy things into my car, which I'm quite capable of handling:
1) Man stops starts to handle my items says he'll help. I say, no thanks, I've got this. He walks away in a huff, calls me a bitch.
2) Man stops starts to handle my items says he'll help. Given the recent bitch incident, I let him load 2 items while I do the rest. I say thank you. He asks for money.
Next time I leave Home Depot by myself with anything big/heavy I'm gonna ask for someone to come load for me. I do not need any of this aggro!
Wow, and they say chivalry isn't dead.
A few weeks ago, I helped an old lady at the Dollar Tree get her purchases to her car. This particular store didn't have any kind of automatic-opening door, and there was no ramp off the curb, to get your shopping cart down, so I figured she'd have a rough go at it, and offered to help her out.
She took me up on my offer, and seemed really sweet and grateful about it. I helped her get the stuff out of the cart and into the trunk, and took the cart back into the store for her.
Afterwards though, it did get me wondering, if I really did the right thing. On one hand, I'm glad I happened to be there, and was able to help her out. And, if she had declined, I certainly wouldn't have tried to push the issue. But, at the same time, for all she knew I could have been some kind of thug, robber, serial killer, or anyone else who didn't have her best interests at heart. So I hope my kindness didn't end up setting her up, to where she might trust the wrong person in the future?
Maybe I'm overthinking it, though. I'm sure this lady didn't make it through 70-80 years of life by being naive.
One thing that bothers me too, is how it seems like men these days get overly sensitive and offended when a woman feels uncomfortable, threatened, or whatever. For instance, how a woman might walk on the other side of the street, lock her car door, or clutch her purse a little tighter, when she feels like there might be a threat. My attitude on that is, while I know I'm not a threat, YOU don't know that. So, it's better to be vigilant, than a victim.
Anyway, next time someone offers to help you with something, I hope they're a bit more chivalrous about it!