Try and Explain, or Mind my Own Business?

[Jst1mr]

I was at the gas station yesterday, and while I was filling up I watched a gent 10-15 years my senior drop his pickup tailgate, slide three gas cans to the back and begin filling the cans on the tailgate (the truck was equipped with a bedliner).

In the past, I have seen some ladies of various ages do the same or similar. I have usually taken a moment to explain the importance of setting the can on the ground (to avoid a static discharge spark), and offered to help with the heavy cans.

This guy, however, gave off the distinct air that if I tried to tell him anything, I would get the "...been fillin' my cans like this for 45 years..." speech - or worse.

Since, while filling cans in this manner there is a distinct chance of blowing your face off, what do you think - should I try to warn folks of this danger, or just bite my lip and mind my own business?

 

[jaykellogg]

My advice, MYOB.

 

[vigil617]

Neither. Just reach up and pull down one of the fire extinguishers that's mounted near the pump, and stand facing him at a safe distance but in plain sight, with the extinguisher hose in one hand and the grip in the other.

He'll either get the idea, or ask you what you're doing, and then you're welcome to tell him.

 

[old bear]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ what jay said.

 

[kozmic]

You shoulda put a smoke in your mouth and asked him for a light!

 

[Arik]

Wouldn't even care. Practically every day during summer i see lawn service trucks lined up at a gas station filled their mowers and cans. All on the metal trailers. Ive been driving since 98 and have yet to see a BOOM!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[amazingflapjack]

Tell them-you can smile and walk away from the speech. I try to think things through. I'm not a Sociopath, so sitting at home that evening hearing about the old guy on the News who blew his, and maybe someone else's, face off because "he looked" like he wasn't receptive of my comments, wouldn't wash with me. And buy the way, thanks for the heads up, it's only occasional, but I do fill cans in the back of my truck. Now I know better. Flapjack.

 

[hittman77]

MYOB ..........

 

[LoadEmUp]

Speak up. You are also being exposed to the danger.

 

[walkin jack]

You know, in my day a friendly and helpful approach would have been alright. But the way the world is today with all the crazies running around it might be best to just let folks be. I don't mean to sound uncaring but it is clearly a lot more dangerous to do something like that these days, especially with a person puttin' out "signals" like that guy was.

I would just distance myself from the potential event and go on about my day.

 

[kennyb]

he may be appreciative...tell him

 

[rockyrider]

I find it hard to believe you are able to "fill" up! Not something I've seen for the last 5 years. I would just put in what you need next time, and get the heck out of there. For your own safety.

 

[A10]

I would talk to him, and let him know the possibility a fire in that instance. I have seen it happen, a static spark from the nozzle to the can and the can getting ignited.

 

[MH8675309]

It depends. Once I was filling our van with my wife and 6 kids in the van and a guy on a bike pulled up and started filling his bike while smoking a cigarette. I said hey you're not supposed to smoke when you're getting gas! He looked at me and said "so?". And I said "so my wife and kids are in this van and if they get blown up because you think you need to smoke I'm not going to understand". He put it out then.

 

[Mcwsky09]

I recently discovered that my son-in-law doesn't shut off his engine when refilling - despite the prominent sign indication that you should do so.

I suppose the risk is very small that you would spill gas onto the exhaust pipe or some other mishap that would lead to a fire or explosion - but also no need to be standing in a cloud of exhaust while fueling.

Still - not matter how small the risk - why take the chance?

I often get a static shock when getting out of my car - depending largely on what fabric I am wearing and the humidity. And I have read that many gas station fires occur when people reenter their vehicle during the fill procedure - thus increasing the chance of a static discharge while vapors are in the air.

Cell phone use as a risk I don't believe - unless perhaps there is some sort of faulty wiring inside that is causing an arc - but even then I would imagine that if there was a sufficient concentration of gasoline vapor around the side of your head to penetrate the phone and cause an explosion you likely already have some problems even without a fire or explosion.

 

[25elk]

Yes it's bad policy...but I seriously doubt that a static spark could occur when the truck had a bed liner which is the same as being on the ground, is it not. And when you fill up a container do you use an OSHA approved metal can, no plastic, with a spring loaded lid? If not then you are as guilty as the older man you describe. I have been driving since '57 and have never seen a static discharge start a fire, although I know it is possible.

 

[S&W45Colt]

MYOB...it's not worth the potential response, JMO.

 

[Wingmaster]

I would mind my own business. My nose is allready big enough. I don't need someone punching me in it.

Wingmaster

 

[redlevel]

Been fillin' 'em up like that for 50 years. Ain't been blowed up yet.

Seriously, I have. I believe there is a chance it could happen, and I know that it has happened, but I have never seen it happen or had first hand knowledge. It is like worrying about how clean the kitchen is at the restaurant. If you are going to go through life worrying about one in ten million chances, you are going to live a miserable existence.

You are taking a much greater risk simply pulling out in traffic when you leave the station. Worry about the drunk that just left the bar running you off the road.

 

[timn8er]

Speak up. You are also being exposed to the danger.

^^^^^^^^+1
Exactly. Just because he feels like rolling the dice doesn't mean he can gamble with everyone's life around him. Maybe he just doesn't know. And as far as the "I've never seen it happen" logic goes, I've never seen a great white shark, but I do know if I put myself in a situation where I can be attacked, I stand a good chance of becoming lunch. Even though its never happened to me before.