...I am very surprised how people didn't help at all and just stood by watching as if it is just another pickpocket thing and none of their business. The theft ran past many puerto workers and I asked them to stop him, they just watched and did absolutely nothing. They watched from a distance and offered absolutely no help and I had to take the man down all by myself to get my bag back. In all places I have lived, I am sure people would help stop and chase the theft, possibly beating him together which I would do.
I've seen similar acts of people doing nothing...walking away or just flat out turn their head and openly state they do not want to get involve in South Korea, Germany, Italy, France, U.S., Canada, Portugal and Brazil when I was on vacation or in the military.
In contrast, usually the first to act or get involved was someone in the armed forces that happen to be there also as a tourist. One of the key is the call for "help"...its got to be hysterical and loud to signal its an emergency.
I saw a documentary/research about crime and other types of emergency situations in front of people even when they are just a few feet away (bystander apathy)...something to do with social psychology of a crowd that are eyewitnesses to a crime or emergency in front of them.
If they feel its petty crime and
not an emergency...people are less likely to get involved even if you call out for help especially when others nearby see the same thing and react the same way (doing nothing but watch)...its not an emergency to them too.
Also, if the crowd of bystanders view you as someone that looks like you can take care of yourself or that they see you become "offensive" to take action yourself...they are less likely to come to your aid.
I can use a real life situation. My son is like a fish in water. He's an expert swimmer in the back yard pool, local swim pools, the oceans, rivers and even easily out swims his friends that are on the swim team.
One day at a water park, some kid was struggling in the water even with a lifeguard nearby...friends or people with the kid...friends that were nearby...they were
laughing and didn't take it serious. Not one of them took action.
I actually saw the lifeguard pay more attention to the friends laughing and
not take any emergency action. My son and I were the first in the water and swimming towards the kid struggling in the water and
only then did the lifeguard jump in to do the same.
We learned soon after that the kid had a huge cramp in his lower back and one of his legs.
I strongly believe had we not jumped into the water (taken action)...that lifeguard would have continue believing it was not an emergency situation until she saw that kid sunken to the bottom of the pool.
There's another issue involving documentation of the an emergency situation by the
bystanders. You'll be surprise at how many people have the first reaction to go to their cell phone to record a video instead of getting involved due to the fact if they get involved...they can not record the emergency situation.
I've actually seen stories on TV by bystanders that said the reason why they didn't do anything was because they wanted to make sure they recorded the situation so that the police will have video evidence...essentially they thought they were doing the right thing via standing by doing nothing so that they can record.
We're not talking about some little old lady in a wheel chair with a cell phone. We're talking about people that look like they can hold their weight in a good street fight.
You're lucky you weren't a women and being raped...you'll be surprised at how many people will do exactly the same while watching from the crowd...waiting for someone else to take action to signal its an emergency situation.
Yet, I guarantee there will be a few with their cell phone out to record what was happening with the
illusion they are helping when the police arrive.
Serious, why do neighbors call the fire department when they see their neighbor's home engulfed in flames...they don't want their own house to catch fire too from the hot ambers coming from the other house.
wrbtrader
