How to be overly nice

what a fun experiment!

You could enter a restaurant and offer to pay for a random person/peoples meals. ( to keep it completely random, select a table number a head of time)

Insist on helping people out with their groceries at the store.

Stand at a newspaper dispenser and every time someone approaches it, ask them which one they need, then buy it and give it to them.

choose a block with parking meters, keep the meters "paid up" for a set time and never let them run out, even if they are unoccupied.

hand flowers out randomly to people on the street.

designate yourself the "operator" for a public elevator. Run the buttons, chat with folks, and offer pieces of gum.

Have fun! What a neat experiment to get to do!

 

I bet you'd also have $998 left at the end of the year.

 

I often pick up hitchhikers. I really doubt that it increases your chances of getting hurt significantly, over the chances of getting hurt simply driving.

Since I travel alone, this is the kind of thing I would appreciate. Some people might interpret it as a come-on, but eating alone in a restaurant is depressing (for me anyway), and I'd regard this as an unusual kindness. I'm far too shy to initiate such an encounter, however.

(I often go places where I'm with a group, but there are always nights alone in a hotel before and/or after.)

I'm not selfless enough to take Octavia's suggestion of giving money away at random, or paying for random people's meals, but on the rare occasion when I find myself eating with casual acquaintances I often pay the bill for the table. And I always pay if I'm at a restaurant with friends.

 

you must have never watched Rutger Hauer, in 'The Hitcher'

 

I once had a random act of nice perpetrated on me. I was walking down a street in NYC (where I don't live) and peeling a candy bar in preparation for its consumption. Seeing no trash can, I kept the wrapper in my hand for half a block until I came upon one, at which point I made my deposit. I was immediately accosted by a woman who insisted on giving me a NYC subway token (for which I had no use). Why? Because I held onto the candy wrapper for half a block instead of littering, and she had somehow managed to observe this.

After reading this thread, I realize that I must have been part of a class experiment, and that dropping stamped letters on the street is too obvious.

Richard

 

At the Golden Gate Bridge Toll Booth it's not unheard of to have the person in front pay for the car behind them. The booth operator will then tell me my toll as paid by the person who just went through. Naturally we take pride in 'paying it forward' and still pay the toll...for the next person. When it happens to me I also ask the toll taker how long this chain has been going on and it's usually quite a while before someone is greedy enough to take without paying forward.

 

Wow, 8 responses and no suggestion of free hugs.

 

If it happens to me, I will pay for the next 10 vehicles. The toll collector will have a "fun" math time. I wonder what will happen.....

Back to original topic. Whenever possible, I help senior folks load stuff at Costco. They really appreciate physical help. Make sure you ask first. Some people may take it as an insult....

 

It's not a selfless as it appears. The secret is, doing nice things for others FEELS GREAT. So really, when I do them, I am doing them for the benefit to me. The fact that it then benefits another is bonus.
I also believe that what you put out into the universe is what you get back. I have had so so so many acts of generosity and kindness directed towards me ... I am truely blessed.

It's not about the amount of money either. One of my favorite things to do I learned from a very VERY poor woman. She puts quarters in the little toy machines in the grocery store and leaves the toy. You know how kids are always checking those things hoping..... Imagine the joy created when they find a free trinket!

 

That is a cool idea. Ann Landers or Dear Abby used to have this thing about " pennies from heaven" where people wwould find a certain penny that would somehow spark a memory based on the year, etc. I often toss my pennies out of the car, leave them in certain places believing that I am "seeding" someones memory.
I was also blessed with kindness when I was a young single parent just moving to California from Vermont with a 4 y/o daughter. Someone left a little Christmas tree on my doorstep. It was the best tree we ever had. I pay it forward today by leaving recycling for those more needy, passing along furniture and such rather than selling it. Money's nice but seeing someones face when they get some small break is really great.

 

I have seen hitchhiker horror movies. And there's a short book called "Serial" (available, I believe, ONLY for the Kindle, and free) about a serial killer who picks up and kills hitchhikers, and a hitchhiker who kills the people who pick her up. The book is about what happens when they meet up, and it is not for the faint of heart.

There is a slight thrill of fear when picking someone up, but my brain tells me that my gut is being silly. And it is definitely an act of kindness.

I agree that it feels good to help others. I get that feeling when I give $5 to a panhandler, although a number of people on this board have as good as called me a murderer, asserting that those guys are all going to drink themselves to death on my five-spot.

But for me, the good feeling comes from helping people who have indicated that they want my help. I don't feel right giving money (or anything of value) to someone who has not asked. With the exception that picking up the tab for the people at your table at a restaurant is socially acceptable, especially insofar as they are generally your friends, or at least acquaintances.

You are obviously less shy than I.

 

I have paid for the coffee of the person behind me in the Starbucks drive through.

Of course, it was someone who was also driving a Prius :thumb:

 

Not at all! Anonymous giving is the most rewarding. One of my favorite features of it is that the receiver is not pressured to like what I've done, or to say thank you. It frees them up to experience the gift however they are comfortable and I get to imagine how they received it any way I like. A total win-win.

I give pan handlers fast food gift cards. I thought I was so smart to think of that until someone told me they do it too... apparently some famous person suggested it.

pfft.

 

Brilliant idea!

I really like this and I have a thing for 2$ bills. Mind if i steal your idea? I'd like to give one to each of my kids too to have in their wallets. Not only does it reward the person doing the good, but it reminds the person holding the card to look for the good.
Brilliant!!!!

 

Well, then you're more generous than I. I am selfish enough to enjoy being thanked. Overall, I think you're a nicer person than I.

(But I'm still a nice guy. I ain't the FSM's gift to women, but I have things to offer to the woman who'd give me a chance. )

 

Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at your nearest Veterans Hospital.
Offer to take "N" of the veterans out for a drive along the beach/in the
mountains/somewhere special to them, and a meal at a restaurant of
their choice.

"N" is a number you can really do.
The vets may be any age from 18 to 80.

If you can't do this, just volunteer for an hour or two.

These men and women gave selflessly when asked. :usa2: :canada: etc.
They are our forgotten heros.

In their situation, is it even possible to be "overly nice?"