THE ART AND HORROR OF HITCHHIKING
So you wanted to travel hundreds of kilometers without spending a dime on transport. You figured out that in order to get a free ride sometimes having a thumb is enough. You googled websites such as Hitchwiki and learned some useful tips from more experienced hikers. Next day in the moring you rolled up your sleeves, raised your thumb up, and tried to lure any vehicle that passed by.
WHEN YOUR THUMB FAILED
Soon one gracious dark blue Volvo female driver stopped at your signal and allowed you to get comfy in the front seat. She gave you a ride until the point she had to go in other direction and you got off. Ok, then you had to wait for another lift. This time it was a metallic gold VW Golf that stopped. You got in the front seat and thanked the driver. In return, the driver pulled out his kitchen knife and thanked you for getting in. Suddenly, you woke up and thanked God that it was only a dream.
I don't want to bellittle the risk, but in my opinion hitchhiking is something that restores your faith in people and moreover it is the ultimate adventure. There's always a chance you can get attacted on the street, on the train or at your own home. But how likely is that the car you stop is driven by a sociopath?
THE CASE IS RARE BUT HORRENDOUS
Discussion points:
Have you experienced any unusual hitch-hiking stories?
Would you pick up hitch-hikers?
Sources:
YouTube: Lessons in Hitchhiking - It Happend One Night (7/8) Movie CLIP (1934)
Wikipedia: Screen-shot of film: The Hitch-Hiker (1953). Actors: Frank Lovejoy, William Talman, and Edmond O'Brien.
I've never experienced any unusual hitch-hiking stories, I've always met friendly people who drove me even further than I wanted. But I use that kind of transport very rarely because I'm scared. It is caused by stories that I've heard from my friend. She told me that some guy started to be pushy and groped her and also other stories that I've heard in TV. I think that I would pick up hitch-hikers if I won't be alone in the car and if that person will look normal.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Alice, but how to recognize someone who looks normal, but he isn't normal. Nowadays everyone can be dangerous. I heard one story about hitch-hiking from my friend. He stopped to hitch a young woman. She looks very nice and normal. The whole journey they talked. When they were almost there and he went to the station to pay for fuel, she disappeared. When he finally arrived he saw that his laptop disappeared too. :)
ReplyDeleteI with my mom used hitch-hiking sometimes when I was a child to arrive at our dacha. I remember that everyone who pick up us was very pleasent and kind person, but every time I felt myself little afraid of.
ReplyDeleteNow I don't use this kind of transport but I realy want to believe that the world isn't so spoiled. I wish we could trust to people. I know that it sound very idealistic but I believe that we see in people what we want to see.
But I never will hitch-hike by myself with one man in a car :)
I traveled using hitch-hiking. It was two years ago. I traveled to Spain with my friend. It was good adventure but it wasn't dangerous. We met a lot of good people who want to help as. They was very intrested our life stories.
ReplyDeleteI think that I would take hitch-hikers. Becaus I tried it on my skin.
None of my friends or family have ever used hitch-hiking, so I didn't hear any stories about it. I would never pick up someone, I would be to scared that he or she may be a serial killer or something like that. With my luck that probably would happen.
ReplyDeleteI would take that risk, If I had a room in my car. Probably because I used to hitchhike, too. I was hitchhiking across the Europe few years back, never had bad experiences with the drivers either. I learned to interact with people in different way and It gave me a bit of idealism and hope in people.
ReplyDeleteI've never had hitchhiking story. I would never go to a strangers car. I Would only pick up a female hitch-hikers because they are less dangerous then the male, it could be very risky
ReplyDeleteI am afraid of picking up hitch-hikers,when I'm alone in car,but I remember that when I was younger,my parents used to pick up some hitch hikers.Once,when we were on holiday in Greece.They told us about interesting places and some stories connected with the city.
ReplyDeleteHitchhiking may be very interesting, but risky too. I personally haven't had any interesting experience with this way of travelling, but I know that can give us a occasion to meet with interesting people and places. However we sholud be careful. This also applies a picking up. I would picking up hitch-hickers only if I wouldn't be alone in the car.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard any interesting stories about hitch-hiking. I also have never used this kind of transport because it's to risky for me. Nowdays we can hear lots of stories about hitch-hiking in television and read about it in internet. Opinions on this matter are divided. I agree that it's an adventure and oportunity to meet new nice people but it's also occasion to lose your life. It's well known that you can't trust anyone, especially strangers...
ReplyDeleteI agree with this article. We don't know what kind of person we meet in a car. We shouldn't alone hitchhiking. Better option is traveling by bus with friends. In this way we can also spend joyfully travel, too.
ReplyDeleteI have never experienced any hitch-hiking story but one of my best friends went hitch-hiking this summer and she and the guy who picked her up are now in a relationship.
ReplyDeleteI think I wouldn't be brave enough to pick up a hitch-hiker, I would not feel comfortable with a stranger in a car. It is hard for me to trust that it would not be someone who wants to hurt me.
I've heard a lot about hitch-hiking although I've never done it.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend have drowe with strangers whole country this summer. He said that it had been the best adventure and great opportunity to test his independence and feel like an "real" adult for a while, depending only on himself.
For me it is too scary, not becouse of dangerous people but becouse I haven't got a hitch-hiker's nature
Like a friend above me, I've tried this kind of transport. But honestly, I have to say that then I didn't have another option. I went to Sweden. I arrived at 10 pm, all the buses which were going to the city (because the airport was in the distance of 15/20 km) had gone. I had to get to the city centre and I was so desperated that I go on the road and raised my thumb up. Of course, I was really scared. However, I thought that Sweden is so safe country and if something happens to me there, I will doubt in safety places in the world. I didn't take so long until a car stopped next to me. And-guess what- it was a car, which was full of Poles! It was so nice!
ReplyDeleteI think hitch-hiking is not for me. I wouldn't be able to get into a strange car and drive straight ahead. It's too dangerous for me. I like to feel safe with a person who drives a car and it is possible only when I know this person a little. On the other hand, there are people who really like it and very often use it and I absolutely admire them. Maybe I'd take a hitchhiker if I was not alone in the car but it's really hard to say.
ReplyDeleteAbout hitchhiking I don’t know a lot, but my father is a lorry driver and he has a habit of taking some people into his car. He sometimes tells stories about people he met and most of the time these stories are very absorbing. Once he discovered, that a young girl he wanted to help, was juvenile and that she went for a trip (a date with her boyfriend exactly) without her parents’ knowledge. Of course, he called them and they took her home. He couldn’t live with an awareness that maybe he helped this young lady to spend a romantic time with her boyfriend, but also with leaving her parents with a fear about their irresponsible daughter...
ReplyDeleteI’ve never thought about giving somebody a lift. But why not?
I hichhiked only one time in my life, when I was abaut ten years old. Me and my mum had to go to the doctor who was in a nearby town but unfortunately we missed the last bus. Mum decided to hich. We haven't waited for long time and car driving by a men with dark beard stopped and picked us up. It emerged that he had tattoo on whole his arms and neck. He looked like a criminal. We were terrified during that tour but in teh end our driver turned out to be very sympathetic and cheerful person. He dropped us at the hospital and promise that he would pray for our health. Our marvel at the end was as huge as fear at the begining of our trip. It was a good exaple that we should never judge a person by their looks
ReplyDeleteI've never hitchhiked. I fear for my safety. I don't drive by taxi when it is only 20-30 kilometres to home. And I can't imagine drive with stranger through 200 kilometres for example.
ReplyDeleteI hitch-hiked only three time in my life because if I had had opportunity to chose another way of transport I always did it. General I think that all depends on conditions of travelling. In my opinion travelling alone by hitch-hiking, especially being woman (especially atractive woman!) is't wise decision. Men' have easier task but independently of sex it's good to be extra careful.
ReplyDeleteI would love to try it someday. I guess it must be a really good experiance and a great oppotunity to make some new friends. Altohugh we have to take under cosideration all safety issues beacause we never know who is sitting in front of the steering wheel.
ReplyDeleteI've never hitch-hiked yet but last days I became encouraged to try it. My friend who is an avid traveller told me some stories of hers that made me think hitch-hiking is a tremendous way to get new acquaintances. In fact both, the hitch-hiker and the one who gives a lift are supposed to be trustworthy and supportive, they both get a chance to prove their kindness. In my opinion it's one of few ways to look into each other while talking and having one, unrepeatable joined adventure.
ReplyDeleteLet's not assume that evil lurks round each uncrowded corner!
I have never hitch-hiked because I think it's not safe. I think I would pick up hitchhiker but just woman. I can't imagine that I would spend much time in car with unknown person. It can be really dangerous for me.
ReplyDelete