to tell you that despite all the hateful threads here, some people are kind

[TheBigJessie]

That despite all the divisiveness stirred up by the government and their lackeys, some people are kind.

I have Asperger's Syndrome, and this evening I went to London and on the tube for the first time, in order to attend an Open University tutorial. I am pretty high-functioning in all things, but I have a few quirks. And one of those things is a phobia of stepping on downward going escalators. I'm fine with upwards ones. Well, these days I am. Not always though- my mother once had a traumatic day in a department store after she ended up at the top of an escalator without her toddler

Anyway, so everything was fine on the way into London. On the way back, I discovered I couldn't find a lift to get down...

I was standing there, trying to force myself on to the escalatot, sobbing, and trying to suppress a full meltdown.

A man came up to me, and without judgment, even though I don't have any visible disabilities, offered to help me on. And he did.

I'm sitting here, waiting for the my train to arrive, thank to him, and I'm still sobbing out of sheer gratitude that someone just helped me like that. He didn't ask why I needed it; he didn't laugh at me. He just saw my terror and helped.

[MurderOfBanshees]

That's wonderful :)

[nennypops]

That's great, thanks for telling us. What a lovely man.

[Poshnosh]

What a lovely man :)

[lifeishunkydory]

As the mother of a teenager with Aspergers that has made my day and, by the sound of it, yours

[FreudiansSlipper]

there are far more nice people about then not so nice people :) just needs more of us to take that little step further out of our own world that we sometimes are so wrapped up in

hope your tutorial went well :)

[Purplefrogshoe]

What a lovely man

[nogravitarse]

Ah that's great stuff. When something like that happens, you just want to tell the world. x

[HappyHalloweenMollyHooper]

Awwch! That's so nice.

You know, in a movie you would both meet again and fall in love. :o

[DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved]

I'm really glad that happened... And I'm glad you told me / is on here too.

The nasty things I hear from here and everywhere far outweigh the good and it really gets me down.

In the same spirit:

• three Polish builders were incredibly nice and moved fencing and wood and gates and put a ramp down so I could get past the building site and across the road on my mobility scooter. They were kind and quick and lovely... Big big deal to me, as often have to double back and sometimes just go home due to people obstructing lowered kerbs.

[loveandsmiles]

Thanks for sharing x

[LilRedWG]

Lovely. :)

[Nombrechanger]

That's a great post, OP.

It's good to hear a nice story for a change!

[puntasticusername]

That's a great story. Bit teary myself now

AIBU to ask: was he hot, and if so I hope you got his number

[Threalamandaclarke]

Thanks sharing that today thebigjessie

[TheBigJessie]

Lol, I'm married. I didn't notice!

Also, oh crap, forgot to NC when made thread.

[HappyHalloweenMollyHooper]

Don't worry about that, it's a lovely thread. :)

[Wannabestepfordwife]

What a lovely man! I really do think there are more nice people out there then twats

[TheBigJessie]

And the tutorial went well, thanks! Turns out have not forgotten everything of chosen subject after doing absolutely no work over summer. This astonishes me but husband will say I told you so.

Oh dear, he's going to say I told you so about how I always assume there will be a lift too, as well. I'll have to let him teach me how to get down the fucking 20th century tech with out throwing a fit at him. Where's the ?

[puntasticusername]

Hey, I never said get his number for yourself necessarily

Glad it all went well!

[marriedinwhiteisback]

If you google TFL - there's now a list of stations with lifts and there are lots now. DD doesn't like down escalators either but can cope with the tube ones now - she's a teeny bit quirky.

We're all grand in Big London you know - don't believe the rumours :).

Glad you were helped.

[LittleMissGerardBOOOOOtler]

Aww that's lovely :)

[lessonsintightropes]

Lovely to hear, here's some as requested. Also and

[CarefulUpThere]

Down escalators used to freak me out too, in my case is to do with fear of heights. I did get used to them in the end! When I first moved to London I used to try to time getting on so I was standing behind a tall person to block my view down. This only works when it is busy though...

What a nice story to share.

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

Awwww What a good thing he was there - maybe he has someone in his family with a loathing of escalators or something and "just knew" you needed a hand. My DiL has AS and I am always worrying away about "stuff" (almost always unfounded) and it is so lovely to know that there are still some helpful, kind and caring people out there
And well done you for making it there and back - I would never go to London, let alone on the tube, alone - the very thought terrifies me I have a trainophobia and just couldn't do it

[Galena]

Lovely! I went to London with a school friend when we were about 15 and she also couldn't go onto down escalators. We walked miles on our way back to the station to get our train home because they all had escalators and no matter what I did I couldn't help her on.