But I still put a lot of faith in people
I am a trusting person - some say too trusting. More times than not, it has bitten me in the ass (or maybe we just remember the poor outcomes because of the sting?), but I still hold on to faith in people.
I was driving near downtown early the other morning (6am or so) when a woman hailed me. I stopped the cab and she got in. She asked me if I was going to the south side, to which I (as would most cab drivers) replied "I can." (You know - it's your dime!) That's when she replied, "I don't have any money...". As I am starting to tell her to get out, I stop myself, since she did bring this fact up before we started moving, I would at least hear her out. She said that she had just come from one of the hospitals in town (which was about 2 miles from where I picked her up) after one of her three weekly dialysis treatments. She said she had been walking, since budget cuts had done away with transportation, and would appreciate a couple of blocks in the general direction. I have experience in the medical field, having been in emergency services for 10 years and having worked in a hospital, so I could have questioned her to see if the story was true, but what's the point - It would still be time wasted, and I was driving around waiting for a fare - plus she got points because of her 'heads-up' about lack of money. I dropped her at her house and in return received numerous thank-you's and a grape soda! The trip was maybe a mile, and it was a slow point in the shift.
I am glad to help out people who genuinely need it.