I should tell you about the time when I visited the crash site, where a 13-year-old girl who was riding her bike through a crossride was killed by a driver who basically didn’t bother to stop.
A lady, with an empty stroller, was looting the memorial set up for the girl, stealing dolls and flowers as if it was a shopping spree.
Not only did I order her to stop, but after calling the police, I led them to her, and then made sure she returned everything.
This remains one of the lowest points in my faith in humanity, and it truly was one of the most despicable acts I’ve witnessed in person.
Here’s a photo, because not even I would believe an internet stranger speaking of such depravity:
the ironic thing is by you taking the time to remedy that injustice you restore a little bit of Faith in humanity for me and i guess for others as well.
I have conflicted opinions on this. Disrespecting a person’s tragic death is wrong, but consider also if someone is so desperate for a stuffed toy that they would lift it off a memorial then maybe they really do need it hard enough to deserve it. The toy would just lie around in the rain otherwise and eventually go to waste. It’s better use for the toy and better respect for the memory of the deceased if the toy ends up in the hands of a child of the desperate parent. Even if the thief has no children and is just crazy, wanting the toy for themselves, even a madman’s comfort from having a toy has value.
The only situation where I can wholly condemn the thief is if they are taking the toys and flowers with intention to resell later. That’s no better than digging up flowers from someone’s yard!
I see this as a failure of society. We have not only neglected the safety of a cyclist and failed to memorialize this person for those that miss them, but also neglected the needs of someone who has resorted to stealing.
this is why you never move, remove, or lock your bike up with a ghost bike. they are someone’s tribute to a loved one. be respectful
I should tell you about the time when I visited the crash site, where a 13-year-old girl who was riding her bike through a crossride was killed by a driver who basically didn’t bother to stop.
A lady, with an empty stroller, was looting the memorial set up for the girl, stealing dolls and flowers as if it was a shopping spree.
Not only did I order her to stop, but after calling the police, I led them to her, and then made sure she returned everything.
This remains one of the lowest points in my faith in humanity, and it truly was one of the most despicable acts I’ve witnessed in person.
Here’s a photo, because not even I would believe an internet stranger speaking of such depravity:
the ironic thing is by you taking the time to remedy that injustice you restore a little bit of Faith in humanity for me and i guess for others as well.
I have conflicted opinions on this. Disrespecting a person’s tragic death is wrong, but consider also if someone is so desperate for a stuffed toy that they would lift it off a memorial then maybe they really do need it hard enough to deserve it. The toy would just lie around in the rain otherwise and eventually go to waste. It’s better use for the toy and better respect for the memory of the deceased if the toy ends up in the hands of a child of the desperate parent. Even if the thief has no children and is just crazy, wanting the toy for themselves, even a madman’s comfort from having a toy has value.
The only situation where I can wholly condemn the thief is if they are taking the toys and flowers with intention to resell later. That’s no better than digging up flowers from someone’s yard!
I see this as a failure of society. We have not only neglected the safety of a cyclist and failed to memorialize this person for those that miss them, but also neglected the needs of someone who has resorted to stealing.
I feel you, but… That’s quite a line to cross. Like really.
You’d better be ready to justify it, because that’s unacceptable to just about everyone everywhere.