Picking a walking stick up for an elderly stranger?

[MRSDoos]

Just want others opinions on this

I saw a elderly man drop his walking stick and I grabbed it for him, he seemed grateful and said “thank you”

I heard someone in the queue behind me say to their friend “I wouldn’t of done that, covid and all this flu that’s going around” and suddenly felt a bit bad

I’m not sure if she meant me passing anything onto him or him passing anything onto me but now I’m questioning if I should of touched it. He seemed quite frail so not sure if he would of managed himself getting it off the floor anyway

I know this isn’t a big deal but just wanted to know what you would of done

I would have done as you did and picked it up for him.

I think you did the right thing. If he's out and about I don't think you touching his stick will make him any more at risk.

I would have done the same as you, without hesitation.

Thank you. I didn’t think of this, you’re right!

If he needs a stick to help him walk chances are he would not be good at getting it up off the floor.

Either of you can wash or sanitise your hands if you want.

I'd have picked it up . Anyone with any common sense and decency would.

I wonder how stupid people like the person you heard manage to breathe in and out quite frankly

@ilovesooty Its the fact she tutted at me as well that made me instantly feel bad

The person commenting was an idiot

I’d have done the same as you.

Person who commented is ridiculous

She wouldn't have done it because she's a shitty person, nothing to do with COVID.
I'd have picked it up without hesitation. You did a kind thing.

What a ridiculous comment. I absolutely would have done the same as you Op.

Colds, flu and Covid are airborne, surface transmission isn't really a major factor. You're not going to make him sick by handing him his stick.

Well , the person who made the comment would look a right knob if they'd just stood there and not helped
You definitely did the right thing @MRSDoos

Definitely this!

I would be more concerned that someone would watch a person struggle to pick up a walking stick, who was able to help them.

I can’t believe this is even a debate. Or course you should have picked it up for him

Of course you did the right thing. The person making the comment..... what an idiot aren't they breathing the same air as others....all those germs.

The person who tutted sounds a right berk who just has to criticise others regardless.The elderly gentleman is obviously unsteady on his feet hence the walking stick, if you hadn't picked it up for him he might have stumbled, fell over and ended up with a broken hip or something.

Of course you did the right thing.

the numpty muttering away is totally lacking in compassion and empathy and is a poor excuse of a human being.

Who the hell would watch an elderly person drop a walking stick and stand by and do nothing? Obviously, someone with a walking stick is going to have issues with mobility and probably wouldn't be able to bend down and pick it up easily and people would just stand and watch?

I truly despair

What an unkind idiot. I you hadn't kindly picked it up he could have hurt himself trying to retrieve it from the floor.

This would never have been an issue pre covid!! People like her who believe that you're going to pass on flu or covid with a single touch of a walking stick, that then the man has to touch, and transfer to his mouth and then be enough viral load to actually make him ill... She's feckin bonkers!!!! How does she think he collects his meds from the pharmacy? Many people will have touched that. Shopping, getting on the bus, eating food at a cafe etc etc. People are MAD!

I’m not elderly but I’ve always had people offer to get my stick when I’ve dropped it. Sometimes I take them up on the offer as some days are worse than others.
just like I’d do the same if possible.

"I did something charitable. Was I wrong?" wide eyes

My elderly father had a fall the other day and two kind young women walked him back to his sheltered housing, one supporting him by the arm and the other carrying his shopping. Presumably the idiot in the queue would have stepped over him.