# Mr. Hitchhiker, if you really want a ride you might rethink your look. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 8, 2006, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924 "2006-08-08T21:51:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/41 "2006-08-09T16:34:44Z")
[QUOTE=nameless] A few weeks ago, I saw a group of eight people attempting to hitchhike at once. [/QUOTE] Were they [Egyptian students?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=383291) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/42 "2006-08-09T17:24:00Z")
I don’t pick up _any_ hitchhikers. Especially Mormon missionaries. 🙂 And on the flip side, try not to accept rides from people who look like [this.](http://www.mayhem.net/Crime/lucas.html) ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/43 "2006-08-09T18:27:12Z")
I once knew a very energetic young guy who was planning to be a minister. He told me he frequently picked up hitchhikers in order to witness to them. Captive audience, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/44 "2006-08-09T18:51:01Z")
Alright, don’t get into a car with someone who looks like [this](http://www.faithcenteredresources.com/images/benny-hinn-website.jpg) either. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/45 "2006-08-09T18:56:52Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] Touche, although I was thinking more of Manson than Jesus. If I saw a guy with a halo and a glow around him thumbing a ride I would definitely stop. [/QUOTE] [Concerned wife]Sweetie, given the proximity of Three Mile Island to where you work, I’d rethink the “glowing” part if I were you.[/CW] Robin ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/46 "2006-08-09T19:30:48Z")
Shit. Whenever I hitchhike I forget and leave my blonde wig, prosthetic D-cup tits, and Daisey Duke hotpants at home. And I usually forget to shave the happy trail off of my belly. I’m such a douchebag. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/47 "2006-08-10T05:14:23Z")
[QUOTE=Eleanor of Aquitaine] I once knew a very energetic young guy who was planning to be a minister. He told me he frequently picked up hitchhikers in order to witness to them. Captive audience, you know. [/QUOTE] Was his name Caleb? ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/48 "2006-08-10T13:36:37Z")
[QUOTE=Aesiron] Was his name Caleb? [/QUOTE] No. So I guess there are at least two guys out there doing this. Hitchhikers beware. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/49 "2006-08-10T16:30:13Z")
One of my favorite quotes is from a failed hitchhiker: “It’s hard to get a ride when you have a tatoo on your face.” ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/50 "2006-08-10T17:00:39Z")
You know, you see in every zombie/slasher/horror/instructional video ever made that both hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers is a sure-fire way to get killed, but does anyone actually have statistics on it? Everyone on here just talks about it as scary but ultimately ok. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/51 "2006-08-10T17:04:56Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] You know, you see in every zombie/slasher/horror/instructional video ever made that both hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers is a sure-fire way to get killed, but does anyone actually have statistics on it? Everyone on here just talks about it as scary but ultimately ok. [/QUOTE] Hey, some real-life examples like Aileen Wuarnos are enough to scare some folks. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/52 "2006-08-11T05:43:49Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] A shower and a washing machine at a truck stop costs $10, tops. [/QUOTE] Fuck that! I can get a CASE of Natural Ice and have $1.01 change! (good for 2 ‘up-closies’ at the strip joint- sorry bout that slim tip on the second one! 😃 ) ---
**Author:** ![motomoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@motomoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/motomoon)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/53 "2006-08-11T07:03:35Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] You know, you see in every zombie/slasher/horror/instructional video ever made that both hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers is a sure-fire way to get killed, but does anyone actually have statistics on it? Everyone on here just talks about it as scary but ultimately ok. [/QUOTE] No stats here, but I once knew a guy that had a giant scar across his neck. He was hitching with his friend, was picked up by a pair of guys. Eventually the guy was asked by the driver to take over wheel duty. Well, it seems that the guy said something the former-driver didn’t like so he tried to slit the guys throat! While he was driving no less. This happened in Mississippi, when the police came the and hauled the guy off the police basically told the guy “don’t worry about court, this guy’s going away” The guy never had to testify or anything, the driver was just “disappeared.” This was in the early 70’s. Kind of reverse of the norm. The scar was wicked and the guy was very lucky to have survived, I guess he didn’t feel a thing though. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/54 "2006-08-15T16:54:54Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] You know, you see in every zombie/slasher/horror/instructional video ever made that both hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers is a sure-fire way to get killed, but does anyone actually have statistics on it? Everyone on here just talks about it as scary but ultimately ok. [/QUOTE] You fool! OF COURSE the people who have their throats slashed or their brains eaten stop posting! They’re underrepresented in this thread! Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/55 "2006-08-15T17:06:37Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] You, too? Ah, the good ol’ days! Peace, man. [/QUOTE] Hitchhiking was my primary mode of transporation from '70 to '73. Nowadays, I’m a scaredy-cat. I only pick up women. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/56 "2006-08-16T02:12:37Z")
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF] A shower and a washing machine at a truck stop costs $10, tops. Considering how it’s wall to wall truck stops where I live it’s not too hard to put two and two together. [/QUOTE] And how are they supposed to get to the truck stops? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924/57 "2006-08-17T23:26:18Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] You know, you see in every zombie/slasher/horror/instructional video ever made that both hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers is a sure-fire way to get killed, but does anyone actually have statistics on it? Everyone on here just talks about it as scary but ultimately ok. [/QUOTE] No stats on it, but a few good cases. I can remember the name of one famous group in Oklahoma-Roger Dale Stafford, hitchiking with wife-killed a family of three. Then, he and wife and brother murdered 8 people in a steakhouse. Another one that I remember from a video in acorrections class that I was in-hitchiker gets picked up-when they take a bathroom break, the hitcher just decided to kill the guy. I think that there are some famous ones out there, but I can’t remember any more. hh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mr-hitchhiker-if-you-really-want-a-ride-you-might-rethink-your-look/367924.md?page=2)