Fear of getting sued?

Edit: If I recall correctly, Sweden passed a law a few years ago that make it an offence NOT to intervene in a beating, [censored] or such unless the culprit(s) are carrying weapons. The least you HAVE to do is to call the cops

I know lots of work places actually train you to do nothing. When I worked at a grocery store for instance they told us to not intervene if somebody was robbing the place.

Beyond that, it's equally rational to just not get involved. It's not like these guys are athletes or in the military or police...it's an office building. What do you expect them do to?

It's a well-known problem with crises in crowded areas. It's known as the http://psychology.about.com/od/socialpsychology/a/bystandereffect.htm It's depressingly common; I've seen it in action.

This is not a situation you should intervene in.
For example why would i risk my life to prevent an armed robbery on a bank with insured money?

I would cheer to the robber as i really hate banks.

But the "bystander effect" is real and proven.
A simplification :the more people are there the least chances one of them is going to act.

Well, obviously it depends on the nature of the situation. Like someone else said upthread, if it's stuff that's being broken instead of people, perhaps it's better to stand back. But diffusion of responsibility is still the underlying concept. I think it's made even more acute in the last decade or so through heightened awareness of legal culpability, too.

Well one time my parents and I were in Europe and an old women collapsed face first and she broke here hand and here nose. I didn't knowthe nose could bleed so much. So my dad being a doctor just ran up to her and was trying to take care of her asking questions and stuff and my mom was asking what the emergency number was. To my shock people just looked at her and walked away, some just crowded around to see what was happening and people weren't saying anything but a group of kids flagged down a cop and took care of it. So even when people are in need or something is going bad some just don't like getting involved.

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


Did anyone call Amber Lamps?

Well, he could have a medical issue that's causing the rage. He's not assualting people, just showing his ass. Regardless, emergency services should be called, they are trained properly in how to subdue and deal with people in his situation. Beating him up could exacerbate or mask causes of what made him violent in the first place.
Calling emergency services is the way to go. That puts any litigation costs on the local governing authorities, and not bystanders.
Costs such as injuries sustained from the offender being subdued, improper medical treatment, mental anguish, etc.
If people are being harmed, then it's a different story.

Not former marines.. not us buddy.

We act.

example: a guy was going mental in the supert market. Not violent, but -almost- holding his head, shaking back and forth while screaming at the top of his lungs.

Nobody does anything. I heard the screaming as I walking in the shop -grabbing a shopping cart actually.

Found the poor [censored] in one of the isles, on the floor. sweating bullets. Mister useless the Manager is standing there a cell phone in hand, and people are standing around. All doing nothing.

So as I want to go up to the guy, the manager grabs my arm and says:

"It's okay, we've called the police. They should be here any moment."

While it had been going on for close to tem minutes already.


the guy is having an acute anxiety attack. Real bad one too.
So I helped him outside as quietly and calmly as I could.

Turns out that having everyone looking at him like a freak show was fueling the attack.

what made my stomach turn:
people clapping as I escorted the man out of the super market.



I will always offer assistence, help and support to anyone I see needing it.

That's because you're trained to act. If the office in the video had a security guard, or a cop, or a marine, you can be sure he would've been taken down.

I have dependants who rely on me for a living. Unless someone is being hurt I have priorities. And nothing to prove.

I think if I owned the company I'd be inclined to deck the guy. And if I only worked there, well, guess who's gonna have to clean up when the madman's in jail? I guess it depends on how much loyalty you feel towards your workplace.

1. Shock. Its not a normal thing to happen so you freeze up not knowing how to act. "Deer in the headlights" effect.
2. Self Preservation. None of the stuff is yours, why should you risk injury to protect it.
3. Group Situation. When there are other people around, most people will wait for someone else to do something before doing something themselves.

That explain it fairly well?

And still a guy got charged with assault for attacking someone strangling an old lady recently....

I wouldn't intervene. :shrug:

I'd probably start taking bets on the total damage.

If all he is doing is destroying is property that is not mine, then why should I risk my well being to stop him?

I dunno about you, but I'm not too fond of running off and trying to stop someone who's in a raging fit, especially if they're bigger than me. I'm about 5'5 and ~120lbs - the last thing I'll want to do is to unnecessarily take on someone who has considerable height and weight against me. Add in the raging fit and chances are they'll be stronger (and more uncontrollable) than usual.

So yeah. Unless s/he is attacking me personally, I'd rather take my own personal safety into consideration and let them have their way with the office supplies.

There is a video going around of a 67 year old dude bickering with some you dude, things heat up and the old man walks away and sits at the other end of the bus. The young guy walks over to the old guy and hits him... I will let you find the video to see what happnes...


just look for:

Fight on AC Transit Bus

looks like self defence to me :shrug:

another fine example of age and determination overwinning youth and enthusiasm.
Homie got pounded though, dang..

I would intervene. Of course, I am not quite right in any event....... I am also ex-military police. Not sure if those two are related or not.

Not willing to put myself in danger over money like that.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

They will always win anyways.(at least in real life)
Only the wrong survive as i like to say.

That quote has no place in a discussion like this. The guy was in a rage and smashing computers, not running around with a baseball bat beating up old ladies.

You never know what you are going to do in any situation.Sure you could say you would stop him but you don't know.I don't blame anyone for sitting back most people would., hell thats what the police and security are for.