If you saw a stranger being attack by random acts of violence, would risk you own life by helping them?

Probably, if i couldn't stop it right away i would definitely try to get help.

I couldn't not ... I never understood on lookers ! Either in some way help or leave.. but don't stand there like an idiot and stare then run and tell the story.

It is actually impossible to answer this question honestly. You cannot say until you are placed in that situation and the vast majority of people will say that they would jump right in there, thus making themselves look like a "good" and "caring" person who would not let someone harm another person.

Until you find yourself in the situation, you will never know how you will respond.

I don't take sides. I'd shoot both of them.

this random act of violence...
does it involve gun play???

If it were a stranger, it is highly unlikely I would do anything.

For all I know, that fucker might've had it coming.

IceNine said:

So right...
I've been there twice actually, and I still don't know what the right thing should've been.
One involved a mob of kids and one where 3 guys where chasing a 4th down my street at two in the morning.
Neither of them were pretty or clear cut.

XNY said:

That's the thing... the fourth guy could have just robbed one of the other guys and the chasers could have been the good citizens.

...also, you cannot say that you WILL react or just stand there either. It is a tough thing to discuss, really.

IceNine said:

I gotta agree with Ice.
I saw an elderly woman getting bad mouthed by a punk kid the other day.

I just walked on and told the lady not to let that ruin her day.

The more I thought about as the day went on, I should have smacked that brat up side the head!

But I didn't.

IceNine said:

So if you see some guys just beating the shit out of another guy you wouldn't try to get help? You don't have to jump in but you can call for help. I'm sure you would like someone to take this type of attitude if the victim were you.



Clearing up the edit
[This message was edited Thu Jan 23 12:39:39 PST 2003 by theC]

Happened to me once, on the way to work...I was running late, and stopped at a stoplight.

Out of the corner of my eye, there was this couple fighting, a male and a female. At first I only saw their mouths moving, then the hands...she went at him! She struck him, and next thing I knew (this all happened quickly)...SHE was on the sidewalk and he was kicking her head to the curb - LITERALLY! I had been there long enough, with a car that was partially banged up, a VERY obvious, and easy to spot car...no cellphone, and the only phone was a payphone across the way.

I actually kept going after the light was green, and felt like shit for doing it, but I didn't want to be "linked" to what happened because the guy saw me and the car I was driving quite clearly - I lived only 2 blocks away.

LaVisHh said:

But when you got home you could have called for help. I understand you feeling unsafe and being a female in this society make actually compound things, but the only way this society is going to get better is through action and not sticking our heads in the sand. First it's them, the next time it may be you. Thugs rule on the fact people are too afraid to take them on. It's the only way to stop this.

theC said:

What I am saying is that you cannot honestly say what you would do until you were faced with the situation. Ideally, I would try to break the fight up, but I cannot say that I would actually do it if I found myself in the situation. I have never found myself in the position to have to break up some random attack, so I cannot say what I would do.

This is the same for everyone out there... if there was a seven foot tall monster beating up a six foot tall guy, would you jump in there and try to get the seven foot guy to leave him alone? I don't know... I think that our own desire for self-preservation might supercede our altruistic tendencies.

theC said:

theC...I was on my way to work. I had NO CLUE who they were, and couldn't identify them if my life depended on it.

I agree that it was lame, but it's what I did.

theC said:

OR you'd try to help kick thier ass?

This reminds me of a Monday Night Movie on ABC in the 70's.
This woman was being attacked in the alley by this man in the middle of the night. There were many people who saw and heard this and did nothing except hear the woman get killed(which took like ten minutes of chasing and fighting). I remember being mad that those people didn't help that lady and watched her die. I understand peoples fear(i have them too believe me), it's just sometimes the situation is much bigger than us individually. I'm no superhero, but i do try to make things better all around. And no i'm not the theatric bullet taking type. But i will try to find a way to save a life.

IceNine said:

That's just it, you don't HAVE to jump in all the time. Sometimes just finding help or calling in can make the difference. You may not help that situation(although you might), but you may get a monster off the street that will only end up killing someone else.

I admit, theC...I was terrified that he would remember me, and by getting involved - I could have changed my life for the worst. So in the two mintes of shock, I chose to go on and not do anything.

LaVisHh said:

You're not an evil person and you did what most would do.
I'm not chastizing s/p? you. I just feel more effort needs to be put forht to stop crime all the way around. Criminals get it too easy right now. Makes crime look very appealing.

I'd do nothing and wait for the TV news crew to get there, and then act like a dork in the background of the news report.

IceNine said:

I thought they were all going to kick my ass actually. None of them looked like they would've backed me up. I know that's a stereotype, but I can tell a crackhead-black, white, latino--from across the room. They were fucked up on something.
I did call the cops on the 2nd one(i was outside during the 1st) but you can get killed in the ten minutes it takes the cops to get there.
Great question, regardless.

theC said:

I would hope that we would all try to help, but there are certain psychological reasons why certain people cannot act... it is not that they don't want to, it is because they can't.

There have been a great number of psychological studies on this sort of thing and the studies have even shown that people who claim that they would never harm another person would actually cause great harm under various circumstances.

The only point I am trying to make is that there is a difference between ideology and reality in a great many cases.

I also am not advocating that I would or "could" jump into a situation and make a difference... But there are other things one can ( and i have ) done

I witnessed a man beating the hell out of a woman in a moving vehicle. I phoned the police and gave the location of the situation. I didn't know if she was there at her will or not.. i DID know I couldn't pretend it wasn't happening. I feared they weren't to get there on time.. so I slammed on my horn (freeway was crowded) made sure he saw we all did... and that he could be identified. I also realize she may protect him and choose to except his abuse. That I cannot control. I however slept well that night.

I've witnessed many times brawls between idiots at club's etc... If its girls I don't hesitate to ask the bigger men around me to break it up.. Never was told no either.

A lot of the decision process in these situations and more serious ones as well, will greatly depend on your fight or flight response as well as things you have experienced in life.

I lived in a bad part of Los Angeles when I was 18... these high school age guys used to roll dice in the parking structure below.. I always played my music loud enough for the whole block.. Once I was playing "Dirty Mind" for probably the 80th time straight.. they asked me to please change it..
Anyway I was almost attacked on my way out one evening... The would be attackers began to back up from me.. looking over my shoulder. I looked back and several of the kids who rolled dice were coming towards them and neutralized the situation. ( They were far smaller then the attackers) I thank God they chose to step in. I also headed there advice not to carry my purse out anymore.
Now I am not gonna get myself killed. Im not a fool! But IM clever and can think fast on my feet.
For instance C's alley scenario.. that one was easy to neutralize... You could have screamed from any window into the night.. screamed for help (as well assuming the cops are on the way ) You can scream that.. the attacker has no way of knowing where it came from. BUT most likely doesn't want the attention and will flee...
shine light on darkness and see what happens.. Make a difference whenever you can.

Muse2noPharaoh said:

Now "C" is a Muse to Muse

IceNine said:

I do agree with you Tony. Some can't help . They freeze.. This is not there fault and part of there makeup. However, that same person is not likely to stand around either. You can view the tapes of the riots we had down here and where you see a guy on the ground and a another man throws his body over the one they are beating to try and stop them as guy one is nearly dead... you also see about oh 15 idiots standing there watching. If you are unable to help WHY stand there and gawk??? Clearly this is what they are doing. I have zero tolerance for that 3rd sort of person.

Muse2noPharaoh said:

I agree with you.

My point remains though... we never truly know if we would act or not until we are faced with the situation. Ideally, I would help people, but I cannot say if I would. Just being honest and all that.

Maybe i should just go back to chat!!

Muse2noPharaoh said:

This is better than chat and you KNOW it!

:LOL:

IceNine said:

I shall respectfully plea the 5th! AS either way it may incriminate me ( but, if I keep it up.. They may throw me out of the forums! )