A nice surprise - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

BuzzardsWife · 05-21-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gobsgraham

I think it is great. It happened to me a few times but the one that changed it for me was when a lady in a pretty beat up Dodge Crapavan bought my wife and I coffees. That made me think that if she could do it there is no reason that we shouldn't be doing it. We can afford an extra $1.50 or $3 once a week so why not. Such a small gesture can really change someones day and instantly make them happy.

BuzzardsWife - did you have a bagel too this morning?

Nah, dang, I missed out on a free bagel!!! KIDDING

albertGQ · 05-21-2008, 04:02 PM

I'd rather give my couple bucks to a worthwile charity then buy someone a gourmet coffee that may or may not be very wealthy

psicodude · 05-21-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I'd rather give my couple bucks to a worthwile charity then buy someone a gourmet coffee that may or may not be very wealthy

See that thing that just flew over your head? Yeah, that was the point.

BuzzardsWife · 05-21-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I'd rather give my couple bucks to a worthwile charity then buy someone a gourmet coffee that may or may not be very wealthy

Giving to charity is great. But I think you're missing the point, it's not about 'giving', its more of a pay it forward, make someone smile kind of gesture we are talking about here.

Torture · 05-21-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I'd rather give my couple bucks to a worthwile charity then buy someone a gourmet coffee that may or may not be very wealthy

I'm going to ignore the rest of the post cause I see I've been beat to it...but Tim's coffee is gourmet???

albertGQ · 05-21-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torture

I'm going to ignore the rest of the post cause I see I've been beat to it...but Tim's coffee is gourmet???

Some people can't can't even afford to buy coffee everyday. They have to wake up extra early and brew their own. So yeah, to some people it is gourmet

rubecube · 05-21-2008, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I'd rather give my couple bucks to a worthwile charity then buy someone a gourmet coffee that may or may not be very wealthy

Dion · 05-21-2008, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzardsWife

Your angel wings just grew bigger! That is very cool. I always fantasize that I win a few million bucks and just go up to someone that is disabled and living on welfare and give them a million bucks.

With couples now a days changing partners like they change thier underwear i think a person will hard pressed down the road to find some celebrating thier 50th.

The thing that shocked was they were all lovey dovely when they talked to each other. It was a once in a life time opportunity that i couldn't pass up

old-fart · 05-21-2008, 04:24 PM

The concept of "Pay it forward" is described by Benny Franklin:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Franklin

I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you [...] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.

Hopefully the people behind you in line are wealthy... then they'll be able to return the favor to more, who - like that old shampoo commercial - will tell two friends, who'll tell two friends, etc, etc.

Since reading this thread, the next time I'm in Timmy's lineup, I'll be buying the coffee for the person behind me. I've done it before on occasion and must admit that I have forgotten about it more recently. Time to stretch the karma wings a bit...

albertGQ · 05-21-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuzzardsWife

Giving to charity is great. But I think you're missing the point, it's not about 'giving', its more of a pay it forward, make someone smile kind of gesture we are talking about here.

I guess that's good if you believe in Karma. I just don't.

jayswin · 05-21-2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I'd rather give my couple bucks to a worthwile charity then buy someone a gourmet coffee that may or may not be very wealthy

I don't think you're getting the point of it. It's not about the $2 or whatever. It's about showing general kindness to your fellow citizens to create a atmosphere of kindness in the city. Even though for a small percentage of people, it may make them happy financially because even a cup of coffee is a tough purchase for them to make, for the majority of people that this happens to, it's just the kindness of the gesture that makes them smile, and then pass it forward.

jayswin · 05-21-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I guess that's good if you believe in Karma. I just don't.

Again, I believe you're missing the point. It's not about Karma, because that would imply that the people who do it, are doing for the sole purpose of expecting it to happen to them. That's not the case, people just do it to brighten someone's day, and then they hope that that person will pay it forward to someone, anyone. They're not paying at the drive thru thinking, 'man, someone better do this for me now, c'mon Karma!'

Russic · 05-21-2008, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I guess that's good if you believe in Karma. I just don't.

What does it have to do with karma? The goal isn't to benefit yourself in the long run, but to create a positive atmosphere in society.

edit: ya what he said

BuzzardsWife · 05-21-2008, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albertGQ

I guess that's good if you believe in Karma. I just don't.

Maybe you'll change your mind when someone buys you a coffee in the lineup!! Mr. Negative!!

Dion · 05-21-2008, 04:53 PM

I seem to remember a movie based on the pay it forward sinerio.

jayswin · 05-21-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

I seem to remember a movie based on the pay it forward sinerio.

Yes, it was called "pay it forward", it was a really good movie.

kipperiggy · 05-21-2008, 04:57 PM

^^There was a movie called "Pay it Forward" back in 2000.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0223897/

TheyCallMeBruce · 05-21-2008, 07:31 PM

I once bought a coffee for a hot girl because she was spending too much time digging through her change purse.

FlamesAddiction · 05-21-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

I once bought a coffee for a hot girl because she was spending too much time digging through her change purse.

Opportunities like that are great.

I once bought a slurpee for a hot chick at 7-11 before. There were 2 long line-ups and the one she was in was moving really slow because the person screwed up their till. She looked at me, smiled, and commented that she was in the wrong line, so when I got to the front, I bought her slurpee.

I don't think this was a random pay-it-forward moment though. I had other more sinister motives.

Dion · 05-21-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Opportunities like that are great.

I once bought a slurpee for a hot chick at 7-11 before. There were 2 long line-ups and the one she was in was moving really slow because the person screwed up their till. She looked at me, smiled, and commented that she was in the wrong line, so when I got to the front, I bought her slurpee.

I don't think this was a random pay-it-forward moment though. I had other more sinister motives.

Did you get a hot date as a payback?