Just a question for your consideration...

[tavernier]

At the Indiana State fair today, I sat down on a bench in the shade and turned on my iPhone. A few minutes later a boy of about 12 came up and asked me if I could do him a favor and let him use my phone. I said that I would rather not (my daughter - and my ride - was at one of the exhibits, and without a phone, I might not find her in the sea of people), but if he needed to call someone, I would be happy to make the call for him. He gave me a funny look for a second, then shook his head and said no, that was ok, then left. He looked like a perfectly nice kid, but my phone contains my life pretty much and although I didn't want to be mean, I also didn't want to be dumb.

?? What would you do?

[rurallib]

1. just what you did, off the top of my head.

[CentralMass]

2. Yes. Exactly what you did. I have had the same thimg happen to me

several times. It was always in very crowded situations and something seemed suspcious about it.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

3. Very wise!

I think you handled it very wisely. The kid could have easily taken off running with it and readily sold it. Most certainly for an iPhone! Fairs have always been notorious for pickpockets and panhandlers, and they travel with the fairs. They have no reservation with using children to execute their crimes.

[NCjack]

4. Can you chase down a 12-y old who has your phone? nt

[tavernier]

5. No way

[NCjack]

8. You protected your interest. nt

[we can do it]

6. Same as you.

[LeftInTX]

7. Same as you

Same advice as when a stranger wants to come inside your house to use your phone.

[TexasProgresive]

9. The perfect response.

Before landlines if a stranger came to the door requesting to come in to use the phone- the best answer is, "I will make the call for you. What is the number and message?"

[tavernier]

10. I may have appeared as a little old lady

at the Indiana State Fair, but I'm actually visiting here from the Florida Keys and we are perhaps less midwestern trusting. Miami has a fair share of cons and schemes that we expect. Perhaps that is why he seemed to be so surprised at my response.

Anyway, thanks to all for the kind response. I truly think that if he had been looking for a lost parent, he would have accepted my offer.

[Fla Dem]

11. You did the right thing.

[DFW]

12. Unfortunately, you exercised your best option.

Even if all he wanted to do was call a friend and didn't want the message passed on or heard by a third party, you had no guarantees.

That is one reason I have so far refused to get a "smart" phone here in Europe. I have seen people in the States and here in Europe who have their whole lives happening within that little device. I refuse to join them.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

13. Same thing!

[ailsagirl]

14. Exactly what you did