Would you have helped in this situation? (vid)

[themeecer]

Well my knowledge is from one semester of business law and numerous conversations with my professor who is also an attorney. So we will leave this up to our board attorney, Judge Pen. But laws or no laws, I couldn't stand by and see someone take a beating like that.

I have some serious doubts on your story of the security guard 'punk.' Not that you are lying, just that the resulting facts weren't reported correctly to you, especially the cops blaming the security guard for not allowing two people to fight it out. There would have to be some extenuating circumstances.

[Kristoffer]

he wasn't that big, just fat.

Unless the guy takin the hit was my friend I wouldn't go after fatso. I would probebly just try communicating with him, get him to calm down.

On the other hand I wouldn't mind takin that hit for $25,000 and knowing the idiot got 4 years.

[ricksitterly]

in any physical confrontation i've had, i've never stuck around long enough to let the police (or lawyers) try to sort out who was at fault for what. and u know what, i've never heard of the police searching very hard for a man who allegedly "broke up" a fight.

however, if u were the guy who walked up to someone and just started swinging at them, they're probably going to track u down and arrest you if they can.

Originally Posted by YuanZhideDiZhen
"so if you're going to allow yourself to get charged for attacking someone not only are you stuping to the attacker's level but you'll go to jail too. so if you get involved like a vigilante do it all the way":

as for that comment, i would say that with an outlook like that, you will eventually end up in jail. Even in self defense, or the defense of others, the court does recognize the difference between doing what is necessary and going beyond what is necessary and causing unnecessary damage to anyone. When rich people with lawyers get involved, the legal system gets tricky.

I think it's pretty cowardly to sit back and say "it's not my business". So I suppose you're type of person who wouldn't have gotten involved if someone hijacked a plane you were on? Look where that got us.

[Mo Lung]

"so if you're going to allow yourself to get charged for attacking someone not only are you stuping to the attacker's level but you'll go to jail too. so if you get involved like a vigilante do it all the way"

I wonder if you'd still feel this way if that was you copping a beating while the rest of the shop stood by.

[CaptinPickAxe]

I'm sorry...as unprofessional and heartless as this sounds.... If that big dude hit me, he would of been in for the shanking of a life time. I would of stabbed him so many times it would of made O.J. turn away in horror.

Size does matter, and sometimes when you have a gorrilla mofo like that reigning blows upon you'r head, it's necessary to use a weapon. Be it tazer, mace, small knife, whatever. I have a little carry blade I carry for when I'm walking home from downtown at night. It's not big enough to kill (when stabbing the body), but it is a deterrent so that I could make a getaway. It's about 2 1/2 inches of blade...

I would of stabbed through his foot while he was standing over me, then twisted and watch him writhe in agony. Then I would of got up and stabbed him once or twice more for good measure. Then I'd wipe the blood off on his shirt and book it.

a tid bit ghetto of me perhaps, but I guess I just carry myself differently...

[dezhen2001]

are you sure that isnt "big enough to kill"?
Im a wuss, so no smack talk from me, i know i probably wouldnt do anything unless i had dutch courage or something -- and i aitn dutch!

[David Jamieson]

i honestly don't know why any of us would even bother speculating about this.

simple truth of the matter is you have NO IDEA what you would do in a situation like that until it happens.

Another truth of the matter is that when that type of situation happens, the way those people reacted is how most people react.

To be a helpful person is to be the one in a million, not teh oether way around.
That one in a million wasn't tehre that day and don't be dreaming that you are him. You don't know until it happens.

[rogue]

i honestly don't know why any of us would even bother speculating about this.

simple truth of the matter is you have NO IDEA what you would do in a situation like that until it happens.

Another truth of the matter is that when that type of situation happens, the way those people reacted is how most people react.

To be a helpful person is to be the one in a million, not teh oether way around.
That one in a million wasn't tehre that day and don't be dreaming that you are him. You don't know until it happens.

KL does seem to be almost right on this. But... if one person did get involved then there is a very good chance the others will have followed. I think the number of helpful people are better than one in a million but that may be my convservative rosey point of view.

One problem that does come up is if you take the big man down will the law see you as a hero or another ******* in the fight.

[David Jamieson]

you're speculating rogue.

I think we've seen this before in vids and some of us for real.

Your average schmo will just stand there and watch and let it happen. He might help afterwards when there is no longer teh possibility of danger to himself.

The one in a million in my opinion might be a little high.
For the most part, people don't care about other people in even the most small ways.

Don't believe me? Then ask yourselves why is there homelessness in the richest countries in the world? Why is pornography and prostitution one of the largest industries in our North America. The why's are endless, the amount of people trying to make a dent in these problems is very very small compared to the whole of the population.

Truth is, most of us like to think we are good people, but when it gets right down to it, most of us do not take action. You could say "speak for yourself" and I could say those are empty words. Trouble is, I would probably be the one who is right despite all your best intentions and what you think you might do.

[william]

The sad thing is, it's in our nature not to do anything, (If they are not related to you)

I am not an expert of this, as I study different modules (finishing a psychology degree) but in situations like this the more people there are around the less likely the guy is to get help. Its diffusion of responsibility, he is more likely to have been helped if there were just one or two guys in the shop.

When sh*t like this happens you run a mental cost reward analysis instantly.

Rewards = helping out fellow human, mild press recognition etc

Costs = Injury, or Death.

It doesn't weigh up. As you survival instinct is greater than you 'helping out' instinct (Altruism). Your strongest reaction will be to do nothing.

You could override this, but it is difficult, your are going against human nature.

Not saying we shouldn't try and go against it, just something to think about, before people make claims.

W.

[rogue]

you're speculating rogue.

I think we've seen this before in vids and some of us for real.

Your average schmo will just stand there and watch and let it happen. He might help afterwards when there is no longer teh possibility of danger to himself.

The one in a million in my opinion might be a little high.
For the most part, people don't care about other people in even the most small ways.

What a sad sorry world you live in. People risk life and limb everyday to save people, you just don't see them unless it's something spectacular. I may have just been raised differently than you.

Don't believe me? Then ask yourselves why is there homelessness in the richest countries in the world? Why is pornography and prostitution one of the largest industries in our North America. The why's are endless, the amount of people trying to make a dent in these problems is very very small compared to the whole of the population.

For porn and prostitution I'd say it's supply and demand, and people who are willing to take advantage of those who are in a position and willing to be taken adavantage of. Homelessness has always been around but was called other things. But you do what you can.

Truth is, most of us like to think we are good people, but when it gets right down to it, most of us do not take action. You could say "speak for yourself" and I could say those are empty words. Trouble is, I would probably be the one who is right despite all your best intentions and what you think you might do.

So who is specualting now? I'd say I wouldn't go against the big guy physically as that would be an empty sacrifice, so in this case I might try to get his attention on getting out. But I am a person who does tend to get involved, in this case it would be administering first aid and getting the first responders in.

[red5angel]

If I had my phone I would have caled the cops first then I would have stepped in. nothing infuriates me more then to see this sort of apathy, all of these guys sitting around doing absolutely nothing. that's the difference between the wolf and the sheep.

[Starchaser107]

it just doesn't seem right to me, people should have intervened. nobody even tried to talk to anyone and calm the aggressors down, nobody tried to pull him off.
and what's worse, nobody assisted the injured man...
that's cold.
that's really heartless.

maybe that was what 9/11 was like in the sky.

this mentality needs to change.

[Starchaser107]

and another thing.
no one knew for certain that the big black gorilla would not flip out and attack anyone else.

so ok no one intervenes, what if he hits someone else. what if it's you or your friend?

how many people does he need to attack before someone decides to do something about it.

what if it's too late by then?

[rogue]

Until someone does something.