Facebook Posts about unable to pay for shopping so the lady behind paying...?

[WhatsUpHun]

i keep seeing posts on FB saying things like

I was in SUPERMARKET around X yesterday eve and was at the scan and go check out ready to pay when I entered my pin incorrectly 3 times blocking my card. There was a lady next to me who saw what happened and asked if I was ok. I explained what had happened and without question she put her bank card into the machine and paid for my shopping. I told her I would transfer the money straight into her account and she said no and would not give me her details to do it. She said merry Christmas. And walked off. I would love to find this lady even if it’s just to show my appreciation as she didn’t have to do what she did. I am very grateful for what she did. There really are some amazing people around

but i cannot work out if this is some kind of spam? thats going around, and whats the point of it? (unless its trying to get people to be nicer to each other?)

I don't shout about doing it on fb but each time i donate blood i share a please donate post. I have helped people here and there but aren't naive about scammers (i hope).

The people i see bigging it up on fb are in it for the attention. One friend Instagrams herself donating a few pennies a time and is dramatic about how on the breadline she is she's bloody well not and how much the praise keeps her doing it. Sadly, her followers have no idea but she wants enough traffic as she's been told she can then sell her account for £££.

And some lovely couple gave me mints and tissues during my mornkng sickness on the tube.

I sprayed some random guys windscreen with de-icer yesterday when we both got back from the late london train - might post that on FB.

Actually, he was delighted and I felt good. I've done far more important things and don't talk about them either. I think 'pay it forward' is a good idea

I do believe in pay it forward and acts of kindness.
I can't stand people putting it on social media though.

Be kind and don't brag about it is the simple principle, otherwise are you really being altruistic or more concerned with getting 'aww ur so sweet hun' comments.

I'm sure there are a lot of lies/scams on Facebook, but people can be really kind, although I guess that those who are kindest don't say too much about it. I'm sometimes guilty of telling people something sort of nice that I did and then I feel like I'm on of the Pharisees off of the Bible or something (n.b. lapsed Catholic who knows the Bible inside out, well most of it anyway, and who still gets the whole Catholic guilt thing because that little bastard never truly goes away). I try to stay quiet about things mostly because what's the point of doing it if you're going to brag about it. I find that there is enough joy in helping without making a big deal about how helpful you are.

As for the kindness of strangers, well there's a lot of it about. A poster here PM-ed me about a month ago to offer me help wt to something I'd posted. Her name was anonymous in the message, I don't know who she was and I couldn't possibly have accepted her offer, but the kindness touched me very, very deeply.

I once helped a very, very drunk man get across a road on NYE. He was so pissed that he was crawling on his hands and knees and his trousers were nearly round his ankles! I made sure he didn't get run over. I didn't go as far as pulling his jeans up for him though. Facebook wasn't around then, but if it was I reckon I would have told everyone

@Greenkangaroo I think you sound lovely.

It was me she gave the £185 to. Still got it tucked in my knickers.

PS. I have often been deeply touched, as my therapist remarked.

I have paid towards a stranger's shopping before, as they were short. It didn't go on Facebook, as I didn't have it then, and even were I do it again, I still wouldn't post about it.

However, the friend who was with at the time, did post about it Facebook, claiming she was the one who had paid. With me not having FB at the time, she obviously thought she'd get away with it, but another friend said to me, "oh my, wasn't Jane an angel, helping pay for that lady's shopping on Saturday." I didn't tell our friend the truth, there and then, but I told Jane I knew what she'd done, and told her she needed to come clean. I don't do things for admiration, or expecting credit, but I sure as hell wasn't going to let someone else get fawned over for something I had done. Cheeky mare.

Several times I've seen people pay for strangers shopping. It's always been for just a few items and mostly women paying on behalf of younger women with children or for older women. It's been for basic necessities, nappies, milk formula or sanitary protection.

In the past, I've had strangers offer to buy small treats for my daughter when I've told her I can't afford it.

It's always been done very discretely. There are kind people out there.

@greenkangaroo well done! I think you’ve done some wonderful things which were massively appreciated by the recipients.
Ignore the haters-some people are born cynical and I hope they are never in need.
One of my random act of kindness still makes me giggle almost 30 years later-had just gone to M&S in my lunch break for some Friday night goodies-wine, sour cream crisps, olives, dips, profiteroles etc and came out to see a young homeless lad outside. Felt compelled to give him my shopping. Poor lad must have emptied it and thought “what the buggery bollocks is this shite?” 😂😂
I’m more thoughtful with my giving as I’ve got older 😂 x

I did this at Easter, so does happen in real life! A lady had her purse stolen and only noticed as she went to pay and was very upset. I paid for her trolly load of shopping and walked off. I haven’t really told ppl about it other than my husband.

Why shouldn’t you give people your parking tickets? I always would, never knew it was a No no. There’s such a thing as ‘like farming’ on Facebook by scammers apparently but I’ve no idea what the exact purpose is. I think it’s normally pages that have fake competitions. There was one circulating recently with a dodge looking guy pretending to be the CEO of centre parcs, despite the fact that anyone can look up who the real CEO of centre parcs is immediately . As for RAOK, they definitely happen. I’ve done a few myself.

I paid the remaining amount on the lady in front of me's shopping, it was around 20p and my mate and I were on our lunch break and her faffing around was eating into our flexi-time . The cashier thanked me (the lady in front didn't)

When I was young, perhaps 10, I was shopping with my sister and a friend and they were buying a 'funky belt' (it was the 80's) and I was upset that I couldn't afford one. A lady said, I'll buy it for you, and did. I was totally made up! I will do the same for others now as I still remember how nice she made me feel.

Well this actually happened to me recently. Grabbing lunch in Subway, I was eating mine already while husband ordered his and then we realised we had left the bank card at home - over 2 hours drive away! The shop assistant was useless and it as terribly embarrassing.

The guy behind me just paid. I got his number and transferred him the money by bank transfer that evening (actually I transferred double the amount to say thanks!).

I'd totally do the same. I do randomly kind things from time to time.

Why do you find this hard to believe?

Things like this do happen: my DH paid for an old boys shopping the other day in Aldi.

If you're cynical it's probably because you've never done something like this.

Try it, it will change your world view.

I'm sure it happens occasionally in real life but I really don't believe the vast majority of these viral Good Deed things I see on FB. Most of them are made up to get people sharing, so the advertising keeps flowing nicely.

There was one on Twitter this week about a Bridezilla sending out a dress code to her guests for her upcoming wedding in Hawaii. It involved them wearing green velvet tops, orange trousers and red-soled Laboutins, so that when all the guests did their choreographed dance on the beach, the colours would create an amazing effect. Then they were told they needed to spend at least $1000 for their evening wear so they didn't make the evening party look cheap.

Very entertaining, but I didn't believe a word of it.

Some people help complete strangers (the good Samaritan) with no expectation of getting any benefit from their kind acts. They quietly help others.

Other people are much more mercenary. They don't help anyone without a reward or public acknowledgement. They broadcast their good deeds.

I think the people that don't believe in other's generosity are those that wouldn't help a stranger.

I was in a shop and the young boy in front of me was counting out a mass of change to pay for a Mothers Day card, a mug and a little teddy. He was red-faced and mortified when he was £1.30 short and offered to put the teddy back. I gave him the money and he couldn't thank me enough. I didn't tell anyone though.

It's not even necessarily altruistic - if paying for the person in front gets the queue moving again, it might be worth it, depending on how much of a hurry you're in.

I’ve done it a few times for exactly that reason.

couldn't help but go audibly 'aww' to that tilly

I paid for an old ladies shipping once. She’d fkrgotten her purse. It was not a large amount. She had essentials. Like bread and milk. Not wine etc. She was distraught. I paid it. Told her not too worry. But came back to shop a few days later and she’s left it for me. She was on holiday here and came back and made sure I got it back

It does happen

I never told anyone though. But that episode on friends always got me thinking

Is there such a thing as a selfless good deed?!?