Why doesn't anybody hitchhike anymore?
Tuesday, April 6, 2004 by joetheblow | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
I mean, its the best thing ever!!!
NOT
I actually never got that hitch hike thing. Not my cup of tea.
Besides I don't want to get kidnapped or wind up someones slave.
Do you hitchhike?
NOT
I actually never got that hitch hike thing. Not my cup of tea.
Besides I don't want to get kidnapped or wind up someones slave.
Do you hitchhike?
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Chickie
Reply #2 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:31 AM
Reply #2 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:31 AM
Nope. I hitched a ride from school from friends. Never, ever with strangers.
White_Moth
Reply #3 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:40 AM
Reply #3 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:40 AM
You may find yourself scattered across half the Continent? 
Jafo
Reply #4 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:41 AM
Reply #4 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:41 AM
In a big country like Oz...with a small population.....it was common to hitch....but that was before the days of back-packer murders, etc...
joetheblow
Reply #5 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:47 AM
Reply #5 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:47 AM
I was reading an article about hitchhiking and a lost national past time and I was thinking to myself
Say what?
Even as a kid I never understood the sense of doing that. If you got allot of miles between you and your destination you better have a bike.
I road half of Long Island on a bike in a hour... well maybe a quarter.
Say what?
Even as a kid I never understood the sense of doing that. If you got allot of miles between you and your destination you better have a bike.
I road half of Long Island on a bike in a hour... well maybe a quarter.
Sput
Reply #6 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:22 AM
Reply #6 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:22 AM
I think the answer is that like many things in life, we've got a dispropotionate sense of how dangerous something is from seeing sensationalist media on it.
The fact is that you're more likely to die while travelling in a car crash (or bike etc) than you ever would be of being killed by some mad axe man. You're probably more likely to be killed by lightning while waiting for a lift! (I've not checked the stats on that though).
I've given lifts to a number of hitchhikers over the years and they've all been pretty nice people.
Its similar to the way some people are scared to travel by plane in case of a crash, but will happily drive for long distances....or the panic over BSE....and (to some extent) crime and even terrorism. (that's not arguing that we can ignore any of these things - just that a lot of people have a dispropotionate sense of fear compared to the actual risk)
The fact is that you're more likely to die while travelling in a car crash (or bike etc) than you ever would be of being killed by some mad axe man. You're probably more likely to be killed by lightning while waiting for a lift! (I've not checked the stats on that though).
I've given lifts to a number of hitchhikers over the years and they've all been pretty nice people.
Its similar to the way some people are scared to travel by plane in case of a crash, but will happily drive for long distances....or the panic over BSE....and (to some extent) crime and even terrorism. (that's not arguing that we can ignore any of these things - just that a lot of people have a dispropotionate sense of fear compared to the actual risk)
Jafo
Reply #7 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:27 AM
Reply #7 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:27 AM
More people die playing golf than are taken by sharks, etc.....and it serves them right for such bad dress-sense...
Sput
Reply #8 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:33 AM
The golfers or the sharks?
Reply #8 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:33 AM
| and it serves them right for such bad dress-sense |
The golfers or the sharks?
joetheblow
Reply #9 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:49 AM
Reply #9 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:49 AM
Well... I guess I should go hitch hiking then.
I still won't do it dispite the statistical probability of being hurt. Its just wierd!
I have always found it wierd. I didn't quite understand why some people liked it.
[Message Edited]
I still won't do it dispite the statistical probability of being hurt. Its just wierd!
I have always found it wierd. I didn't quite understand why some people liked it.
[Message Edited]
Sput
Reply #10 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 11:35 AM
Reply #10 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 11:35 AM
joetheblow - imagine if you didn't have a car and didn't have the money to pay for a train/bus ride, but that you wanted to see the world...There's a wanderlust in many people that's hard to ignore, and hitch-hiking is a way to satisfy that for little/no cost.
I have a friend who used to travel everywhere hitching. She only really stopped when she could afford her own car.
It's also a better way to really experience the travel rather than just getting from A to B as you'd end up seeing all sorts of bits along the way which would otherwise just be a blur through the window.
I've never done it myself, but I can see the appeal
I have a friend who used to travel everywhere hitching. She only really stopped when she could afford her own car.
It's also a better way to really experience the travel rather than just getting from A to B as you'd end up seeing all sorts of bits along the way which would otherwise just be a blur through the window.
I've never done it myself, but I can see the appeal
CerebroJD
Reply #11 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 11:53 AM
Reply #11 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 11:53 AM
I've thought about hitchhiking across canada. I figure I could take my guitars with me, and earn money in towns to pay a little for my rides.
Sput
Reply #12 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 5:04 PM
Reply #12 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 5:04 PM
CerebroJD - sounds like a great idea...just one tip though, you might want to make that "guitar" not "guitars" if you're hitching
White_Moth
Reply #13 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 5:43 PM
Reply #13 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 5:43 PM
Fresh out of Army AIT at Ft. Knox, KY, I had to hitchhike the last 200 miles home as my "ride" decided to take another route so as a result some pervert picked me up and in 50 miles decided I had to "pay" for the lift as he began to grope my leg. Military reflexes shoved my elbow into his jaw and I heard a loud pop. He quickly pulled over and before things got real ugly, I grabbed my gear and bolted.
But then some nice old couple picked me up and took me within 10 miles of my destination.
I never hitchiked again.
But then some nice old couple picked me up and took me within 10 miles of my destination.
I never hitchiked again.
DesignCaddy
Reply #14 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 6:47 PM
Reply #14 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 6:47 PM
i don't think they're are many people who drive interstate highways just looking for people to hack up. adversely though, i wouldn't pick up a guy i didn't think i could kick right out the door.
adversely though, i wouldn't pick up a guy i didn't think i could kick right out the door.
SelfExiled
Reply #15 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:43 AM
Reply #15 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:43 AM
In my wild youth, I picked up a few hitchhikers on the freeway. I had a flashy red convertible sports car. But, they never gave me any trouble. Probably because I was more crazy than they were at the time. Needless to say, the world has become more crazy and I have mellowed considerably. So, I don't do that anymore.
CerebroJD
Reply #16 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 11:15 AM
Gotcha!
Note to self: Beware of DesignCaddy.
Reply #16 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 11:15 AM
| "guitar" not "guitars" |
Gotcha!| i wouldn't pick up a guy i didn't think i could kick right out the door |
Note to self: Beware of DesignCaddy.
f0rTyLeGz
Reply #17 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 1:41 PM
Reply #17 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 1:41 PM
I hitched across the States two times, with no trouble... 'course that was in 1960. Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road had a lot to do with it. After a decade of Cold War and McCarthy, the hippie generation began first by moving onto the road, in the late 50's and early '60's. We had blind faith in each other. Anyone under 30 was safe, and worthy of respect. That lasted until 1969 and Altamont.
So... Im the oldest person here, probably by a decade
So... Im the oldest person here, probably by a decade
joetheblow
Reply #18 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:54 PM
Reply #18 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:54 PM
Nope... still won't do it. Just seems strange to me... maybe because I not from that era. I can understand a local town and everybody knows everybody else in some way, but across states or borders??? Not my tush.
it does sound romantic from what some of you guys say but I don't think i would do it.
(I have been know to jump on the back of a truck in my youth... but it was for one block)
it does sound romantic from what some of you guys say but I don't think i would do it.
(I have been know to jump on the back of a truck in my youth... but it was for one block)
DesignCaddy
Reply #19 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 6:09 PM
Reply #19 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 6:09 PM
ya. jack did it so thats what makes me believe a lot of other people just want to travel and not give people trouble. but you never know...
f0rTyLeGz
Reply #20 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 8:11 PM
Reply #20 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 8:11 PM
I would have freaked if my kids ever hitch hiked and they are well grown now... everything's changed.
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Reply #1 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:30 AM
I think you answered your own question..... hitchhikers don't want to get murdered by weirdo's that pick them up, and drivers don't want to murdered by weirdo's that they pick up. I think it's known as a Mexican Stand Off....... or common sense.