# Weird situation: would you have stayed? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369 "2011-09-23T19:19:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/41 "2011-09-23T21:31:51Z")
She made it quite clear that she did not appreciate your presence there. She certainly _should_ have, but she did not. Her call. Now, if she had been polite about it, I would have said to stay. I’ve had similar experiences, by the way, trying to deal with someone so pissed off about something that they’re not willing to put up with someone trying to solve their problem. There’s not really much you can do in such a situation. The sad thing is, such folks will probably never get the opportunity to realize that they’re the reason their life sucks so much. After she got home, she probably told everyone she knows about how terrible it all was, and how about you didn’t try to help her at all, oblivious to the fact that if she had let you, you’d have made everything much easier on her. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/42 "2011-09-23T21:34:18Z")
I think you handled it just fine. You offered her help and then called for it. Anything you provide over and above that is entirely up to you and predicated on the person in distress not heaping abuse on you for not assisting in precisely the manner she demanded. Fuck her if she can’t take a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/43 "2011-09-23T21:34:29Z")
I like to think I would have stayed until the cops arrived… but then I have a low tolerance for taking abuse as well, so I might have done exactly as you did. Hard to say unless it had actually happened to me. Either way, I can’t judge you. It sounds like she pretty much brought a half hour of stuck-arm solitude on herself. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/44 "2011-09-23T21:51:02Z")
You could have offered the use of a bucket or a coffee can or something, if she really had to tinkle that badly. Or, if she were really abusive, go get a bottle of water and a glass and pour the water from one to the other over and over until her problem resolves itself. What I would have done is stayed. That’s the right thing to do. Of course, I would have started talking about that hiker who got his arm trapped, and [how he resolved the situation.](http://hike.mountainzone.com/2003/news/html/030502_amputate-arm.html) Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/45 "2011-09-23T21:55:01Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > …I once saw a guy get his arm stuck in a mailbox downtown. There was so much mail in it that he’d put his hand in there trying to shove some down to make room so his package would fit. Frankly, someone who sticks his arm _and_ his package in the mailbox is just asking for trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/46 "2011-09-23T22:24:56Z")
If she wasn’t a crazy bitch I would have. If she gives me abuse for no reason the rozzers get called and she can wait for them. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/47 "2011-09-23T22:39:46Z")
I’d have stayed, but I’m a doctor who’s become particularly accustomed to having abuse heaped upon me by people that want my help. I’d have made some very pithy comments, though. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/48 "2011-09-23T23:07:29Z")
I would have stayed, but I would have got out a Bible and read whole chapters to her in a Fire and Brimstone type of voice. Probably from Ezekiel, maybe the Revelation. Every now and then, I would stop and do a little jig, yelling out odd sayings in a stereotyped old southern black style, then back to the stentorian Bible reading. Or, I would’ve called 911, told her she shouldn’t be abusive to someone trying to help, and leave. . ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/49 "2011-09-23T23:31:29Z")
Considering she was treating you like crap, i would’ve left, without even calling the police. I just don’t deal with ungrateful bitches. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/50 "2011-09-23T23:36:47Z")
I wouldn’t have called the police unless she showed me some tits. Fuck her for being a total ass. You play nice or I leave without helping ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/51 "2011-09-23T23:49:46Z")
Definitely, I would have stayed. Just to see how long it took the car to eat the rest of her. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/34f0e0/32.png) [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lovely_Margo_Lane)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/52 "2011-09-24T00:21:12Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > I understand why you did not stay. Her behavior towards you was awful. > > However, to me, the situation qualified as an emergency, so I would have handled it differently from the start. She was trapped so she couldn’t move and her arm was swelling. To me, that’s worthy of 911. They probably get plenty of similar calls with people getting stuck in elevators or toddlers sticking their heads through the crib bars. I don’t think calling AAA would have even occurred to me. This exactly. I don’t make a judgement about **kayaker** ’s choice, but were it me I would have called 911 and waited with her. Possibly finding a bucket or something for her to pee in. If she continued with the verbal abuse I’d certainly tell her to cut it out and pull out a book to read instead of talking to her and trying to keep her calm, but no words she said would justify in my mind leaving someone alone in such a scary situation. Also serious ick to the rape jokes. ---
**Author:** ![NGC2024](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f475e1/32.png) [@NGC2024](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NGC2024)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/53 "2011-09-24T00:27:04Z")
> [@The\_Lovely\_Margo\_Lane](#): > > This exactly. I don’t make a judgement about **kayaker** ’s choice, but were it me I would have called 911 and waited with her. Possibly finding a bucket or something for her to pee in. If she continued with the verbal abuse I’d certainly tell her to cut it out and pull out a book to read instead of talking to her and trying to keep her calm, but no words she said would justify in my mind leaving someone alone in such a scary situation. > > Also serious ick to the rape jokes. I heartily second the “serious ick”. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/54 "2011-09-24T00:28:40Z")
“Get back here, motherfucker”??!!? Fuck that noise. I’d have tossed bait on her for the wolves. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/55 "2011-09-24T00:30:06Z")
> [@Shannon](#): > > I heartily second the “serious ick”. Please tell me it was a “pee on her” joke. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/56 "2011-09-24T00:31:22Z")
Toss her a hacksaw. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/57 "2011-09-24T00:47:47Z")
I would have smashed the window. Cost her maybe $150-200 to fix? A small price to pay for freedom. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/58 "2011-09-24T01:37:49Z")
If you’d been there when the police let her out, she’d have demanded that you let her in to use your bathroom. Better to have your place locked and no one available to open it. It probably says something about me, but I keep trying to think of some way that it could have been a scam. Is your business one that people would assume had a public restroom? Did the place even look open? Checking with the police might not be a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/59 "2011-09-24T02:08:48Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > If she hadn’t been abusive towards me, I’d probably have stayed. However, since she saw fit to pour abuse on your head, I think that you did your duty by calling the cops, and you were justified in refusing to stick around for more abuse. I agree. . ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369/60 "2011-09-24T02:12:31Z")
I’d have stayed until I hit my limit in putting up with her shit, then left. How long that was would depend on my mood that day, but **kayaker** was in the ballpark. I guess I might stay longer if I thought there was a chance of wolves or a bear happening by before the police arrived. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-situation-would-you-have-stayed/597369.md?page=4)