Would you actively respond to someone's desperate screams for help?

18 Comments

This whole Trayvon Martin case has me thinking: whats wrong with people? Why do we so often cower, when under pressure to do right by others? Why are we so afraid?

Would you help someone you thought was in danger? And to what extent? At what point would you draw the line?

What if you had a weapon(gun)? Would you use it to defend another person if they were in serious peril (as in being violently beaten or themselves facing a gun)?

I would be very reluctant/afraid to intervene. 2
I don't think I would really care and/or its not my business. 0
Other? [comment] 2
IF I determine that I/my family am/are not in immediate danger, yes. 7
I would have second thoughts, but still feel obligated to help them. 14
I would (intervene) in a heart beat. 7
I would help them by calling the police. 11
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Comments ( 18 )
  • Frosties
    12 years ago

    Been in that situation. Someone had been knocked to the ground in a racially-aggravated assault and was being kicked in the head by two thugs. I reacted without thinking and charged at them. The cowardly bastards ran off.

    I hope I'd have reacted in the same way had I been sober.

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    • thinkingaboutit
      12 years ago

      *shakes head in frustration*. Some people are just too much.

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  • MRmr
    12 years ago

    humans are always in it for themselves, as long as their not the ones being hurt they dont give a shit about others. Its just in our nature, but honestly there are some "good" people out there that will come and play hero...its ashame most of the population isnt like that but i guess thats what makes heroes so unique in the first place.

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  • NeuroNeptunian
    12 years ago

    Depends on the situation.
    I don't want to accidentally end up on the side that is doing the victimizing when the victim is fighting back effectively.

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  • RomeoDeMontague
    10 years ago

    Yeah why wouldn't I? I would run over to the scene to figure out what happens. I mean what if a little old lady was hit by a car or something! They need your help! If it sounded like playing I might ignore it.

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  • [Old Memory]
    12 years ago

    i would panic if i saw a gang fighting one person, it would be unbearbale i cant stand that cowardly stuff, there would be screaming and running around screaming for help, like a headless chicken but louder and more annoying, doors would be banged on, i might even get in a car and drive towards them, as i said id panic

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  • zchristian
    12 years ago

    I would call the police and then help if i can.

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  • Darkoil
    12 years ago

    I have before intervened when I walked past a group of guys and one was attacking a girl I used to know at school, but in general if I walked past a guy being attacked and not defending himself then I wouldn't help unless he offered to pay me or something.

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  • myownopinions
    12 years ago

    It depends on the risk and also knowing the person in an important factor to take into consideration. I've never been in a situation like this, but I'd think I'd call the police and find some way to help (unless it's a really big fight or it's an equal fight that isn't some kind of assault).

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  • [Old Memory]
    12 years ago

    Completely depends. I have done this a few times, but probably wouldn't again due to risks I would be taking. I would be risking my life for someone else...Why? So instead of just one person being attacked, two people end up being a victim...
    If I had a weapon? Then I still wouldn't. At the end of the day, I would be charged for having a weapon.

    I can quite easily sort out such situations, but last time I did, I got a criminal record for breaking the persons jaw, nose, and head injuries. Basically I got charged for assault, even though I was defending someone else.

    So am I going to be the good guy and risk becoming the victim by the ones that are supposed tobe doing the protecting? No.

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    • Anime7
      12 years ago

      I have to agree with this. It is becoming increasingly difficult to defend our fellow man in a fight. It's almost as if the law prevents people from helping one another.

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      • misca
        12 years ago

        Roughly the same thing here in Finland. Just a couple of weeks ago a person was being beaten by a group of teenagers. Some stranger went to help the victim and in the process hit one of the teenagers (no broken bones, just a scratch). The stranger got injured, however.

        In the end the first victim is ignored and this helpful stranger got charged for an assault. One of the teenagers got a warning.

        That's "justice"... :(

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        • Anime7
          12 years ago

          That's just wrong. I hate that sort of thing. Good guys shouldn't get punished, they should get rewarded. Stuff like this just makes me mad.

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    • thinkingaboutit
      12 years ago

      uh, you don't think breaking someone's face is excessive force? those aren't defensive moves. but its a story i want to hear lol

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      • [Old Memory]
        12 years ago

        The town "tough guy" grabbed my friend's neck, choked him. I put my hand between them both and told him to back off. He pushed me saying "What are you going to do", so I pushed him to the ground. He got up, he punched me twice, then I retaliated.
        After the whole incident, he ran in to a youth club "we were sixteen at the time", and was aying "I got jumped, I got jumped", etc. So after me and my friend was walking down this grassy area after the situation, we hear shouting, turn around, and seeabout 40 people chasing us, so we ran. I'm not stupid enough to think I can pull off winning a fight with 40 people, so I chose flight.
        We were being chased through the whole town, but they could barely keep up, and I realized that it would be easier if my friend and I split up. So we done it, and arranged to meet up at our street. I got to areas to not be seen, and there was a point when three of them walked right past,and if they had turned around they would of seen me. It was quite a fun incident, regardless of the criminal record.

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        • zchristian
          12 years ago

          Ah this reminds me of that idiotic rule about robbers getting hurt in your house and can sue you for it...

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    • IrishPotato
      12 years ago

      American? Those retarded laws sound American.

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  • wigsplitz
    12 years ago

    I am AWESOME at this...I've done it before, quite a few times. I do it both pre-fight and mid-fight. I don't know what comes over me, but very stressful situations bring out the best in me and I'm easily able to deal with everything. If I was to try to explain it, I couldn't...I just have to be there, and it's like I instantly know what to do. I know that I am taking risks but I just know, I have this ultimate confidence, that I will do and say exactly the right things to diffuse the situation.

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