Doing a good turn
Alice is trying to do a favour for Khalid but it hasn't quite worked out right.
Have you ever tried to do a good turn that went wrong? Or has someone tried to help you only for it to turn out all wrong?
Tell us what happened.
This topic has now closed. Thanks for all your comments.
Salwa, Egypt
in my opinion, I think you shouldn't help anyone if you don't know how to help hem/her. And you must also know your ability to do any help.
Ger van de Ven, The Netherlands
My wife bought me a jersey at a shop. It was a bargain. The price was 15.00 euros but the label showed a price of 85.00 euros. I was happy with the jersey and when I met a friend who wore a similar jersey I congratulated him and asked him whether he knew that it only cost 15 euros. He grumble something and went away. Next day I met his wife. "Can I have a word with you" she said. "Of course, but I hope there's nothing wrong"."well, there is, you know I don't have a job". "Yes I do". "I need some money to buy things for myself. I usually buy clothes for my husband and he pays me. To get some money left I told him the price of the jersey was 85.00 euros what he accepted and paid me that sum of money. Since he knows the real price he is very angry with me".
Vitoria, Brazil
Last week I was trying to help my best friend to hang out with a boy that she was loving,but when I said this for her,she started to scream with me,that she didn't like him because he did something that makes her unhappy so I said sorry and our relationship came back yesterday! I'm very happy and I never never never help anybody again just if somebody ask to me for some help!
Peter, HongKong
Long times ago,I taught my younger sister swimming,However,Sister was taught a wrong ways by me.I think it always happen to me.
Lisa, Chinese Hong Kong
I think every one has tried to do a good turn that went wrong.About one year ago,I have a chance to do a program which was my teacher asked me to do .She gave me three days to prepear it and then showed it to my classmates.I was so happy and excited to have the wonderful chance.The most important and meaningful thing that this program could make me be more confident.I did it very carefully.And I searched a lot of information about the program.I practiced it for many times.The final day was coming.I felt very nervous.My teacher asked me to showed it to her before I showed it to my classmates.Oh,so sad!I was wrong.She said to me.AS I understood what she asked me to do aat the begining.I felt so sorry to my teacher!Finally,she did it again br herself.
Mahsa, Iran
2 months ago my friend voluntarily bought a B-day gift for one of our best friends, then suggest me share it together just for lending me a hand for not spending much time on finding a good present since I was so overwhelmed those days.I didn't know how much does the present cost, I tought it wouldn't be so expensive! Guess what happend then!!!exactly we have an expression in Farsi Language meaning the same.
Isabel, Brazil
I think the important is the intention.If you want to help someone go ahead, but sometimes it doesn麓t work out
Helen, USA
I was going to introduce a friend to my best girl frined last year. But I didn't know the boy who liked me. It was terrible experience.
Lina, Pakistan
once before a time i saw a woman who standing on the roud nd she looked like a belind woman ,so i wanted to helped her to cross the roud, when i reached there suddenly she turend nd asked me,may i help u?so i said no thanks,but i thought u belind so i wanna helped u .so then when she heard belind word she became rush nd abuesd me. i was wondreing that i wanted to helped her,i mean it ,but she became so rushed on me .lol
Elvy, Spain
Last August my sister threw her birthday party at home. She was going to prepare some snaks and she wanted me to make the sandwiches. I made the sandwiches and put them all on a tray. However I麓m not skillful or handy so when I was going down the stairs I fell down and all the delicious sandwiches fell over the floor with me. At least I didn麓t hurt me, but we couldn麓t have any sandwich at the party, we had to eat some pizzas instead. My sister didn麓t get cross, but she won麓t let me to hold a tray at home!!!
Majid, Iran
I think it's a childish manner to be in a rush of pouring every kind of help due to our strong desire to prove ourselves to other people especially those for whom we have an eye for.My numerous previous involvement in such embaressing situations has motivated me to change my manner which needed reconsidering the way I see my value.Now,I wait for the others to come to me asking some favour and I will think about it to find out whether I would like or I can do something for them or not.
Mario, Venice, Italy
Boiled down to essentials, it comes out this way: "MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS"
Paola, Italy
I offered my help to young mother when I was visiting her in her home. But ten minutes later disperately I asked her to help me because I locked my son in my house and I lost the keys. I believe that this mother does never trust me.
Shirley HUI, Hong Kong
Remembered that I was designing the blackboard and giving the correct time once, the teacher only told me to do alone,very busy. But one classmate came to help me voluntarily. She helped me to catch pattern all kinds of colors.She still helped me to stick the pictures in the blackboard.But things go contrary to one's wishes,she had destroyed my masterpiece. I was very angry,asked her to leave.She said her did a good turn that went wrong,had been blamed all the time. I was very guilty later on, thought oneself was very unfair to her.Having written a letter at last and apologized to her. It was my fault that she didn't have.
Jaime, Chile
I remember It was my first day in london I was waiting for a train to Richmond Station when a lady asked me help to take a train to richmond station, I told her that I have to take the same train, when the train arrived and left the station we realized that we took the wrong train, it was an express and non stop in that station. I was very sorry about my mistake.
Ryan, China
It is important for us to be careful when we want to do something to please others. of course we'd understand their purpose and pardon their fault.
Endy, Hong Kong
Yes, I have ever tried to do a good turn that went wrong.I remember it is actually embarrassing.It was about a mistake in my friend's speech.At that time, I heard my best friend,Kary,who understand my feeling, cry loudly.I asked her what happen was it.she answered that she was forsaken.Although she spoke unclearly, I guess her boyfriend did a serious wrong behavior.Hearing this speech, I went to punish as well as hit seriously her boyfriend.He was angry at Kary.After that, I knew the truth.She told me the main reason causing her sadness is family instead of her boyfriend.Eventually, she lost her love because her boyfriend requested to leave her.I still think so sorry to make her lost her lover.
Giang, Vietnam
it's such a comic situation. obviously, we saw him like to be serious and have a butterflies in his stomach. i think that everything seem to become wrong as he hope!
Verna
I'll never forget when I offered to help my friend do the washing up: we had used a lot of beautiful fine-cut glasses - and the first one I washed broke! I was so embarrassed.
Jacky Tsui, Hong Kong
I have a good turn. I have a friend. His name is Tim Tim who is lazy.He wants to copy my homework.I give homework to him because he is my friend. Finally,Our teacher punishs him because he copyed my homework.
John Wong, Hong Kong
I have not tired to do a good turn that went wrong but there was a someone doing it to me. In that time, my frind, Ken, gave me some homework to copy. But, I have finished the homework. However, my teacher saw that the homework of Ken were in my desk. Finally, my teacher needed me copy the homework 200 times.
Winston Tsang, Hong Kong
Yes ,I have. My younger brother tried to help me to finish my homework but all answers are wrong so I must expurgate and do it again.
Tim Chan, Hong Kong SAR
I don't think that so, ha vy.If you can do it yourself.Than there won't have any cutting house in the world. I think that if i was cut the hair by her I would recommend her to cut the same hair to herself.So, It will be more in to every in the world.
Jack, China
We should do everything by ourselves.If you asked someone for help,but what he does is not pleased you.You can do nothing but forget it .Remember!
Lin, China
I have never tried to do a good turn that went wrong. But my friend tried to do it. Last year's May, I got to book a airticket to NYC. My friend said he knew a travel agency that could offer good price, it can save more money. I was happy so I had been waiting for the ticket. one month passed. My friend said the travel agency could not got the airticket, because the price is special offer, All the airticket had sold out. Whoops. It really bad. But I know my friend is for my own good. Anyway, I appreciated about that.
Lin, China
When I visited New York City, I told my friend that like LV, Gucci, Chanel etc name brand is cheaper than in China. I would like purchase for them if they need some. My friend was very happy; they want to buy bag and perfume etc. Let me bring to China. I guarantee no any problem. When I brought something, I changed into the local money that found it was not really cheap and saved money!>< Yeah, compare with American customer price index, it is cheaper in New York City.
Tolik, Russia
I always like to help other peoples if it lies within my power. Once my neighbour asked my to repair her personal computer as it didn't turn on. I decided that CPU burned out and i tryed to take of cooler. But the cooler was hardly attached and i couldn't take it off by my hands. I decided to use blade screwdriver as the lever but it slided down and damaged the motherboard. I had to go to computer market to buy new mother board and told my neighbor about my fault. Later i found out that the problem was in power module and there wasn't any reason to take of cooler.
Mr Stone, Vietnam
yes, when I was a secondary school student I got a mistake when I helped my friend. At that time, my friend studied very well. However, his family was very poor and potentially he would have to leave school because not having money to pay the fee. I was too young to know the right way to get him out of that situation. The most important thing was money but we didn't have money. Finally, I decided to steal money from my parents and they found out who criminal was. They asked me why. After listening the answer from me, they watched me and smiled. Instead of talking aloud and hurting me, they gave me some advices. So far, I have still remembered very clearly those words.
Satameda BT.
The only embrassing event I had is for donkys ago. On a sunny Eastern Monday afternoon I took a casual stroll through the suburb of our town then I met a middle aged lady standing in front of her house. When I drew near she said, excuse me Sir can you help me? I said of course Mm ,what,s wrong with you. She said just come in, there,s a brocken bulb in the sitting room and I,m not able to change it. I stepped in saying, that,s not a big affair Mm, have you got everthing ready? She replied of course Sir, ladder, a new bulb and a pair of gloves if you want. So I followed her into the sitting room, put on the work gloves, mounted that ladder, exchanged the brocken bulb with the new one stepped down the ladder and wanted her to switch on the light as it loudly cracked because of a short-circuit somewhere in the house and unfortunately I was not able to find and fix it thereafter. We had to send for the emergency power service to come and repair that tricky current break down.
Betty Leung, Hong Kong
Of course.One day, my friend did not do all the homework.So, I helped her to do her homework immediately.After that, I have finished her homework.So, she submitted to teacher.The teacher saw her homework, the teacher doubt me help her to do her homework.The teacher called my friend and me to teacher's room after school.Then the teacher asked my friend who help you to do the homework?My friend said to teacher I helped her to do the homework.So, the teacher blamed my friend and me.The teacher said to me I do a turn that wrong.She asked me do not help students to do the homework even your best friend.So, I'm very upset.I want to help her to do her homework.But teacher blamed her and me.I did something wrong.
Emily, Hong Kong
Yesterday,I wanted to help my sister to put the schoolbag in order.But my sister felt unhappy at last.It was because I confounded the books of the schoolbag.I am so sorry to her.
Anny, Taiwan
I had quite similar experience when i had my hair cut. The hair dresser overcut my hair and eventually my hair was too short and did not suit me. i was quite upset with nothing that i could do.
Anto, Italy
In my previous job I was a tax analyst. A friend of mine who had worked as a journalist in France told me she had to declare her income in Italy too. So I decided to do her a good turn, out of friendship. I first studied her case thouroughly - that was a complex one - and then I filled out her annual income tax declaration but I didn't take into account of the income tax form preprinted "zeros" and consequently the figures I declared turned to be millions of euros.The following year our local tax agency sent my friend a letter asking her to pay thousands of euro of unpaid tax correspondant to that millionaire income. Fortunately it didn't turn out all wrong. I had the opportunity to explain my stupid error to the tax agency and everything was settled down. In any case I felt really ashamed but my friend was not angry with me at all, to the contrary she told me she would keep trusting me no matter what.
Noura, UAE
It always happen to me ^^. Once my sister told me to put some salt in the salad, but as usual I fell it and it test became really bad ^-^
ha vy. vietnam
It is best to do things by yourself because you know it more than others. Sometimes you also need help. Although the result is not good, it should be appreciated because it comes from a kind heart and a nice purpose.
Nazrul, Bangladesh.
It was my younger sister's wedding day. We are getting ready to attend the party. While my father and I were almost finish. I noticed my father's suit got some wrinkles. I told him to get me his suit to iron. Oh God! I ended up burning that nice new suit.
Lyudmila, Russia
Sometimes a really good intention can turn into something absolutely opposite. For example, my cousin wanted to give her mother a birthday present when she sent her moms name and e-mail address to the advertisement company. The company sent her back a check for 50 dollars and my cousin bought a present on it. But couple months later the amount of commercial advertisement e-mails her mom started to receive became enormous - about 100 letters a day. And she couldn't just start using the new e-mail address because she has been using the old one in her business for more than 4 years. It is finally became a very hard task to separate important letters from all that spam.
Christian, Germany
Yes, indeed. A girls`s car didn`t work. The motor didn`t start. So I offered her to help. I tried the ignition key, but it broke. I was very sorry about my mistake.
Lara, Italy
This happened to a friend of mine. Some friends wanted to make him a suprise by giving a birthday party for him. The problem is, some other friends had the same idea, and since the two groups at that time didn't get along with each other, my poor friend was put in trouble since at the end he had to choose wich party to attend..he eventually he decided not to go to neither of them!!!
Jean Marie, France
It was in the West suburb of Paris. I had an appointment in the headquarter of a company which has just settled down there, in a huge industrial estate. In a petrol station, a woman, just before me, was asking the way to go to the same company. Nobody was able to answer as the firm was still unknown. GPS didn't exist, but I had had a previous visit there, a month before, I was sure of the route so I told the woman, don't worry, follow me. What a shame! I discovered that I could not remember the right way, driving several times on the same road in the awful traffic jams of Paris, an hour later we were lost in Saint Germain Forrest. What an odd place for two people who are presumed to work in comfortable offices. She vanished suddenly. In the afternoon I mether in the company's lobbies. No word to explain my embarrassment, I had egg on my face.
Antonio Britto, Brazil
I was singing an italian song before many people and suddenly I forgot the letter so I sang another letter and everything could be all right
Shoaib Mamun, UK
A few days ago my aunty cut my hair.She tried to style it on my neck but it went wrong.One side it was round where as the otherside it was straight so,it looked really teribe.One of my friends noticed it so he was asking me did do this your self.After that i covered it underneath the colar of my jumper for days.
Polpetta, Italy
I think that often with the best intention it is possible do something wrong. I think that it is best to ask to a friend if he wants our help before taking action.
Wendy, Hong Kong
I remember a years ago, I helped my consin to put colour stickers (with different pictures) into his book but I put the wrong one in the wrong place, so I tried to take it out to replace it. Unfortunately, I not only tore his book but the strickers were messed together too. My consin was very angry and couldn't stop crying. I had to buy him the new one to stop him crying.
Guthemberg, Brazil
Sure, I've done. It's normal. We make mistakes, then we should recognize and try to repair them. It relies on human being making mistakes, so do a good turn suits quite well for these situations.
Anna, Korea
Before an exam, my friens asked me to cheat. So we shared parts separately. My part was the music test. I gave them the answer, but my answer was wrong. I was so shy, and I felt sorry for them. But, I've never cheated since then.
Martina, Italy
I often help my cousin, Matteo, with his maths homework, but I hate this subject! Once he did all the exercises wrong because of me and he was scolded by the teacher! He cried all day and I was sad.
Mai, Egypt
Once mum asked me to fry some fish. Our custom is to cover it with flour before but after finishing, I noticed that I had covered it with suger rather than flour :-)
Rose, Mongolia
It never happened to me. But I know one of my colleague tried to help his friend to turn out all wrong. My colleague's friend liked one girl and they are meeting sometime and he talked about that to my colleague. And my colleague gave him some advice and his friend followed that. But finally everything went wrong way and the girl said she don't wanna see him anymore.