Willingness to help others - or lack of.

Domo · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:19

I arrived at Waterloo station this morning, and as usual I was one of the last to leave my carriage by the time I've got myself sorted.

I stepped out onto the platform and noticed a girl clutching her chest with one hand while buckled over, while using the other hand to hold a railing - clearly distressed.

This was rush-hour - 8:20 AM to be precise and everybody ahead of me had already walked right by this girl. I stopped and she was indeed in trouble, unable to breath with tightness in her chest. 10 minutes after I raised the alarm with a less than useless rail guard some medics arrived.

I'm hoping it was nothing more than an anxiety attack, doubt I'll ever find out. But what got to me was the amount of people who did nothing. Some stared, most just walked by. What the hell is it with people? Are they afraid? Just too busy?? I give up.

Sorry - this is a bit of a rant and nothing more.

Hades · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:25

Well done for helping. I hope I'd do the same. But I agree many people don't and that is indeed sad.

Anox · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:26

Most people these days just don't give a damn in hell, because it doesn't affect them, they should not be inclined to help in their eyes.

bitslice · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:30

From what I remember this is normal behaviour for Londoners, I'm only surprised nobody robbed her.

Samueltastic · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:34

I find it bizarre how people can walk past others who are clearly in distress, without batting an eyelid.

Slyman2k4 · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:35

How about the flip-side: people are seriously ungrateful cretins these days. Nothing but a bunch of selfish "entitled to all" morons without a please or a thank you. Wouldn't ever dare help you or contribute in return. Then you get the usual moaning and sly slander when you don't pander to their need.

There are more dead weights out there that there are good guys. Just one of those sad facts of life, people want everything and to give nothing.

That movie pay it forward is such a sham! :mad:

JBod · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:38

Domo said:
I arrived at Waterloo station this morning, and as usual I was one of the last to leave my carriage by the time I've got myself sorted.

I stepped out onto the platform and noticed a girl clutching her chest with one hand while buckled over, while using the other hand to hold a railing - clearly distressed.

This was rush-hour - 8:20 AM to be precise and everybody ahead of me had already walked right by this girl. I stopped and she was indeed in trouble, unable to breath with tightness in her chest. 10 minutes after I raised the alarm with a less than useless rail guard some medics arrived.

I'm hoping it was nothing more than an anxiety attack, doubt I'll ever find out. But what got to me was the amount of people who did nothing. Some stared, most just walked by. What the hell is it with people? Are they afraid? Just too busy?? I give up.

Sorry - this is a bit of a rant and nothing more.

Was she fit?

Efour · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:39

bitslice said:
From what I remember this is normal behaviour for Londoners, I'm only surprised nobody robbed her.

IRLeetly · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:44

It is mental nowadays, just the society we live in.

bitslice · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:53

Efour said:

Lived there, seen it all before, you only have to sit on the tube to see that Londoners live in a world of their own.

Oh and :rolleyes:

Anox · 19 Mar 2013 at 22:56

bitslice said:
Lived there, seen it all before, you only have to sit on the tube to see that Londoners live in a world of their own.

Oh and

*Most Londoners, some have more than an empty shell*

Brookert · 19 Mar 2013 at 23:00

bitslice said:
From what I remember this is normal behaviour for Londoners, I'm only surprised nobody robbed her.

+1zillions

wobbledog · 19 Mar 2013 at 23:03

this has happened to me before, thank god only an anxiety attack, of course none of my fellow Londoners even threw a glance my way :/

you'll often notice the further out you travel from London, the kinder and more willing to help people get, shame our country works that way.

eddiemcgarrigle · 19 Mar 2013 at 23:06

Always help, it's in my nature. The other risk is that you don't want to be picking up a newspaper to hear that someone died while everyone walked past, including yourself.

Derek W · 19 Mar 2013 at 23:07

to be fair half the time to try to show a bit of compassion towards someone else all you get is a mouthful of abuse in return!

Horse Pop · 19 Mar 2013 at 23:12

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201006/the-diffusion-responsibility

This is why you should always act first if you don't know other people have.

edit
Oh and "Smash her pasty".

bitslice · 19 Mar 2013 at 23:22

Anox said:
*Most Londoners, some have more than an empty shell*

Well yeh, Domo also being the decent exception here

Efour · 19 Mar 2013 at 23:25

I think your twisted bias is more towards commuters than Londoners but lets get this N vs S crap flowing now and save some time.

As Derek says half the time you just get grief anyway. Example.. It gets very icy and slippery around my local bus stop. I watched an elderly lady (must have been in her 80s) start sliding and gathering the silly kind of momentum you get when you are tripping forwards and go into that kinda falling forward run.
As she came into my range i scooped her up and stopped her, letting her bounce into me. I thought it was very skillful, i added a cheesy "ooh nearly, saved you there!" comment. It was met by a torrent of abuse and an evil stare like i had tried to sexually assault her. I genuinely wish i had watched her go Flying and break her hips and face on the pavement. I think i even muttered some stuff under my breath i was so shocked at her reaction...

So yeah i think twice before helping people, but to tar an entire cities population is "silly"

fluffmct · 19 Mar 2013 at 23:28

Horse Pop said:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/happiness-in-world/201006/the-diffusion-responsibility

This is why you should always act first if you don't know other people have.

edit
Oh and "Smash her pasty".

Was just going to post this. Safer with less people around than more, contrary to common sense

decmatt · 19 Mar 2013 at 23:29

This is just human psychology I'm afraid

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect