The Gang of Five

Beyond the Mysterious Beyond => The Fridge => Topic started by: Saft on January 18, 2011, 01:23:22 PM

Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Saft on January 18, 2011, 01:23:22 PM
Basing from an MSN conversation it got me thinking what would someone do if they saw someone in trouble?  Would you be a 'knight in shining armour' and go to the person's rescue even if it would put yourself at a risk?  

One of my biggest regrets in life is not helping someone else out when they were being bullied by the same people who had bullied me.  I was too much of a coward thinking that I was 'safe' that I didn't take action against them.  I do feel bad about it and because of that, I would try to help in some way, even if it was calling the police or something if I saw someone in trouble.  

Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Adder on January 18, 2011, 01:32:11 PM
I can't actually vote in the poll, I'd pick the first 2 choices.

If it wasn't somebody with a gun or anything, like bullying then I probably would. But if the person has a gun or another weapon, I'd get the police or something. It depends if the person is armed or not.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Saft on January 18, 2011, 01:36:15 PM
There ae more ways to injure a person than a weapon.  What about them beating a person up?  Would this still apply?
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Adder on January 18, 2011, 01:40:35 PM
Quote from: Saft,Jan 18 2011 on  12:36 PM
What about them beating a person up?  Would this still apply?
Do you mean defending somebody that was beating up somebody that isn't as strong as they are? If so, yes, then I would at least try to get the person away from him.



This topic reminds me of a time where this 15 year old shoved one of my friends to the ground [he was only 8]. Then another friend who was 14 came running at him, calling him a few choice words, and he ran off after Aaron kicked the heck out of his knee, he said that he was crying when he ran way. Must enjoy picking on those younger than him beacuse he thinks that he is so tough, but is afraid of somebody a year younger than him?
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Saft on January 18, 2011, 01:57:06 PM
^
That's what bullies do...they thrive on picking on the people that they deem would not fight back thus are weak.  Yet, the majority of them don't like it when things turn on them.  It's human nature to run away from danger.:p
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Adder on January 18, 2011, 02:08:20 PM
^Yeah well I fight back sometimes too. My 1/4 brother, he was acting stupid in 8th grade, and hugged (not sure what he was thinking :x ) and I couldn't get him off me, so I just kneeded him, and that was the end of it.

I've had to knee two people in 8th grade because they hugged me and I couldn't them off, They just did it to be a pain in a-never mind. :smile
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Saft on January 18, 2011, 02:14:21 PM
Er....ok...I suppose my reaction to random hugs isn't much better since I avoid them completely by recoiling but not exactly the purpose of the thread since it involves self heroism on behalf of another.;)
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: The Friendly Sharptooth on January 18, 2011, 02:32:30 PM
I was the only I knew in school that was bullied, so I was never faced with the issue of coming to the rescue of someone else. Still, if someone is bullied, the method would determine my actions. If someone is downright attacking someone, of course I’ll step in. It’s just, bullies getting into an all out brawl is not something I hear of often. If a bully is just pestering someone, intimidating another, I would get authority. That is why figures of authority have been placed in our lives- to get help in times of need. I won’t stand around while someone is getting physically hurt, but in the case of words being the only weapon, my hands are pretty much tied. Simply talking to a verbally abusive bully likely won’t help. If a bully could be swayed by a mere verbal confrontation from another student, bullying wouldn’t be much of a problem in the world. That is partially what teachers exist for, to rectify problems with other students.

It isn’t just direct actions that make for a knight. Getting someone else can be heroic too. Cavin from the Gummi Bears thrived to be a knight, someone to look up to and help those in need. Did he spend his time trying to thwart duke Igthorn plans against the kingdom on his own? No, he got help from the gummi bears, and he always came across as heroic in my book. Just because someone isn’t directly responsible for helping someone doesn’t mean the person isn’t heroic. Still, that shouldn’t even matter. Knights don’t do acts of heroism for the praise and glory. They do what they do because it is right and it helps others. True knights only care that justice has been done, whether they are credited or not. As long as a victim is helped, knights are happy.

So in the end, I would only physically interfere if the victim is physically in danger. If just emotional insecurity is on the line, I will get help, as that is what teachers want us to do. It may not be very glamorous to help through someone else, but in most cases, that is the appropriate thing to do. A knight does what is right, even if that means not soiling his own hands.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Mumbling on January 18, 2011, 02:58:20 PM
I fear my answer is not among the answers you've given as options. I'd help, but only if I knew the person.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Saft on January 18, 2011, 03:08:40 PM
Ah sorry about that, when I usually do these more indepth thought processes I only have three options in mind.  I suppose you could still vote but have it in a way that if you know the person only then what would you do?  Rush in and help or call the police to help them?  
If that option works..sorry about that.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Adder on January 18, 2011, 03:13:51 PM
^The admins and moderators can add or remove poll choices. So you could ask one of them to edit the poll to add it. :)
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Mumbling on January 18, 2011, 03:28:58 PM
Rush in and help, most likely.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: landbeforetimelover on January 18, 2011, 04:25:02 PM
I picked option one, but I wouldn't be stupid about it either.  If someone was holding a gun to someone else's head, I wouldn't make myself another target.  I'd find a different way of helping.  If someone was drowning I wouldn't even try to help them by jumping in myself because I can't swim.  Now things would change if the person was a family member.  I wouldn't mind taking a bullet or drowning if it meant I could save a member of my family.  But that's an issue of valuing their lives over my own.  I'm obviously not going to have that same dedication to a stranger, but I'd do whatever I could so long as the chances were low that both of us would perish in the attempt.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: LBTDiclonius on January 18, 2011, 06:23:49 PM
I would help, but it really depends on what the situation is. If I didn't know the person, I would help by maybe calling the police or trying to find another way to help them. But if it was a family member or someone I was very close with, for sure I would help them. I wouldn't mind risking my neck for someone I'm close to
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Nimrod on January 18, 2011, 06:35:09 PM
Quote from: Mumbling,Jan 18 2011 on  01:58 PM
I fear my answer is not among the answers you've given as options. I'd help, but only if I knew the person.
Really? What about if you see a little boy or girl around 10 years being bullied by one or two older ones, let¥s say 14 years. Wouldn¥t you try to help if they are not armored? I definitly would. My sence for protection is very high, so I would definitly help in any case where the others aren¥t armored.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Littlefoot1616 on January 19, 2011, 05:04:16 PM
I'd say it depends on the situation coz there's no point in you risking your neck for someone if you're only just gonna end up a victim yourself. Then there's two people who need help.

I would help out if I could. I've taken a few blows helping out a friend (not implying we go looking for fights but sometimes we're just in the wrong place at the wrong time). I'd look to defuse any situation calmly rather than see who can swing their fists faster or have the most noble leap of doom but if it came to the crunch, I'd like to think that I'd be brave enough to do the right thing even if I took the brunt of the damage. I know my friends and family would do it for me ;)
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Malte279 on January 19, 2011, 06:41:48 PM
Same here, much would depend on the situation.
If there was significant danger (someone who is armed) but apparent time (no immediate threat of the villain using the weapon) I suppose I would be likely to call the police and (again depending on the situation) possibly make the offender realize that help is on its way.
If there is no immediate danger for once life or health chances are that I would intervene. I did come in such a situation before. When at a train station I saw a guy who seemed to be molesting a girl who repeatedly told him to leave her alone I went over and asked if I could be of any assistance. However both of them seemed to be rather surprised and the whole matter in spite of the dramatic appearance apparently was more of a quarrel between mates.
When there was a dangerous situation with other people around I would also try to mobilize others by addressing them directly (not "could somebody help please" but rather "You with the cell phone, call the police please" and "you with the bazooka (or maybe you with the blue pullover :lol) come with me to help the guy/girl who is being attacked).
What I cannot say (and which I doubt anyone could say unless he or she has been in the situation) is how I would act if intervening would be potentially lethal (someone with a gun) but circumstances did not allow for the time to call the police or otherwise cause the situation to relax (in other words murder is about to be committed). Of course one would like to be the knight in shining armor in that situation but until I really get into such a situation I cannot guarantee I would attack a seven foot tall guy with a gun who is about to shoot someone.
In any case violence to me would only ever be an option if there is absolutely NO other possibility left (that is if someone is being attacked already).

PS: According to what I read and heard people who are attacked or threatened are well advised not to call "Help!" to make people rush to their assistance. Apparently it is better to call "Fire!" because that will make people rush towards the caller with little hesitation.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Mumbling on January 20, 2011, 03:12:27 AM
Quote from: Nimrod,Jan 18 2011 on  11:35 PM
Quote from: Mumbling,Jan 18 2011 on  01:58 PM
I fear my answer is not among the answers you've given as options. I'd help, but only if I knew the person.
Really? What about if you see a little boy or girl around 10 years being bullied by one or two older ones, let¥s say 14 years. Wouldn¥t you try to help if they are not armored? I definitly would. My sence for protection is very high, so I would definitly help in any case where the others aren¥t armored.
No. Sorry to kill the hero you may see in me but I'm a coward when it comes to bullies. I've been bullied so much in my life that I do not act up if a kid is being bullied, certainly not by 14 year olds since they are usually the most aggressive and annoying age level you can get them.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Cancerian Tiger on January 20, 2011, 03:38:36 AM
^I'm the opposite of this one.  Having been bullied as a kid, I remember what it was like to be the underdog and not know how to stick up for myself.  These days, I can defend myself, and if I see someone else getting bullied I try to stop it from happening to them.  Having been bullied has built me up to a point where I resent it so much I take action if I see it happening, not chicken out ;).

As for the situation, as others have said, it all depends on the situation.  If I can help someone in need on my own, then I will.  If the situation could pose a threat to me, or if I'm not powerful enough to help someone on my own, then I will call for authority figures.

As for whether or not to help out strangers, I'm a strong believer in karma.  If I were in a pickle myself, I would hope someone would be brave enough and willing to help me out :exactly.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Malte279 on January 20, 2011, 05:59:15 AM
Quote
Really? What about if you see a little boy or girl around 10 years being bullied by one or two older ones, let¥s say 14 years. Wouldn¥t you try to help if they are not armored? I definitly would. My sence for protection is very high, so I would definitly help in any case where the others aren¥t armored.
This is the scenario where I am very likely to intervene when I see the 14 year olds turning violent or trying to force the kids to give them money or anything.
There has been a case in 2009 here in Germany which shocked the nation though. Dominik Brunner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominik_Brunner), a 40 year old businessman intervened when he saw a group of teenagers threatened by a 17 and a drunken 18 year old. He called the police and he left the train on the same station as the two offenders did. On the platform they beat him up kicking him even when he was lying on the ground.
Dominik Brunner died (to a healthy man the kicking alone wouldn't have been lethal, but he had a heard condition). Brunner was was posthumously honored and the nation was shocked that none of the witnesses had intervened.
However, court inquiry also stated that very likely Brunner was the first one to actually hit one of the teenagers.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Mumbling on January 20, 2011, 06:08:38 AM
I guess since I'm only 17 myself the 14 year olds would still see me as an equal and a target, I would not have the authority like someone of the age of 25+. Next to that I'm weak, physically wise, and would not be able to defend myself.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: WeirdRaptor on January 20, 2011, 06:19:09 AM
I voted on the middle choice, but I think you should have added in a fourth option, which is what I actually would do:

Yes, I would help someone by calling the cops or some authority, but would still try to do what I could in the meantime or if required by the authorities.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Nimrod on January 20, 2011, 12:21:04 PM
Quote from: Malte279,Jan 20 2011 on  04:59 AM
Quote
Really? What about if you see a little boy or girl around 10 years being bullied by one or two older ones, let¥s say 14 years. Wouldn¥t you try to help if they are not armored? I definitly would. My sence for protection is very high, so I would definitly help in any case where the others aren¥t armored.
This is the scenario where I am very likely to intervene when I see the 14 year olds turning violent or trying to force the kids to give them money or anything.
There has been a case in 2009 here in Germany which shocked the nation though. Dominik Brunner (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominik_Brunner), a 40 year old businessman intervened when he saw a group of teenagers threatened by a 17 and a drunken 18 year old. He called the police and he left the train on the same station as the two offenders did. On the platform they beat him up kicking him even when he was lying on the ground.
Dominik Brunner died (to a healthy man the kicking alone wouldn't have been lethal, but he had a heard condition). Brunner was was posthumously honored and the nation was shocked that none of the witnesses had intervened.
However, court inquiry also stated that very likely Brunner was the first one to actually hit one of the teenagers.
I¥ve heard about that. It¥s really sad to see that he was the only one who acted. I don¥t know, but I can¥t stand it to see someone being bullied. If there is a possibility to build up a group and try to solve the conflict, I would definitly do it. I prefer the way of speaking, so I would try to prevent starting a fight or something.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Nimrod on January 20, 2011, 12:23:07 PM
Quote from: Mumbling,Jan 20 2011 on  02:12 AM
Quote from: Nimrod,Jan 18 2011 on  11:35 PM
Quote from: Mumbling,Jan 18 2011 on  01:58 PM
I fear my answer is not among the answers you've given as options. I'd help, but only if I knew the person.
Really? What about if you see a little boy or girl around 10 years being bullied by one or two older ones, let¥s say 14 years. Wouldn¥t you try to help if they are not armored? I definitly would. My sence for protection is very high, so I would definitly help in any case where the others aren¥t armored.
No. Sorry to kill the hero you may see in me but I'm a coward when it comes to bullies. I've been bullied so much in my life that I do not act up if a kid is being bullied, certainly not by 14 year olds since they are usually the most aggressive and annoying age level you can get them.
I see your point there and it¥s totally ok. I¥ve been bullied as well. But I learned to act in a way that the others understand I didn¥t want that. Not by fighting, but just ignoring them, or even scream at them to make my point clear.

Maybe that¥s why I can¥t really stand it to see others being bullied. Because I know how horrible it is and I don¥t want anybody else to feel how that is.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Ducky123 on February 15, 2014, 11:56:37 PM
Intervene... Especially, if the attacked person is a girl.

Just standing around like a piece of trash is just so off if you ask me... I mean, as long as it's a fight on the same level, let them fight as long as nobody gets considerably hurt. But if a person is lying on the ground, bleeding, receiving punches, blows and kicks despite being unable to fend off the violent attack, it's our DUTY to intervene, to stop the violence, to prevent the victim from receiving more possibly severe damage.

I'm not strong, admittedly, and I'm usually not exactly a brave person (especially in the area of the other sex :rolleyes) but I'm helpful and not tolerating unfairness (I can be quite rebellious sometimes if something that can be changed in my opinion annoyes me). If I see somebody in trouble, I'd try to help as best as I can, and if it means putting myself at risk...
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: Deatharte on February 16, 2014, 01:54:10 AM
Honestly?  I'd just keep walking.  Nobody's life is worth risking my own for.  If they're getting attacked, they probably did something to deserve it, anyways.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) on February 16, 2014, 02:28:17 AM
Not to sound callous, but I'm supporting a wife and two roommates, since I'm the only one of us with a job and paying our rent.

I honestly think I can help more people in the world by staying alive and not getting shanked in an alleyway.

I would certainly look for options to help that don't involve my personal skin, such as calling the police, but I don't think I'd help the situation much by diving into the melee.
Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: jansenov on February 16, 2014, 09:11:02 AM
Weird as it may seem, but I never saw another person being bullied. And I have been bullied myself only at the rarest occasions. I'd like to think I'd intervene at risk of personal injury or shame, but I probably wouldn't. About 4 and a half years ago ,while I was riding on a tram, I saw something really weird. A 40(ish) year old man and 16-17 year old girl entered the tram, and the man was holding the girl by the upper right arm. He wasn't leaning on her. During the ride they were standing and he kept holding her firmly. The girl was offering no resistance and I couldn't make out her emotional state by glancing at her face. It was confusing, so I looked at the other people to see what they're thinking, but all I could see that the people seemed unphased, possibly skillfuly ignoring the whole scene. So he just kept holding her as the tram went through two stations. I wanted to ask the man why is he doing that, but I cowered and rationalized that since I couldn't make out discomfort on the girl's face, that I should just let them go. And so they stepped down to the street, the man still holding her. Soon I lost them out of sight. To this day I have no idea what was that all about.



Title: Would you help someone in trouble?
Post by: rhombus on February 16, 2014, 07:18:30 PM
I chose the second option, as if direction intervention would lead to significant risk to myself then I would seek the help of the authorities.  However, if there was not a significant risk to myself, such as if the person had a medical episode for example, then I would directly intervene until help arrived.

Regretfully, I have had one incident like this which occurred about six months ago.  I was walking from one building on campus to another when I heard someone yelling for help in a nearby parking lot.  I ran to the scene to see a woman collapsed face down on the pavement with one person trying to get her to wake up and several onlookers doing nothing.  Remembering what I learned during my emergency training courses, I specifically called on one of the onlookers to get help (i.e.  "You.  Call for an ambulance now!") and I ran to get immediate help (as I am not a medical professional).  Luckily for this woman, she had collapsed in the parking lot right next to the nursing offices on campus, so there was no shortage of nurses, nurses aides, and doctors in the vicinity.  I knocked on a few doors and interrupted a nursing class in order to get some help.  Thankfully, they were able to get the woman stabilized before the EMTs arrived.

The bystander effect is something that makes me incredibly angry.  It never ceases to amaze me how just asking on one person to do something suddenly changes their psychological perspective from "it isn't my problem" to "it is my responsibility".  In the case that I mentioned, thankfully the woman only suffered from mild complications.  Considering the 20-something year old woman had had a stroke with loss of consciousness, obvious cognitive impairment, and severe seizing, it could have been far worse.