NationStates Jolt Archive

A recent video shows an old man getting hit by a car, people seem to go about there business. Or for example, I could blow my head off this very moment, and no one presumably, outside of a select few would care. I'm not saying either example is bad, perhaps it's even healthy. So a couple questions. How do you care about strangers? your friends? family? How much do you think society as a whole cares about others?

A recent video shows an old man getting hit by a car, people seem to go about there business. Or for example, I could blow my head off this very moment, and no one presumably, outside of a select few would care. I'm not saying either example is bad, perhaps it's even healthy. So a couple questions. How do you care about strangers? your friends? family? How much do you think society as a whole cares about others?

Outside of the clowns standing around the guy in the video. There were four 9-11 calls within two minutes of that happening. Police showed up in less then three minutes.

As for humans caring about humans I believe there have been studies on how we see other people. I believe on average a person has a limit on who they "care" about. That limit is about 150 people. The rest just blend in with the surroundings and most couldn't give serious thought to how the others feel. Also known as the "Monkey Sphere". There is of course empathy for people starving in other countries or drowned by a Tsunami. But as far as real caring goes for those groups we empathize with is very limited.

Supposedly there were a few 911 calls in the incident you're talking about, but I haven't seen the video or heard the tapes.

It makes enough sense that the larger the number of witnesses is, the slimmer the odds are that anyone's going to help. If you're the only one around, you're the only one who can help - the responsibility to do so is yours. In a group, no single person is reponsible, and the time it takes to build consensus is several times longer than the time it takes an individual to think and act.

Myself, I don't interact with 'strangers' very often (ever, almost). I like to think I'd lend a hand if I were the only one around when someone was in need, but who knows.

It makes enough sense that the larger the number of witnesses is, the slimmer the odds are that anyone's going to help. If you're the only one around, you're the only one who can help - the responsibility to do so is yours. In a group, no single person is reponsible, and the time it takes to build consensus is several times longer than the time it takes an individual to think and act.


Known as diffusion of responsibility (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_responsibility).

A recent video shows an old man getting hit by a car, people seem to go about there business. Or for example, I could blow my head off this very moment, and no one presumably, outside of a select few would care. I'm not saying either example is bad, perhaps it's even healthy. So a couple questions. How do you care about strangers? your friends? family? How much do you think society as a whole cares about others?


I think society leans toward not helping for a variety of reasons. Fear of being sued or harmed in some way for instance. I did a lot of traveling recently. On the inside shoulder of a four lane interstate at a point that was several miles from the next exit I saw a man standing in front of his car with his hood up.

I wanted to stop and offer him a ride or a phone call even.

I felt sure if he was standing outside the car with his hood up he didn't have a phone either. I know how much I hate car trouble and I know that I have been very fortunate that kind people stopped to help me when I have been in such a predicament.

It was just me and my son who is 13 in the car and we were 200 miles from home ourselves. I mentioned going back to help him, my son said "no way Mom!".

I still feel bad that I didn't stop and I always feel that way when someone needs help and I don't help.

For myself I care a lot, I can only think that could be me and I would want/need help. I don't always act when I want to but generally I do.

I think society leans toward not helping for a variety of reasons. Fear of being sued or harmed in some way for instance. I did a lot of traveling recently. On the inside shoulder of a four lane interstate at a point that was several miles from the next exit I saw a man standing in front of his car with his hood up.

I wanted to stop and offer him a ride or a phone call even.

I felt sure if he was standing outside the car with his hood up he didn't have a phone either. I know how much I hate car trouble and I know that I have been very fortunate that kind people stopped to help me when I have been in such a predicament.

It was just me and my son who is 13 in the car and we were 200 miles from home ourselves. I mentioned going back to help him, my son said "no way Mom!".

I still feel bad that I didn't stop and I always feel that way when someone needs help and I don't help.

For myself I care a lot, I can only think that could be me and I would want/need help. I don't always act when I want to but generally I do.


I know the feeling however the son was right. You should not stop for something like that. One you could be hit yourself or something much worse could happen on the rare occasion the guy is a Ted Bundy type.

I know the feeling however the son was right. You should not stop for something like that. One you could be hit yourself or something much worse could happen on the rare occasion the guy is a Ted Bundy type.

Very true and my husband reminds me that most men can handle such a situation just fine. Not to sound sexists at all but I think he just means they are not quite as vulnerable as a woman stuck on the side of the road.

My mother, who is 71 years old and walks with a cane had a blow out on I-24 recently and I am truly thankful that two different people stopped to help her. She had no phone and it would not have been possible for her to walk to the nearest exit. I am glad that strangers do try to do the right thing at times.

She got a phone the next day....now if she can just remember to take it with her.

I've seen the video... makes me sick. Sure some 911 calls were made but the video clearly shows people on the sidewalk and cars passing by and no one even goes out to see if the old guy is alive much less render aid.

Is that the extent of our compassion these days? To make a phone call?

On the way to a Christmas party last year my girl and I came upon a pedestrian who had just been hit by a car (he was a panhandler jaywalking out to his spot on the island between lanes to beg for change). We stopped and administered CPR until a rescue unit arrived and took over. We never got a heartbeat and later learned he didn't survive but at least we tried. Five years ago I came upon a teenager who was hit by a car running across the street after midnight on thanksgiving. He was laying in the middle of the street. He was breathing but unconcious. Cars were whizzing by at 50 mph. I blocked the lane with my car until police arrived so he wouldn't get run over again. Things like this are the least we can do when confronted by a fellow human in need. It's not that hard to imagine what we'd like others to do if we found ourselves in need and then do the exact same thing we we come across a stranger in crisis. Isn't that the golden rule?

She got a phone the next day....now if she can just remember to take it with her.

I know what you mean. Consider getting her a SECOND phone and insisting she leave it in the car. :)

A recent video shows an old man getting hit by a car, people seem to go about there business. Or for example, I could blow my head off this very moment, and no one presumably, outside of a select few would care. I'm not saying either example is bad, perhaps it's even healthy. So a couple questions. How do you care about strangers? your friends? family? How much do you think society as a whole cares about others?

How to I care about strangers?
- I can be empathic, but not all the time.

My friends and family?
- I consider them one so I care about them a lot.

Society?
- It can be caring and cruel at the same time.

Not at all, unless we are closely related or there is some other advantage to us. But this doesn't mean we should behave as if we don't care.

I care about people enough to try NOT to hurt them. Does that count?

Actually, the large majority of people don't care about others at all. Humans are egoistic animals by nature. Most of the cases where people pretend to care about others is mainly because of the positive image it gets them. Other than that, cases where people call 911 after accidents for example are the result of a sense of duty, which was indoctrinated into most people during their education or upbringing. I would safely bet that nobody, or definately not more than one person gave a rat's ass about the well-being of the victim once the paramedics arrived. They did their job, it was perhaps shocking to witness a traffic accident, but they didn't call 911 because they genuinely care about the guy, but because it's their duty to. Diffusion of responsibility is one thing, but I somehow have the feeling that this upbringing that creates a feeling of duty in people is fading from modern society.