Reply to DCPS students attacked on the metro

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm the PP 2 posts above who asked whether this whole "I wouldn't intervene" thing is equally fine when it's you or your loved one being randomly beaten.

I'm a 5'4" woman, with a smiley friendly face.  In other words, I'm not going to be scary or threatening to anyone in terms of making them think twice about being violent.

And yet I've intervened in at least 5 violent situations (I used to live in NYC as well): 2 were parents beating the crap out of their kid; 2 were domestic violence happening right on a train or train platform (one I just screamed to interrupt it, but the other I physically intervened), and the other 1 was against a man who was groping a young lady.  These did not all happen in NYC.

When faced with someone being victimized, I absolutely feel like not doing SOMETHING to stop it is equal to being complicit.  Obviously the actual criminals are the cause and the most guilty and should absolutely be held the most accountable.  But I ask myself what I'd want people to do if it was my child or me being victimized, and then I do that, even if I'm a little short lady.  I've stayed safe, fortunately, and I don't fool myself - I am lucky that I stayed safe.  But how can anyone stand around and watch a child get beaten up and do NOTHING?  Not even calling to other bystanders to all rush in at once and break it up?  Lie and yell that the police are coming down the stairs?  Do SOMETHING to interrupt the assault - how can that many people do NOTHING?

Like I said above, I just wonder if all you who say "don't get involved" feel the same rule applies if - heaven forbid - you are the victim?[/quote]

I would intervene too. Any New Yorker would. We all remember stories about Kitty Genovese. I would intervene and assume that my intervention would trigger others to do the same. Maybe I'm foolish, or maybe I just grew up in a more realistic place; but I can't imagine standing passively by in that situation.[/quote]

I totally agree.  I Haven't seen any actual studies of it (doesn't mean they don't exist, I just haven't seen them), but my experience and other stories I've heard do show that once people see someone else acting or trying to intervene, more people break out of their "I'm not intervening" and also try to help.  But we do have to be ready to be the only ones as well.  You just never know if anyone else will help or not.[/quote]

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