Would you have helped?? These people didnt

There are at least a few factors to take into consideration here, as distrubing as events such as this are. The first comes from psychology, which states that if someone is in need of help and there are many people around, individuals are less likely to help because there is a "diffusion of responisbility"--in other words, there are other individuals present who could help instead. The problem is, of course, that if everyone is thinking along these lines, then no one can help. Another factor is fear. In intense, traumatic, dangerous, or just plain differant situations, people tend to become anxious and tense; in other words, afraid. Most people allow themselves to become paralyzed by this fear and don't know what to do, and so if or when the "fight-or-flight" response kicks in, they become more likely to run away from the situation out of this same fear. The trick is using this fear to become more aware of the situation and surroundings in ways that enable us to perform more positive and helpful actions.

Yet more proof of how humanity is 'evolving'...

That is sad. I would think that several people could have brought him down at least long enough to get remove the hammer. But then, that would be a scary thing and they may have been paralyzed with fear. I work with developmentally disabled adults and have been assaulted more times then I can count and believe me the first time, you just can't react or I couldn't. I ended up with a concussion. I have been assaulted multiple times since then and have been sent flying through the air, my first instinct at this point is to run and put space between myself and the aggressor. I do try to help other people but there is a mental delay while I decide the best move to make and remain safe.

Unfortunately I can believe it stacy - I wish I couldn't but it is a sad fact that people are out for themselves much more than I would like to admit. I don't think there would be much I could do with my disabilities but I know I would still try and help and when I was still fit I would definitely have done something. Surely we are all responsible to a certain degree for what happens to those around us! xxx

Hi stacyv! Oh my, that is shockingly terrible! I am sure that there are men in the bus who can overpower the man if they worked together in helping the beaten man. I would understand if the woman will run off since it is impossible for a woman to overpower a man who could be a lot bigger than her unless she is knows martial arts. I will probably run off but if I will see a chance to strike the man, i will. What disgusts me is that those men didn't help at all but still robbed the victim of his cellphone. Such a shameless and cruel behavior! Take care and blessings to you! lovelots..faith

Stacy- I have to agree that it's really dependent upon the people involved. The average person isn't going to have the cool responses of someone who is trained to deal with that situation. I mean, for me, it's like something out of a horror flick and even though I might well intention say I'd help, I'm not sure if I could in the situation. I mean, I've never been to war, I've never seen that sort of violence up close that I'm not sure if even I could overcome the graphic nature of being hit with a hammer in enough time to help. Though, I'd hope that I'd be able to even if it was just to call 911 right away. It's a sad story. Namaste-Anora

Hi, As it was unexpected peoples first reaction would be to run and make himself safe first. But when some one recovers and knows whats happening, that the time to decide whether to help or not. One of my friend was travelling with his another friend in an almost empty compartment in a train. A pyscho started molesting a girl and bite her hand. My friends who himself is quite a character got so angry that he threw that pyscho out of the moving train. I havent been to such situations anytime. I will go by my instincts if i get into situation like that. Cheers, Tutul