mcshakespeare's Blog

"Getting" ridiculous? Bystander effect isn't a newly found behavior -- it's been documented since who knows when. While creating a legal obligation to assist during a crime is well-intended, how practical would it be to try to prosecute everyone who could have been a witness? Would you treat people paralyzed with fear the same as those who simply didn't care and those who actually were rooting for the perpetrator? What if the perpetrator were armed -- would that change the standard? How about if he warned everyone that he was armed, but it turned out later that he wasn't? And I could go on. There are too many questions to be answered and too many different situations to consider if some kind of "good Samaratin" law for crimes in progress were to be created that would be both fair and effective.

I always carry a knife on me. (If you live in DC and don't carry some sort of weapon, you are an idiot. Doesn't have to be a gun. Can be a knife, mace, whatever). After I saw this story I looked at my husband and told him that I would tell him to take the kids and run. And then I would have some fun with my knife. How would you feel if you were being attacked and nobody came to help you?

Yes well your husband doesn't go through war flashbacks does he newsbuggy? Thats right, neither one of you have been to war huh? So you don't know what its like. And I never said he would run with the kids anyway. I told him thats what I would tell him. Learn to read intead of jumping to conclusions. Talk about sexist! Why is it automatically assumed that the man is supposed to be the one on the attack? Believe it or not, women can stand up and take it to. And the point of the blog was not if someone was attacking you but if you were trying to help someone else (which by your statements, you would not. You would expect some man to do it) A knife going into the jerks back a couple of times will get him off the other person. Geez newsbuggy, use some common sense. And maybe learn to take some self defense classes. Your husband won't always be around

Not saying woman can't protect themselves, however if you are with your husband and you say run and he runs, what does that say about him and his duty to protect his family??? I know, I know, you are such a bad *ss, you don't need anyone to protect you. And to answer your question, yes I would help someone in need.

"After I saw this story I looked at my husband and told him that I would tell him to take the kids and run. And then I would have some fun with my knife. How would you feel if you were being attacked and nobody came to help you?".
Those are your words Kelly-00, so obviously someone would be attacking you and your family. I can't imagine you having fun with a knife other than trying to protect yourself and your familiy...Geesh.... Stop trying to mix my words up here. You wrote it, miss lady not me! Again, your husband would be a coward if you took your kids and ran and left you to defend yourself.

Newsbuggy why don't you read the blog? Not just my comment. I would have fun with my knife if an innocent senior citizen was getting attacked. Its obvious you don't feel the same. You would either do nothing or make your husband do it. Talk about a total sexist. And that would make you a coward. To run away and expect someone else to fight. Typical american nowadays. Expect others to do for you.

Well what would you do then. If you wouldn't ask your husband to take the kids and run but you would help.. what? Would you let your kids watch? What kind of sense does that make? You say that you are not a sexest but every comment that you have made in this blog says otherwise. The husband is supposed to be the one that attacks. Sounds sexist to me

Kelly-00,
if he, the perp, were a male, I really hope the "fun with my knife", you are referring to, is gelding him, then I am with you 100 percent.
Prosecuting/holding people responsible that do not try to aid a victim, is out of the question, most people would do the right thing.

i have personally called 911 when i saw someone being robbed, when ive seen an accident, etc. i would not get involved with the altercation. in these days and times, i would suggest that you carry something with you NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, its ridiculous to limit that to DC. crime is EVERYWHERE, and people who want to make it seem unique to DC are fooling themselves. as foolish as the ones you see on tv when something happens and all they can say is "this NEVER happens in this community." guess what? youre on TV because it DID, so NEVER isnt an option any longer.

Starrman-
I know you’re right about how it would be impossible to prosecute someone who didn’t assist a victim in some way. I really can see all the problems this could pose. Too many for words, I’m sure! It just seems so wrong sometimes, you know? You can be charged for aiding a criminal by providing them a place to stay, but there is nothing to be done to someone who watches a person get attacked or murdered and does absolutely nothing (not even call 911). It is just amazing. I wish we could rely on people’s common morality, but unfortunately we always can’t. I could understand someone being afraid. Like, they didn’t do anything because they were terrified. I still wouldn’t like that, but that is understandable. What I’m talking about are the people who just don’t care about others so it is nothing for them to watch someone else being abused. But you are right – how could you prove the difference between the two anyways?