If I called..Would you help, PART TWO?

Question

Going Along with the first question...Saturday I took my kids to the local fair..My 13 yr old son comes off a ride, say "mama, I'm not feeling well"..then drops to his knees, then flat on his face. Me being 115 lbs trying to pull him over was like rolling over a stone, I also had two babies in a stroller. I looked up at the people around, for someone to help. I screamed for someone to get help. can you believe most people just chose to avoid the situation. After what seemed like forever...a kind old lady selling hamburgers came over with a spray bottle, and two men came out of the wood work, but for the most part..people really didn't want to help. I'm just wondering what is wrong with people. I wouldn't hesitate to help! one of the men that came over to help..didn't even budge until I looked him into his eyes. WHAT IS GOING ON. I know it was very hot that day but would that have stopped YOU from helping?

Answer 1

There have been many studies done on this phenomena, and it's true; when in a large crowd, and individual is very unlikely to stop and try to help. It seems horrible, but it's human nature. The best idea is to find someone outside the crowd. If they think they're the only ones that can help you, they're more likely to do so.

Answer 2

Today people are so into themselves and then you have those who are afraid cause some people want to sue for whatever reason. I know with all my heart I love to help people out when I can. The other day it was pouring down rain and I had my 10 year son and my 2year daughter in the car. I see this older lady in a bad neighborhood main street on the road standing there with a broken umbrella looking under the hood. I don't know about cars but I thought maybe she needs a jump, I have a little jumper, or a phone or a ride. So I stopped. I couldn't believe no one would stop to at least push her car out of the road. Anyway she called her son, I waited with her till he got there cause we tryed the battery and it wasn't that.

Answer 3

I would help immediately.

Sometimes people argue that if a fight is happening, they don't help because they are putting themselves in danger.

An interesting way of thinking about it is found in Philosophy!!!

Do we consider morals only based on actions, or also on inaction?

There are two main areas of 'meta-ethics', the consequentialist view, and deontological.

Consequentialism holds us accountable for the outcomes of our actions AND inaction. That is, not helping is wrong because the extra trauma to you, and extra chance of death or serious complications to your child were a consequence of their inaction.

The Deontological view suggests that the morality lies in the action itself, rather than the consequences of the action. So according to that, no one did anything wrong, because they didnt do anything at all!!!

It seems that people have no set way of determining right or wrong, but tend towards the deontological viewpoint.

Consequentialism allows for a broader application, as it considers a bad non-action, if negative consequences arise, as morally 'wrong'.

I know this isnt exactly what you are looking for, but I wanted to let you know of this division among major philosophers, as they have pondered these sorts of issues since ancient times.

If you think about any law, the motivation for Iraq 'invasion'/conflict, or personal morals, consider also what type of moral 'law' you are applying. Why are you using one instead of the other?

So I believe the consequentialist view is better in most instances, but it can be taken too far.

I had a situation in WA (australia) where a girl was being dragged down the street by her hair at night. I was the only one who helped, so I am not surprised by your story.

I had another incident where my car broke down in a busy carpark, and people preferred to beep their horn rather than help me move it!!!

Don't worry, there are many nice people around, but some are nice only to the people they know, or people like them, rather than nice generally and without question, helping everyone.

The book Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy has a funny bit where they make their spaceship invisible using a SEP field - a somebody elses problem field!!!.

They made fun of the fact that the more people there are around, the less likely anybody will help, its Somebody Elses Problem!!!

Sorry for the longwinded response, I find this stuff really interesting.

I hope your family is well again!

Answer 4

These rhetorical questions are getting tiresome. Last time I'll answer this.
Look at where you live. You live in the USA. The land of litigation. Now, if this hamburger selling lady had rolled your son over and he was dead, you could legally sue her for damages. Same with the other two guys.
That's why no one gets involved, if something goes wrong, they have no legal protection.
In civilized countries, there are laws protecting people if they stop and help. When will the US follow suit?

Answer 5

So let me make sure I understand. You weigh 115 pounds and your son is 13, but he weighs so much that you couldn't budge him? How much is that, like 200? The people around you probably thought, "A kid that fat is going to grow up to weigh 500 pounds and will die of a heart attack before he's 30 so it's better that he ends his suffering now."

Lemme guess, after someone helped your son up, it turned out he was fine, but to help him get over the embarrassment of having fallen down you bought him a dozen corn dogs and four funnel cakes, right?

Answer 6

Nothing would have stopped me from helping you. I'm an atheist, and I've always been quick to help my fellow man. But, some of the people might have been worried that your calls for help were a trap to pick-pocket them (too much T.V.) . But most people are so caloused today, that they would walk past a dead body and not even realize it, or want to get involved. I've heard several stories about these things happening. Like the guy who died of a heart attack at the wheel, but pulled to the side of the road and didn't hit anyone, or anything. So, he and his car sat there for several days before anyone noticed him.

Answer 7

Indeed not. I am almost helpless myself, but I would have put every ounce of my being in trying to help, and Dear Mother, you can rest assured everyone who passed you by will answer before the White Throne on Judgment Day. I forget what Book or Verse, but there is a story of the Good Samaritan in there. If this answer doesn't help with your question, write me personally at [e-mail]. I have a complete Bible Concordance and I will look up the answer for you.

Answer 8

NOTHING would have stopped me from helping someone who was screaming for it. That is just incomprehensible to me! I had a similar thing happen to me when I was in a car accident! YES I said a car accident! I was STUCK in my vehicle, could not get out, I was screaming for help (my window was about 1/3 down) and NO ONE came to my aid, they just stood on the side of the road staring like a bunch of vultures waiting for something else to happen! Finally, the man who hit me came to my aid! It was SICK. I am so sorry this happened to you, people these days are disgusting creatures who only care about themselves. I wish I was there, because I would have helped you. I cannot explain why people are this way.....I think that they just cannot be bothered.

Answer 9

Don't worry about those who did not help you. Thank the Lord, for He did send you some help and eveything worked out. Stay focused on the postiive things and keep praying to the Lord daily. If you are lost and living without Jesus in your life, and you have not accpeted Jesus as your savior, You can do that right now, today.

John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

7 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Answer 10

People have to be very careful because they can get sued for some of the most ridiculous things even if they are trying to help. It's the same if a nurse or doctor does not do something to help save someone's life and they are caught.

Sorry to hear about your misfortune though...