Assistance from Strangers, or the Bystander Effect

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A personal experience today led me to YouTube that eventually led me to the "Bystander Effect.". Statistics show that if you get in trouble by yourself in public, no one will help you if you get in trouble, either by criminal action or medical emergency. And especially if there aree many people around. Go figure. What betters your chances? Being in the same social strata as most people in the area, having a nominal relationship with others in the area (like if you lie down on a blanket on a beach; make small talk with your neighbors and they will more likely report any theft of your items if you walk someplace else) and shockingly being a child was not one of them. Now for my personal experiences, one that happened today, about four hours before I was inspired to write this. Fights I won't involve myself in until it is over. If the victim needs medical assistance afterword, fine, but I don't have the power to stop fights. Most likely if I try to stop a fight I will be a victim as well, and that does no one any good. Besides, statistically, no one would help me anyway. So today I was sitting on a bench at the bus stop, by a shopping area that was on raised ground, so that there was a meter high wall. Suddenly something flew over our heads, and there was a form in the bus pull in area. It was a boy who couldn't have been over thirteen, my first instinct was to look in the parking area to see if he was attacked or shoved, but I was not able to determine that. A man on the other bench asked him if he was all right, and the boy was starting to attempt to stand. He was able, but his movements were unsteady, so I got up and helped him to the bench I was on. The thing is it wasn't until a minute or two after the actual incident before I determined what needed to be done. I still wonder if I should have done more, asking the boy if he needed help going home, or telling him to put ice on whatever starts swelling. But our ways have parted already. I could only hope for the best. So have you ever helped a stranger in need? Have you ever passed one by (which is the greater statiscal possibility.)