Would you try and calm down a husband/boyfriend having a argument in a pub with their wife/girlfriend?

Question

...or would you look away and pretend it wasn't happening?

Answer 1

If I work there I'm going to ask them to leave. If not I'm going to ask an employee to take care of it. Generally someone with some authority is going to get a better response in this situation than casual observers.

Answer 2

I once saw a guy fighting in an isolated hallway with his girlfriend and she looked really scared. I went to get the guy I was with at the time and told him what I saw and that I thought we should help her. He immediately took off down the hallway, I had to run to catch up with him, he approached the other guy and told him to back up. I looked at the girl, who was then sitting on the floor, and asked her if she was ok. The boyfriend jumped in and said she was fine. My friend put his hand on the guy's chest and said, "She wasn't talking to you." He backed down and I asked the girl if she needed us to drive her somewhere and she reluctantly said yes. I helped her up and she and I walked down the hall while I heard my friend tell the boyfriend that we were leaving and that it would be wise of him not to follow us to the car. I felt so bad for the girl, she just wanted us to drive her home, I begged her to let us go with her to the police station, but she refused. I felt a little better that she had a couple of roommates but I knew that boyfriend wasn't going to give up easily. I have no idea what happened to her after that, I gave her my name and number, but she never called. At least we helped when we could. So yes, I definitely think people should step in and try and calm an argument instead of pretending it's not happening. If they guy will treat the girl like that in public, just think about what will happen when no one else is around.

Answer 3

If it was in a pub and causing a problem for other customers I would ask them to leave, if it looked like it might get violent I would contact the police before intervening. Difficult situation, a lot of our problems are caused by looking the other way, but then we have heard of two deaths recently by law abiding citzens trying to do the right thing, it makes you think twice.

Answer 4

I'd go for a pint at a different pub. Never interfere in a "lovers quarrel". One guy I know did that, and got hit in the head with a shovel. By the girlfriend, who was losing the argument.

Answer 5

I think you have a moral responsibility to find someway of letting the guy know that what he's doing is NOT OK, but at the same time keeping yourself out of harm's way.

What you can do is ask for the manager of the place, and tell him to do something about the guy. If it's really disturbing, he will almost always ask him to leave. Even if he's completely sloshed, he can still register the embarassment of being kicked out of a pub.

If you're small like me, that's all you can do :(

Answer 6

It is the job of the pub management to calm them down,.they will have the appropriate training in this sort of thing. If it gets too out of hand, they will call the police.

Answer 7

Its best not to interfere in someone's personal problems, but depends if I know either of the two I will try to calm them down or take them to their homes away from the public place.

Answer 8

First reaction would be to look away and pretend it didn't happen but when things really get out of hand, I would get up and try to settle it there and then. I wouldn't like to get involved but I couldn't keep looking away neither.

Answer 9

Depending on how heated the argument is, you could get injured by trying to intervene. However, you could inform the management and/or call the police so they can try to prevent someone from getting hurt.

Answer 10

I wouldn't interfere in any argument that is none of my business as long as nobody resorted to violence. If they'd start physically fighting or one hit the other, I'd step in and try to stop it and calm them down.