Bystanders: Isolated incident or severe apathy?

[Nadiine]

I just saw this news story on Fox & then on an aol newsboard,
here's the article & video
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/bystanders-ignore-hit-and-run-victim/20080605164309990001?icid=1615988631x1203765497x1200411077

So it leads me to wonder if this is an isolated incident where
a bunch of people just don't know what to do? Or don't care?
Or is this a sign of apathy sweeping across the land?

I don't know what to make of it other than it reminds me of 'Children of the Corn' http://www.mysmiley.net/imgs/smile/scared/scared0017.gif (http://www.mysmiley.net/freesmiley.php?smiley=scared/scared0017.gif) or some bizarre Sci Fi scenario where people are sucking in some mysterious toxic gas or something and aren't acting normal. (maybe I watch too much tv)

I just can't understand not helping this man by at least calling 911 or something---anything. Maybe the people driving by assume someone's already called for help & don't call???

What would make them not do anything? Fear of lawsuits to
go to him physically? They're afraid he might be dead? :confused:

[Nadiine]

.

[Zecryphon]

I think people just don't care and even worse some people might think he "got what he deserved for not using a crosswalk." Perhaps some thought "he wasn't hit that hard, he'll get up in a few minutes." Of course, this being Hartford, CT everybody who saw this was probably just happy with the fact that it wasn't them lying in the street.

[LutheranChick]

I heard that there were some 911 calls- but wouldn't you think someone would have gone out to help him or at least stop traffic. Of course, seeing what happened to him one might get run over just trying to direct traffic. I can't believe two cars hit the poor guy and neither one stopped. I hope they catch those people.

[RadMan]

The milk of human kindness does not flow but only dribbles when there is an ulterior motive.

[Nadiine]

I think people just don't care and even worse some people might think he "got what he deserved for not using a crosswalk." Perhaps some thought "he wasn't hit that hard, he'll get up in a few minutes." Of course, this being Hartford, CT everybody who saw this was probably just happy with the fact that it wasn't them lying in the street.
I had made a post earlier and deleted it, but I had mentioned that
this is the 2nd hit & run I've seen within the past 2 wks and both of them were jaywalking, with their backs facing oncoming traffic.

Nevermind the 'backs facing oncoming traffic' tho, becuz this poor guy got hit from 2 people he was FACING in the opposite lanes.
Why in the world did they both switch lanes? :doh:
:scratch: puzzling.

I know nothing about Hartford Ct., but I assure you, I'm in no hurry to move there anytime soon! Or go for a walk near any roads.

*hears twilight zone music in background*
:/

*Note to self: do not jaywalk:o

[Nadiine]

I heard that there were some 911 calls- but wouldn't you think someone would have gone out to help him or at least stop traffic. Of course, seeing what happened to him one might get run over just trying to direct traffic. I can't believe two cars hit the poor guy and neither one stopped. I hope they catch those people.
me too. I mean, at least the 2nd car could have an excuse of the accident in that the first car hit him and they didn't see it till it was too late.
With that much traffic & people around I couldn't of kept driving, I'd feel I had to pull over becuz of too many witnesses.

Nothing I'd want to live with on my conscience for sure. I feel so bad for that man.

[BigNorsk]

It seems strange how people do or rather don't react to things, but for a lot of people things don't seem to register. All you would need is one person standing there going "There's been an accident, that man is hurt, help him!" and people would be pouring out there to do so.

People do what they've been trained to do.

Those two cars look like they were chasing each other a form of street racing. Street racers have been taught to not consider the consequences of their actions, just run when something goes wrong.

Many are trained to react to things by calling 911 and that worked. They did call.

It was about a minute before the cop was parked there. Pretty good response time. If you were to tell me after I got run over by a car my choice to have bystanders help me or wait a minute to have a professional such as a policeman, I'd wait the minute. If you are where there is a good response time, you're probably better off doing nothing unless the blood is squirting from a severed artery. And I don't mean you personally I men the outcome for the person is likely better.

In any case, it's really not a moral thing people aren't making a decision like there is a guy laying there dying too bad I'm on my way to get donuts. It doesnt work that way. The herd of people there was just working through the cues to make a collective decision that the man was hurt and needed help. They'd have been able to make the decision faster if the car had stayed, it would have been easier for people to recognize it as an accident. Most of the time in the bigger cities a guy laying in the street is something people are trained to avoid because it's a drug addict or drunk or one of the homeless, and people learn to just kind of not see them.

Marv

[Edial]

Interesting data concerning Hartford, CT.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford,_Connecticut
Sometimes called the "insurance capital of the world," Hartford houses many of the world's insurance company headquarters, and insurance is the region's major industry.

There must be something "in the air" concerning law suits ...

Thanks,
Ed

[Nadiine]

It seems strange how people do or rather don't react to things, but for a lot of people things don't seem to register. All you would need is one person standing there going "There's been an accident, that man is hurt, help him!" and people would be pouring out there to do so.

People do what they've been trained to do.

Those two cars look like they were chasing each other a form of street racing. Street racers have been taught to not consider the consequences of their actions, just run when something goes wrong.

Many are trained to react to things by calling 911 and that worked. They did call.

It was about a minute before the cop was parked there. Pretty good response time. If you were to tell me after I got run over by a car my choice to have bystanders help me or wait a minute to have a professional such as a policeman, I'd wait the minute. If you are where there is a good response time, you're probably better off doing nothing unless the blood is squirting from a severed artery. And I don't mean you personally I men the outcome for the person is likely better.

In any case, it's really not a moral thing people aren't making a decision like there is a guy laying there dying too bad I'm on my way to get donuts. It doesnt work that way. The herd of people there was just working through the cues to make a collective decision that the man was hurt and needed help. They'd have been able to make the decision faster if the car had stayed, it would have been easier for people to recognize it as an accident. Most of the time in the bigger cities a guy laying in the street is something people are trained to avoid because it's a drug addict or drunk or one of the homeless, and people learn to just kind of not see them.

Marv
that's interesting... I tend to believe that too

Altho, whatever the excuses or reasons, to view it is appauling

[Nadiine]

Interesting data concerning Hartford, CT.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford,_Connecticut
Sometimes called the "insurance capital of the world," Hartford houses many of the world's insurance company headquarters, and insurance is the region's major industry.

There must be something "in the air" concerning law suits ...

Thanks,
Ed
hmm, I didn't know that. thanks for the input!

[Zecryphon]

There's also the possibility that this wasn't an accident at all. Could've been payback.

[BreadAlone]

According to the news, the guy was 78 years old, and no one called the police, an officer on the way to another 911 call called in an ambulance.

[reda]

I feel so bad for that man too. What has happened to people? I hope he'll pull through.

[Nadiine]

I feel so bad for that man too. What has happened to people? I hope he'll pull through.
I heard one report that he's paralyzed from the neck down?
:( so sad.

[Melethiel]

I read on CNN that there were 6 or so 911 calls within a minute of the accident. I think, and because I've been trained this way myself, is that people didn't touch him for fear of hurting him more badly. If there are possible spinal injuries, someone who is untrained moving an injured person can actually injure him worse.

[RadMan]

THere was an article in the paper some years ago about a multiple pile up on the Interstate. Something like five cars were involved. One lady got out of her damaged car and walked up to another car that had a women and children in it to see if she could help. The lady asked the woman in the car with kids if she was alright and then keeled over dead. She didn't know her neck was broke and thought she was alright. That's why they tell people to stay completely still when they have a car wreck and to immediately immobilize their necks.

People have also been sued by relatives or friends of victims just because they were good Samaritans. I remember reading about a doctor that helped accidents victims and got sued for just trying to help and he did nothing wrong.

Then on the other hand I don't see why people get upset when other people don't help victims because many people don't want to be inconvenienced and some don't really care to help other people since they are so self centered. That's the way much of society is. It has helped promote selfish individuals. It's all about "me me me".

[BigNorsk]

I wonder if he's paralyzed because someone moved him before the ambulance arrived.

Marv

[Nadiine]

I wonder if he's paralyzed because someone moved him before the ambulance arrived.

Marv
.

[Edial]

Once I saw an accident happen practically in front of my eyes.
I was going to work in Greenpoint, Brooklyn at about 8AM and a heavy Polish woman was crossing the street (it was a Polish neighborhood, so one could easily distinguish the Polish people from other nationalities).
She crossed the street without even looking around apparently going to work - the old-country habit when people are born in small villages.

A car plowed into her and then stopped.

She was thrown into the air and landed heavily.
I remember I was prompted to run to her and and stop the traffic. Fortunately the Fire Dept was across the street and I made an eye contact with firemen and started waiving them over.
They came over and started waving me away as they were approaching her - apparently signaling me not to touch her.

I do not understand why people did not stop the traffic.

However, I found this article on the "Bystander Effect" that explains much.
It appears that if more people are around, people think that others will help and just stand there waiting.
If there are few people, individuals usually help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Thanks,
Ed

[Edial]

Also, when 9/11 happened many people were running away from the burning buildings.
Yet there were also people that were running TOWARDS these buildings trying to help people (prior to collapse of buildings or not, I do not know).

I worked at Midtown about 50-60 blocks away from the World Trade Center, so we had to evacuate and walked the 59th Street Bridge to get home. (Manhattah was shut down).
I remember that not even a thought entered my mind to go there and help others.
By nature I am not a coward ... but not even a thought entered to go and help these people. I assumed others (the cops and firemen) will help.

We were just evacuating the City.

Yet, ... there were people that went to that place hoping to help people. And did help help them.

Thanks,
Ed

[Nadiine]

I'd like them to interview the people that stood there to see what they were thinking. (of course they could lie... but still)

I somewhat have some understanding. But I also find fault becuz somebody should have ran out to ward off oncoming traffic in some way.
I know I would of done that much to keep him from being hit again.

[Edial]

...But I also find fault becuz somebody should have ran out to ward off oncoming traffic in some way.
I know I would of done that much to keep him from being hit again.
Yes. They should have.
Something is weird is going on in Hartford.

Thanks,
Ed

[Nadiine]

Ok.. this just came to mind as I read some of the excuses for why this could have happened:

What of the good samaritan story? Don't the passerby'ers have reasons for not helping him as he lay there? Excuses don't help people in trouble.

[Zecryphon]

Unfortunately, there is a secret to survival and a long-life in a city, whether it be Hartford, L.A., Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, NYC, etc. The rule is: never witness nothin', you'll live longer. Is it Christian? No, it's not. But what people often have to ask themselves in a situation like this is, 'is this worth dyin' for' and almost always the answer people will arrive at is, "no, it's not." :sigh:

[BigNorsk]

The man will be on a respirator the rest of his life, paralyzed.

I still wonder if someone did move him, but the rest of the video wasn't released.

Marv

[Zecryphon]

Are they still investigating this though? It could come out later that someone did move him. This will probably end up as an episode of Law & Order in a couple of months. They seem to take their episodes from the headlines at times.

[Nadiine]

Are they still investigating this though? It could come out later that someone did move him. This will probably end up as an episode of Law & Order in a couple of months. They seem to take their episodes from the headlines at times.
CSI did a few headlines too