Pro tip: I learned that 70% of strangers will actually help you if you just ask directly

I read this crazy stat last week in a psychology journal at the library (just browsing, not a student or anything). It said that when people are asked for help face to face, 7 out of 10 will say yes right away. I tested it at the grocery store yesterday by asking a stranger to grab a box off the top shelf for me. The guy was super nice about it and even chatted for a minute about cereal. Has anyone else noticed that people are way more willing to help than we assume they are?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_miles1mo ago

Asked my buddy to try this at Home Depot when he couldn't reach a ladder. The employee not only got it down for him but also gave him a 15-minute tutorial on which paint to buy.

terryw671mo ago

Funny enough, I'm the guy who'd probably need a tutorial like that. Last time I was at Home Depot I spent 20 minutes staring at paint samples before just grabbing the cheapest one and hoping for the best.