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AIBU?

I wanted a jump start off them, not a bloody transplant kidney.

131 replies

BoysofMelody · 26/07/2017 19:09

Came back to the car after a visit to the shops, turned the key and .... nothing.

Thankfully I had my trusty jump leads in the back of the car. Opened the bonnet, stuck the hazard flashers on and stood by my car with the jump leads. Forty fucking minutes I stood there waiting on a relatively busy street by a shopping centre and cars were streaming by. At first it was quite amusing watching people driving by avoiding eye contact or making a big show of looking at their watch and looking apologetic. Well the novelty soon wore off. I'm a member of the AA, but an hour to two hour wait didn't appeal much.

Eventually a lovely Italian couple on holiday stopped and helped, they were amazed how long I'd had to wait before someone stopped. They claimed in Italy, you'd be helped pretty much in an instant.

Is it just people being selfish arses, or perhaps not knowing what a pair of jumper leads look like (perhaps they thought I had a huge pair of oversized nipple clamps in my hand? Surely learning how to jump start a car is something everyone learns at some point?

Or did they think it was a scam or robbery attempt? It was in broad daylight, with loads of passersby and CCTV coverage.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 26/07/2017 19:11

So you expected passers by the be psychic and guess you needed help?

Majora · 26/07/2017 19:11

...Did you ask or just sit and hope somebody would approach you? They probably thought you were waiting for someone.

GreenTulips · 26/07/2017 19:11

perhaps they thought I had a huge pair of oversized nipple clamps in my hand?

I'd do now!

Snap8TheCat · 26/07/2017 19:12

I wouldn't know you needed help.

Batfurger · 26/07/2017 19:13

YANBU but most women think it's charming to know fuck all about cars and most men actually don't so don't want to embarrass themselves by being no fucking use.

Fucking embarrassing. I'd have
Stopped op

MinnowAndTheBear · 26/07/2017 19:14

Were you trying to flag people down? I would assume that you were waiting for someone.

BrightYellowStripes · 26/07/2017 19:14

How were they supposed to know you wanted them to stop and help you?
How were they to know you hadn't called the AA?

How were they to know you weren't waiting for a friend etc?

StarryCorpulentCunt · 26/07/2017 19:15

I can't believe how long you waited but I wouldn't stop if I was alone in case it was just a trick to get people out of their cars. You do hear of it happening unfortunately and I know my mum's car wouldn't cope with jump starting another so she wouldn't have stopped either. It barely manages to start itself some mornings.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 26/07/2017 19:16

You need to ask people.

Standing there like that you would have looked like you were waiting for a specific person to drive over to you.

AA/RAC will say it's a long wait, but I've never actually had to wait long (cam belt went last time, so jump leads wouldn't cut it!😖)

UsedtobeFeckless · 26/07/2017 19:17

The last time l stopped for someone in your position it killed my battery too and we were both stuck until a noble white van van came and jumped us both ... ( Not like that, behave yourselves ... )

specialsubject · 26/07/2017 19:18

Trouble with offering a jump start to a stranger is some won't listen and it takes seconds to stuff up your car.

So that's why you use your breakdown service. Which is what most would assume you were waiting for.

An hour or two isn't that long really.

UsedtobeFeckless · 26/07/2017 19:18

MAN, not van. Gah!

Cakesprinkles · 26/07/2017 19:24

Sorry there's no way I'd try and jump start someone else's car, I'd worry about knackering mine. I am also totally non-mechanically minded, which is why I pay an extortionate amount of money in AA fees every month, and rely on my dad and/or DH to sort out any car related issues.

pasturesgreen · 26/07/2017 19:27

If you were just stood there, I'd have assumed you were waiting for the AA or a friend.

And if I were alone in the car I wouldn't have stopped, even in broad daylight.

CouldntMakeThisShitUp · 26/07/2017 19:28

Surely learning how to jump start a car is something everyone learns at some point?

So why haven't you?

caffeinestream · 26/07/2017 19:29

Did you flag anyone down or ask? It sounds like you just stood there, so I would have assumed you were waiting for someone.

CockacidalManiac · 26/07/2017 19:29

If you were just stood there, I'd have assumed you were waiting for the AA or a friend

Yeah, me too.

trilbydoll · 26/07/2017 19:31

A man in a van gave me a jump start once and pretty much blew up my car Hmm so I am very wary now. I am also not very observant so unless you leapt on the bonnet brandishing the jump leads chances are I wouldn't notice you were stranded.

sharklovers · 26/07/2017 19:32

There's potential there to damage my own car so I'm fucked if I'm jump starting a strangers car.

Lockheart · 26/07/2017 19:33

Yeah, if you were just standing there I'd have assumed you were waiting for someone specific like a friend or the AA.

I'd have been very happy to stop if you'd been trying to flag someone down. But just standing there wouldn't necessarily indicate to me that you needed help.

steff13 · 26/07/2017 19:34

As with PP, I would have thought you had already called someone, and I'd be afraid is damaging my car. Lots of people don't know the correct way to collect jumper cables.

Idrinkandiknowstuff · 26/07/2017 19:37

Like almost everyone else I'd have assumed you were waiting for a friend.

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bridgetreilly · 26/07/2017 19:37

Also, I think that jump starting modern cars isn't always recommended for reasons I don't fully understand.

Glumglowworm · 26/07/2017 19:38

If you weren't actively trying to ask for help then YABU

People will have their own reasons for not stopping.

You could've called the AA/RAC/whoever and would've had to wait but at least would know someone was coming.

becotide · 26/07/2017 19:39

I'd haveassumed you were waiting for the AA, because that's what they're for. I could in no way have helped you unless you knew exactly what to do.

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