WWW.RIDESIDE.NET

Dawn says I'm a ride mooch, and frankly I am. . But rides are not exactly FREE per se, we provide a useful service, and being a good moocher requires a lot of savvy maneuvering. Here are some examples: . [b]Services To Drivers[/b] . We keep the driver entertained by being fun and friendly and sufficiently happy to be driving us around. . We keep the driver awake, provide drinks, gum, and radio station changing services. . We provide the driver the feeling that they are carpooling, and thus saving the environment. [b]We have to be savvy[/b] . A good moocher ALWAYS offers to pay for gas when the driver pulls into a gas station. Even if the trip is from Allston to Cambridge. . A good moocher is sufficiently pitiful so that the driver feels bad that we won't be able to make it to a particular destination. . A good moocher has a mental map of the area and where friends live, and another map indicating what friends are doing what activity each evening. We overlay these maps, pinpointing the exact friend who is going to drive by our houses, so we don't put anyone out. . We have to have a large enough network of people around so that one friend doesn't feel over-burdeoned with our mooching. . A good moocher should be an inexperienced or bad enough driver to make all passengers feel unsafe. . We have to be sufficiently comfortable using our mooch skills to procure a ride, even for those who have a car, particularly when that friend is drunk. . We NEVER, NEVER complain about the driver's choice of music. . I'm sure there is more, lemme just think about it some more.