Why the hell are we always waiting for someone else to do something?

It has been known since the 1960s that the more people that are about, the less likely it is that anyone will help. Ironically, it's the sheer numbers of people in the car park which meant people therefore failed to do anything - if only one of two people had been around then they would probably have come over.

The "Beadle" factor probably doesn't help though. The fact I might be secretly filmed if I helped in those circumstances doesn't worry me (last time I helped was a real one: an old man who collapsed next to my car at some traffic lights) - if some **** come at me with a microphone and tells me it was a prank I'd just punch himinto next week.


M
 
I think I've posted about this before, but my mum was in quite a serious car accident outside a police station in front of their cctv cameras. No one came out, cars and pedestrians just went by without even stopping. I've always went out of my way to help strangers in need, but I despair at the people who can walk straight past an accident and not help.
 
I remember a news article here in Edmonton about a woman who was in the middle of the road and got hit by a vans mirrors, CCTV showed she was on the ground for about 14mins or so before someone helped, most people just drove past. Its a wonderful world.
 
I saw a report of an elderly man who drove his motorised chariot into a trench which had been dug by National Grid - while they were standing in it! I imagine help was fairly swift.

Also bear in mind that offering assistance to someone who is severely injured (not specifically this case, but imagine a serious RTA) could have serious implications for the helper. What if the simple act of moving them into the recovery position caused more harm? I imagine more than one prospective rescuer has had thoughts of litigation in their mind (they'd watched CSI the night before ;)).

With reference to the post who would be embarassed by someone helping out, I have a relevant tale. Once, when I was 20 I was running to work and slipped on a patch of ice, landing on my backside and knocking the wind out of my lungs (and some would say severely affected my brain). I looked up to see a group of girls around my age all giggling away at the bus stop. Fair enough, I thought, I can still emerge from this with some dignity - until this frail little old lady who I'd not seen, about 90 if she was a day, leant down and offered me a hand up. The giggles turned to guffaws of laughter and the last thing I remember was thanking her profusely before sprinting off down the road.
 
That's frankly shocking.

However I can understand that some people are apprehensive of helping people for the fear of having it slapped back in your face or doing something wrong. However you can always get someone else to give you a hand or call the emergency services.

In this case however how hard is it to help someone that is actually shouting for help? It's pathetic.
 
"My name is Michael Paine and I am a nosey neighbor. This week I was disgusted to see the young girl opposite my house collapse in her bedroom. Do you know I watched her for 5 days and no one came to help the poor girl"

(something like that :p )
 
I was in The London last year and I heard a sreech and a bang, looked around and a woman was going up over a bonnet. To my amazement everybody around her looked the other way and kept walking and there were lots of people. I stood there for what seemed like an age and then did my duty and tried to calm her. Luckily professional help was about two minutes away and I just walked on when I saw it coming.

A few years ago I came back from a friends house and saw a car overturned with spectators all around it just staring. I stopped the car, got out and asked how long it had been like that and one bloke said about five minutes. I asked if anybody had tried to help them because two were screaming inside the car and he said 'no' :eek: Me and my mate then set about doing something and luckily my mate was a surgeon so he knew a bit about first aid.

I've lost count of the amount of times I've gone over to people lying down on the floor and everytime they were drunk.

Nearly forgot, about 10 years ago I came home from a gig and noticed a neighbour trying to get into his house and it was quite comical because he was obviously drunk. I emptied the car out and 5 mins later he was sitting on the step and it was winter. I went in, had a drink, something to eat, watched Match Of the Day and went bed about 2am. I decided to look out of the window and he was still there on the step. My wife knew their surname so I rang up and told them there lad was outside but I didn't leave my name. 15 mins later an ambulance turned up and the following day the parents wanted to know who the mystery caller was because he'd saved their sons life because he was diabetic and not drunk :eek:
 
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