I post this in complete disgust...

There are good simaritan laws in france now because of this sort of behavior. You don't help, you go to jail. Sad that you have to legislate "brotherly love".

 

Respect and compassion have long be fading from American culture. This is just another step in that direction. These people, imo, are just as guilty as the person that stabbed the woman. Step over, and only pause long enough to take a picture? That is just disgusting. Their excuse, I'm sure, will be that they didn't know if the woman had a disease or not. Should'nt matter though. If it were them, they'd want someone to help.

 

The only cure to this is for the individual to take action. You guys can hold back the creep of indifference in this world.

Stand firm in the face of rabid indifference and call others to accountability.

 

One time my son began struggling from exhaustion in a pool and called to me for help and I stood up and hesitated because I was wearing shoes and I don't know what the hell was wrong with me but I wanted to take off my shoes first. While I was being an idiot with my shoes, a person next to me immediately jumped in the water and did everything I should have done. That was a self defining moment that I wish I could erase from my life but it's seared into my memory. I hate the person I was in that moment and never want to be that person again.

And this last car accident that happened right in front of me. I pulled over and called 911, but I had a van full of young girls on the way to school and I was across the exit from the accident so lots of cars were driving between me and the accident. I didn't get out of my van. I called it in, had about a good minute before troopers arrived in which I was assuring the girls in my van that help was on the way. When the troopers arrived, I didn't want to be in the way of the rescue workers and drove off.

As we pulled away, we had a different view of the accident that we hadn't seen before. A broken, bleeding body hanging out of one of the windows of the car that had rolled. I didn't even get out of the car. I saw on the news that man died. They think he died instantly, but I wonder. I wonder if I could have just been there next to him and said something of comfort. I am a monster.

 

The thing is, Granite, I want to be there and perfectly respond to everything that comes up with exactly the aid needed in any situation, but I can only aspire to that greatness. Realistically, I know I will fall short sometimes, but I hope to do better than I have in the past.

We all fall short sometimes. Wanting to do better and taking steps to learn and prepare for what may come in the future is an improvement.

Fear and inadequacy are probably the biggest cause of situations like this...not indifference. Indifference is just a cover up that terrified people use to hide how inadequate they are.

That's the difference between people like Paladin and the people in that store. Paladin pulled a girl from the water who had been cut up by a boat propeller and he took care of her the best he could and she died and you know what stood out in my mind the most when he posted about it? He felt inadequate. like he didn't deserve to be recognized as a hero because he failed. but he's still out there pulling people out of the water anyway.

 

Remember SKY, your one the phone with 911 while all the other cars drove by.

My wife has saved multiple people, one while I was there. I didn't react, I saw him chocking and thought, what is wrong with that guy. She was over the wall and giving him the heimlich before I registered he was hurt.

Just differant reactions from differant people. Everyone likes to think they could be a hero, some just do. I felt stupid when the guy was choking. I have been trained in CPR, Safety. I teach TKD and have been there for a dozen accidents but could I pull a bleeding girl from a lake? Don't know. I just am glad there are those like you and paladin that can do.

 

Another thing to keep in mind is that rescue workers, military, police officers all go through training. Put into training scenarios of various emergencies. Why? Because a person can hesitate or in that moment of adrenaline rush do something dangerous. The person who jumped in the pool may have had lifeguard training in their past, so they were prepared. Training makes a big difference in how a person reacts to an emergency. John Q Public generally doesn't have any emergency training. Red Cross has CPR training, teaching the heimlich (which I bet Otto's wife has taken). So you can get training.

Even though one has a desire to be of aid, sometimes just being the one to have the clarity of mind to call 911 is the best thing.

As to the original article. It's a catch 22, especially here in America where people are 'sue' happy. I agree that people should not have just walked by, however, there have been plenty of instances where people trying to be helpful have gotten sued. The justification, they weren't 'trained' and therefore aggrevated the situation. If someone legislates that people must help, then they better legislate in it that those who do help can't be sued by the people they are helping.

Stuff like this Teens Sued for Cookie Delivery to Neighbor

There are many social disfunctions here in the good ole USA.

 

I agree with you Chuck. Coming to someone's aid shouldn't make one at risk for any law suit. Doesn't mean people won't do it though and it is a factor in some people's decision making. Lawyers don't care, they get paid regardless. Sad state of affairs.