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ProdigalJunkMail

(12,017 posts)

120. i am calling out someone claiming that

Reply to CreekDog (Reply #108)

Thu Jul 9, 2015, 08:55 PM

Jul 2015

I am the one 'talking tough'... when they know nothing about me and yet assume that I am an 'internet tough-guy'...

sP

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Passengers watched killing on Metro car. Should they have intervened? [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 OP

Confront how? MineralMan Jul 2015 #1

yes... i would... and i would expect some of those other dozen or so to help ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #4

It's not a disturbing statement about our culture; its a phenomenon of being human. Brickbat Jul 2015 #5

convenient excuse for being an amoral coward... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #8

We are a herd. When you're in a herd, it creates something called the diffusion of responsibility. Brickbat Jul 2015 #11

ah, the old 'talk tough' on a message board ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #32

He probably could'veput it much better but MissB Jul 2015 #97

Googling Kitty Genovese would get you a lot of misinformation. Jim Lane Jul 2015 #133

you're calling out "talking tough" in a thread where you started that? CreekDog Jul 2015 #108

i am calling out someone claiming that ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #120

Yes, when everyone is responsible, Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2015 #144

Well the guy who did the stabbing isn't much for a herd or community The2ndWheel Jul 2015 #15

I'm sure that you'd reach right through the internet and grab the knife from his hand. Orrex Jul 2015 #19

Well, that poster might actually intervene. I have no idea. MineralMan Jul 2015 #31

Since his claims are contrary to my experience of reality, I require evidence to believe him. Orrex Jul 2015 #44

yay... another person who doesn't know me... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #35

Since I don't know you, I have no reason to believe your claims of bravery Orrex Jul 2015 #41

and no reason to mock them... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #45

If it walks like a duck. Orrex Jul 2015 #50

that's fair i guess... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #60

Uncool? I'm not so sure. Orrex Jul 2015 #64

The mocking comes from your dismissal of a documented psychological effect.. frylock Jul 2015 #81

it's actually being away from the herd that makes you think for yourself Skittles Jul 2015 #130

The suspect was armed and was attacking someone with a knife. LisaL Jul 2015 #13

That's exactly what the bystander effect covers. Kitty Genovese was a prime example that stevenleser Jul 2015 #55

Yes, back in the 60s there was a case where an elderly man was murdered on the street while jwirr Jul 2015 #21

you may be thinking of Kitty Genovese -- after whom 911 was created GreatGazoo Jul 2015 #94

Yes, that is the one I was talking about just forgot some of the facts. jwirr Jul 2015 #95

Where in the article did it say "a dozen"? Glassunion Jul 2015 #10

uh... in the OP's snip ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #22

Sorry. The bottom article linked made no mention Glassunion Jul 2015 #29

i just went with what i saw... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #34

Not on a holiday. Glassunion Jul 2015 #37

i would have figured it would be packed on the 4th ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #39

The attack took place between the Rhode Island Avenue and NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro stops. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #52

You might step in. Or you might not. MineralMan Jul 2015 #18

I have stepped in to help with an armed attacker ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #26

OK. MineralMan Jul 2015 #33

in fairness to an individual witnessing this ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #42

Depends on who was there and who they were. MineralMan Jul 2015 #46

indeed... i will defer and retract ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #47

which is interesting qazplm Jul 2015 #59

what would someone knowing me have to do ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #62

No one can really know exactly what they would do in the situation. Glassunion Jul 2015 #85

That was my observation in similar circumstances jberryhill Jul 2015 #89

Or its just an example of "the bystander effect". PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #106

...^ that 840high Jul 2015 #131

Yes, it is a disturbing statement about our culture Samantha Jul 2015 #132

An acquaintance of mine once tried to stop a fight MannyGoldstein Jul 2015 #2

I know people who have bones broken trying to break up fights. frylock Jul 2015 #82

Reminds me of that case in NY City so many years ago. cwydro Jul 2015 #3

That's the right name, but the story is more complex than initially presented, I have heard. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #6

Thanks for posting. cwydro Jul 2015 #7

Yes, Kitty Genovese. Brickbat Jul 2015 #9

This may be the same case I was talking about - I thought it was an older man. jwirr Jul 2015 #24

with a madman flailing away with a knife? I'd keep my distance. I value my carotid artery too much geek tragedy Jul 2015 #12

a madman flailing away with a knife edgineered Jul 2015 #53

An enforcer... Chan790 Jul 2015 #128

Sometimes it is difficult edgineered Jul 2015 #136

Fucking scary romanic Jul 2015 #14

Firing a gun on a subway train might not work out as well as hoped mythology Jul 2015 #30

I think the victim... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #61

Did anyone press the intercom buiton to alert the train operator? KamaAina Jul 2015 #16

Yes. I had to omit that due to the four-paragraph limit. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #23

That was my thought. cwydro Jul 2015 #65

They did call 911 philosslayer Jul 2015 #68

Oh, I have no idea, except that I thought there is an emergency stop cord cwydro Jul 2015 #69

Again, I'm not questioning you philosslayer Jul 2015 #73

Couple of things. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #78

Re: emergency stop on the Metro mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #145

Good point. cwydro Jul 2015 #79

The linked article lists two of the witnesses as a 52 year old woman and her 76 year old father Bluenorthwest Jul 2015 #17

Too bad... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #20

There are very, very few CCW permits in DC, where this occurred. MineralMan Jul 2015 #25

Like I said,... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #51

I 'd like to see someone from Utah fire a straight shot on a subway. msanthrope Jul 2015 #66

Did you just ask me... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #70

yes I did in fact ask you if you'd ever been on a subway because it seems your knowledge is limited msanthrope Jul 2015 #90

I've never played Call of Duty... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #96

You might not care how shaky the train is, but bystanders might. Demit Jul 2015 #112

In this situation... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #124

so there you are on the subway with a.22 sport gun that isn't made for self defense msanthrope Jul 2015 #114

And when you get within 5-10 feet in a shaky enclosed space, gun advantage is almost negated stevenleser Jul 2015 #115

At least I would have tried. TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #122

I think she is asking because its often so shaky in a moving subway car you can't stand up without stevenleser Jul 2015 #92

^^This^^ Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #99

Firing a gun on a crowded subway car into a melee... Maedhros Jul 2015 #56

Indeed, someone could die NickB79 Jul 2015 #98

And that someone is likely to be in addition to the person who was knifed. Maedhros Jul 2015 #101

The rights hater crowd always makes extreme assumptions. former9thward Jul 2015 #103

Wow, this far into the thread and your first irritation is about gun control CreekDog Jul 2015 #111

This whole thread is about rights control. former9thward Jul 2015 #116

no it's not, but thanks for telling us why you're here CreekDog Jul 2015 #118

"Almost always a gun is going to make the perp stop and run away if possible." mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #139

If cops won't intervene, how can we expect civilians to do so? Orrex Jul 2015 #27

There is no legal requirement for a bystander/witness to intervene Lurks Often Jul 2015 #28

Just curious as to what everyone thinks: snot Jul 2015 #36

Be 18+ yoa, get approved through "District of Columbia Self-Defense Spray Registration Form," and Eleanors38 Jul 2015 #75

Here's a clip from the linked news article about the attack. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #38

In DC watching is the most you can do since they've disarmed all but cops and criminals. ileus Jul 2015 #40

The truth. Once legally disarmed, does an atmosphere of impotence prevail.... Eleanors38 Jul 2015 #67

Yeah TeddyR Jul 2015 #93

This is why I avoid public transportation as much as possible. AngryAmish Jul 2015 #43

As someone who took public transportation in L.A. quite a bit, it's not anywhere that bad AZ Progressive Jul 2015 #71

I'm a 66 year old woman. SheilaT Jul 2015 #48

There is cell service in the tunnels, but this part is above ground. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #57

Me personally, I would rally people to help me stop the attack. Rex Jul 2015 #49

maybe they could have swung a backpack or something... Liberal_in_LA Jul 2015 #72

It's probably hard to get a mob going when everyone just watched a man butcher another man Rex Jul 2015 #74

Then the suspect likely would have attacked whoever it was that swung the backpack. LisaL Jul 2015 #86

FWIW... Someone on reddit posted that they were one of the witnesses... Glassunion Jul 2015 #54

Thanks for posting that. Bluenorthwest Jul 2015 #83

. TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #102

Only if i have a weapon LittleBlue Jul 2015 #58

It's a classic ethical excercise - when does a bystander have responisbility to intervene? haele Jul 2015 #63

I can't with this thread JustAnotherGen Jul 2015 #76

Connecticut congressman speaks out on slain American University graduate mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #80

I intervened once in a mugging, because I thought the 20-30 people nearby would back me up. bettyellen Jul 2015 #77

I would have intervened, but I also worked as a bouncer in one of the roughest biker bars in Ghost in the Machine Jul 2015 #84

Oh yeah tough guy? Glassunion Jul 2015 #87

LOL! Ghost in the Machine Jul 2015 #88

Were you nice... PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #107

Not always... there were times that I would be a real a$$hole just because nobody could do anything Ghost in the Machine Jul 2015 #125

Best wishes to you. n/t PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #126

Thank you... I am so laid back now that I tell people that if I were any more laid back, I'd be like Ghost in the Machine Jul 2015 #127

I believe I would have attempted to help TeddyR Jul 2015 #91

I stopped a purse snatching once. AngryAmish Jul 2015 #100

I would hope if I was with several other healthy people, men and Women, that we would all randys1 Jul 2015 #104

This would be a good time for people to read up on the "Good Samaritan" laws... roamer65 Jul 2015 #105

And read the following wikipedia page on the 'bystander effect'... PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #109

Duty to act laws are more common in other nations. roamer65 Jul 2015 #110

one never knows for sure, until the moment of truth arrives HFRN Jul 2015 #113

Easy question seveneyes Jul 2015 #117

I was riding the DC Metro at that time but on the Green Line. DCBob Jul 2015 #119

"A killing on a Metro car is quite unusual here." mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #142

Should they have intervened? Yes. Should they be condemned for not doing so? No. n/t Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #121

If several strong, healthy men had acted together, they MIGHT pnwmom Jul 2015 #123

I would do something, no question, because I have intervened before Skittles Jul 2015 #129

No one knows until they are in that type of situation Marrah_G Jul 2015 #134

NO!! NEVER!!! oneshooter Jul 2015 #135

I wouldn't have Chirpio Jul 2015 #137

Many years ago a man was attacking his ex-wife... meaculpa2011 Jul 2015 #138

I rescued a lost dog from the road once: That's more my speed. lindysalsagal Jul 2015 #140

This question came up a lot during the #BlackLivesMatter Protests daredtowork Jul 2015 #141

I believe the key is Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2015 #143