Doing nothing when people are in danger

[ShyGuyInChicago]

On YouTube, I saw a PSA from Australia about domestic violence. It showed a man and a woman who are in an apartment building. They hear the man next door beating his wife. The man than gets up get a bat and goes next door to give it to the man. Then there is a voice over that says that if you do nothing to help someone when they are victim of domestic violence you might as well be helping them.

I am wondering if you don't help someone who is being harmed by another person are you just as bad as the person doing the harm?

I believe that doing nothing when people harm others is sending the message that such behavior is acceptable. It reminds me of the these quotes:

Neutrality helps the oppressor

The only thing needed for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing

[Korashk]

I am wondering if you don't help someone who is being harmed by another person are you just as bad as the person doing the harm?
Not really.

[Jess]

Not really, you aren't doing anything, yes, but you aren't doing the harming. but you should be punished for not doing anything unless you have a good reason...

[ShaneK]

People sai you can't help, it's not your problem. I'm here to beg you please dont listen to them close your heart and your mind against them. Ignoring people in danger is as good as helping the danger. Everybody can make a difference, just don't risk yourself. Life is precious and god knows everybody needs help at sometime.

[Peace God]

you should be punished for not doing anything unless you have a good reason...
I don't think they should be punished. There are many cases of domestic violence where more problems can be caused by a family member(or even worse...a neighbor) trying to intervene, especially if the bystander isn't prepared or is unable to handle the situation properly.

[Jess]

well I guess...

[Amnesiac]

Everyone has a right to ignorance. It's not like the person chose to be placed in a situation where they live next to a dysfunctional family, therefore nothing should be forced on them.

[ShaneK]

Duhh I think callin the police could count as doin something

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Everyone has a right to ignorance. It's not like the person chose to be placed in a situation where they live next to a dysfunctional family, therefore nothing should be forced on them.

I was not talking about this issue from a legal perspective, only morally.

[Amnesiac]

I was not talking about this issue from a legal perspective, only morally.

Even morally it's still the same. You didn't ask to be put in that situation, therefore you should be able to ignore it if you want. It's not like you're "helping the criminal".

[Peace God]

Duhh I think callin the police could count as doin something
Dont get me wrong i would agree with and recommend calling the police rather than getting personally involved. But even then you could still cause more problems and make the situation worse.

[ShaneK]

I have had lots of practice of takin care of myself so im confident enough to go next door. But for some say the elderly or disabled the phone and a bang on the wall would be the only option. Morality is never that clear cut sometimes

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Even morally it's still the same. You didn't ask to be put in that situation, therefore you should be able to ignore it if you want. It's not like you're "helping the criminal".

Why do you say that? Personally, I think it is wrong to not help someone who is being attacked, bullied, etc. if you are able to help. I can understand not helping if the victim rejects your help, but I do not see how not helping is right. I feel that people should speak up when others are mistreated and in a way silence is the same or at least has the same effect as doing nothing?

[deadpie]

Well, if there's abuse going on in a family, someone may not want to help because they're threatened and scared. Those two are good enough to make people keep themselves out of helping. Not saying it's a great choice to not do anything, but it's important to care about your well being too.

inb4 deadpie is selfish fuckface

[Amnesiac]

Why do you say that? Personally, I think it is wrong to not help someone who is being attacked, bullied, etc. if you are able to help. I can understand not helping if the victim rejects your help, but I do not see how not helping is right. I feel that people should speak up when others are mistreated and in a way silence is the same or at least has the same effect as doing nothing?

I never said not helping is right. However, neither is helping. Sometimes, as has been mentioned, helping can just make the situation worse or even put your life in danger for getting involved. The best option would be to let authorities handle it.

[Peace God]

Some of you guys have a serious misunderstanding of domestic abuse if you think you can just barge in and save the day.
I have had lots of practice of takin care of myself so im confident enough to go next door.
Yes but are you smart enough to realize that it's probably a stupid idea?

[ShyGuyInChicago]

I never said not helping is right. However, neither is helping. Sometimes, as has been mentioned, helping can just make the situation worse or even put your life in danger for getting involved. The best option would be to let authorities handle it.

Maybe I should have said this earlier, but by helping I meant calling the police.

[ShaneK]

Its a case by case kinda thing, ya gotta suss out the situation.

[Peace God]

...by helping I meant calling the police.
I doubt that's what you meant but even then I will gladly destroy the position that calling the authorities is inherently a good decision.

a) If you don't know by now, domestic abuse is extremely hard to handle for cops. Many victims of abuse actually attack the people that try to intervene... including cops. Not only that but many of the victims deny the abuse.
Most of the time, having the cops come doesn't really make the abuse stop and/or end the relationship.
b) Having the abuser know that his neighbors are ratting on him could only lead to more secrecy and more abuse.
c) Sometimes neighbors misjudge domestic abuse. Calling the cops on a family across the street could easily severe relationships and could also put yourself in danger.


Its a case by case kinda thing, ya gotta suss out the situation.
This is why it's not your job to "suss out the situation". Call the cops if you truly think there is a problem...dont take matters into your own hands.

[Jstr]

Yes you are exactly as bad as the person doing the crime.
NO matter the sittuation
if you watch somone get shot in the face and know whats going on but just stood there... If that person had one last chance to LIVE then it gone

[Amnesiac]

Maybe I should have said this earlier, but by helping I meant calling the police.

Oh. :rolleyes:

I doubt that's what you meant but even then I will gladly destroy the position that calling the authorities is inherently a good decision.

a) If you don't know by now, domestic abuse is extremely hard to handle for cops. Many victims of abuse actually attack the people that try to intervene... including cops. Not only that but many of the victims deny the abuse.
Most of the time, having the cops come doesn't really make the abuse stop and/or end the relationship.
b) Having the abuser know that his neighbors are ratting on him could only lead to more secrecy and more abuse.
c) Sometimes neighbors misjudge domestic abuse. Calling the cops on a family across the street could easily severe relationships and could also put yourself in danger.u truly think there is a problem...dont take matters into your own hands.

a) It would be more reasonable for them to handle the situation than a neighbor, since authorities are armed with weapons.

I will agree with b) and c). However, if someone really thinks there is a problem, they could at least report it.

[ShaneK]

So Jstr how ya git the gun? you can't you have to call the police

[Black Eight]

I think not helping enables the domestic abuser.

[Andrew0017]

I think that if you witness or overhear something like this going on, you should call the police. Don't personally get involved because that's even more dangerous and could just cause the person to get more fired up. But by calling the police, at least you're doing something. And like someone before me said, they are armed with weapons and could most likely handle the situation a lot better than you running over there could.

[deadpie]

I think that if you witness or overhear something like this going on, you should call the police. Don't personally get involved because that's even more dangerous and could just cause the person to get more fired up. But by calling the police, at least you're doing something. And like someone before me said, they are armed with weapons and could most likely handle the situation a lot better than you running over there could.

Calling the police CAN get you involved though. Police aren't always going to catch the people that hurt people. There's alway lack of evidence. I've had CPS come to my house and not do shit. Because they came, it only made the matters worse.

When you're looking at someone that's in danger you don't have many options. Trying to help can easily get you involved and also cause damage to you and the victim. If you do nothing though, the violence will continue.

I can't blame a person not stopping to help. It doesn't make them selfish or a bad person. There isn't that many good options that can be presented. Just know that trying to help can get you involved.

[Jean Poutine]

refusing to offer assistance to a person in need should be a fundamental right.

you're quoting domestic abuse. what if i decide it's none of my business? why should the state force me to interfere, even if there is no risk of harm to myself? (most countries with these kind of laws have an exception if you'd risk injury by helping, so a case of domestic abuse isn't even relevent in the first place 'cause you could get beat up too).

one could say that to offer assistance is the "right" thing to do, which it is, but i don't think the state has the "right" to force us to be altruistic. there's nothing wrong with not interfering. it's merely a neutral reaction. being evil would be joining in the fun.

yeah, i'd watch someone die and do nothing. one doesn't know the circumstances or who one deals with. 'least i'm not kicking dirt in their face or anything.

[Weeping]

Well, I think it was in Stockholm (the capital of Sweden) there was a two persons who faked a rape (it was all planned before, just to see if anybody cared)
They did the scene in a park? in the center, and there was people and cars all around them all the time, and they SAW! But nobody cared or even called the police/what ever.

That's pretty much wrong in my opinion. You shall try helping if someone is getting raped/whatever. Not if it's a to dangerous for you though, so you won't be seriously hurt.

But well, Sweden is a fucked up land too, with pretty much idiotic laws, so if you step in (in a rape, for example) to help someone else, you can end up in jail.

[MisterAndrews]

I think that if anyone is in trouble / danger / hurt, you should try to help them to the best of your ability. I would hate to live in a place where, if I was in trouble, no one would even offer their help.

Yes, ignorance is bliss when others need help. Unfortunately though, no one agrees it's right when they need help.

[Lasky]

Well, if the person is in IMMEDIATE danger, I think someone should help. If not, at least call the police. I think the man was being a good neighbor when he went over to help the woman being abused, but that just goes into being a vigilante, which I completely endorse. :)

[Korashk]

refusing to offer assistance to a person in need should be a fundamental right.

you're quoting domestic abuse. what if i decide it's none of my business? why should the state force me to interfere, even if there is no risk of harm to myself? (most countries with these kind of laws have an exception if you'd risk injury by helping, so a case of domestic abuse isn't even relevent in the first place 'cause you could get beat up too).

one could say that to offer assistance is the "right" thing to do, which it is, but i don't think the state has the "right" to force us to be altruistic. there's nothing wrong with not interfering. it's merely a neutral reaction. being evil would be joining in the fun.

yeah, i'd watch someone die and do nothing. one doesn't know the circumstances or who one deals with. 'least i'm not kicking dirt in their face or anything.
I like you.

[Amnesiac]

refusing to offer assistance to a person in need should be a fundamental right.

you're quoting domestic abuse. what if i decide it's none of my business? why should the state force me to interfere, even if there is no risk of harm to myself? (most countries with these kind of laws have an exception if you'd risk injury by helping, so a case of domestic abuse isn't even relevent in the first place 'cause you could get beat up too).

one could say that to offer assistance is the "right" thing to do, which it is, but i don't think the state has the "right" to force us to be altruistic. there's nothing wrong with not interfering. it's merely a neutral reaction. being evil would be joining in the fun.

yeah, i'd watch someone die and do nothing. one doesn't know the circumstances or who one deals with. 'least i'm not kicking dirt in their face or anything.

I approve of this opinion. It's pretty much everything I wanted to say on the issue summed up into a very well written paragraph.