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I don't think people should act like this

A couple of possibilities:

1. People dont want to deal with a stranger because they see them as a potential threat (which is absolutely valid)

2. They figure "Well I cant help anyway" so they just keep going

3. They are paying more attention to their bloody phones and the rest of their limited braincells are focused on not running into walls as they walk, so there's no mental space to ponder others with. Very frequent, this one.

4. Some could even be on the spectrum or something similar, unable to interact.

5. Some people are jerks.

6. Look at #3 again.
 
People don't want to be involved with other people's problems. It's easier to walk on by than get involved.

If it's a medical emergency though, people should at least try to help.
 
Also, like the guy in the story, an awful lot of people don't want to accept help even if they need it. Pride.

My wife helped an elderly woman in the washroom the other day though. She looked confused, so my wife asked what was wrong. She apparently couldn't find the exit to the washroom. So, probably some dementia or something going on there. She was happy my wife pointed her towards the door. Of course, I figure then she was just going to be lost in the mall instead. :confused:
 
Martha Ferris said:
Some people are helpers and some are not. Most are not in my opinion.
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I do not care what gender you are, but the majority of persons in this society from what I have seen in my lifetime of experiences cannot show true care about others. It's about themselves, or at best about them and their family. Whether it's putting themselves first because of some current need they have, anxiety or condition, being too busy, prioritizing other things, lack of emotional intelligence or empathy, some bias or anger towards that one in need, or whatever, it's clear this society has more takers or neutral persons than givers.

In my case, it would be instinct to help one I perceived in some need, much less one just asking for help, as I prioritize persons needing assistance, over my own needs, and as I have a high stress pain tolerance and enjoy helping. If someone I knew told me I must drive across the country tomorrow to help them with some big issue, I would do it, if I felt doing so would really help them, more than phone or writing. If I saw any stranger in need, that I felt was not a scammer after inquiring further, I would find out what they needed and help them myself, and request others' assistance if needed too.

I do see a lot of persons in this society volunteering though, and if that was done for caring and selfless reasons, I applaud all those selfless persons, and for those who decided to work in professions that assist others, too, if they are kind-hearted persons and not driven by ego, power and money mostly. Unfortunately though, things are not always apparent on the surface whether these persons, and for like charitable organizations, whether they care or not. In many cases, yes, but in others, the obsession is less about helping, but getting in some way, to take advantage of the situation.

In my case, I have been helped a lot by persons, like by the guy that stopped to pull my car out of the ditch for free, the acquaintance guy one road over who drove me to the hospital when my car was in the repair shop and I had an emergency and walked there to ask him for help, as our hillbilly confederate flag waving hating neighbors blocked us in with snow again on purpose, etc. But, very rarely if money was not exchanged would any other help. Even for holidays, I feel uncomfortable getting things. I find more joy in seeing others happier, healthier and with less problems in life.

So, I focus on doing everything myself for myself, and relying on nobody unless there is no choice there, but at the same time, would assist anyone, if they were needing of help, and would appreciate that.
 
I have learned about this phenomenon in psychology class many years ago. I can't remember the name of it, but basically, when there is a group of people, the sense responsibility is diluted. There was examples of horrific things occurring in public, physical and sexual assaults, people walking by. Even if emotionally disturbed by what they were seeing, they wouldn't make any attempt to help the other person,...as long as there were others walking by. However, if there was just one person,...the responsibility wasn't diluted,...they quickly reacted to save the person being assaulted. Of course, there are people, regardless of the situation, will jump in and help.
 
So just to add my ten cents. There is always fear of the unknown. True this person could need help. But, thy could also use that as a lure. Pretend to be helpless then strike. Robbing, murdering, or turning the person help into a lawsuit. All has happened before and continues too. So caution is certainly warranted in these cases.
 
Don't want to get involved. Getting involved would involve a disruption to their lives. You can always tell yourself someone else will take care of it.

There's also cognitive dissonance. People don't really want to believe what they are seeing and construct a story to explain it that isn't so bad. Kind of like telling yourself that COVID is no worse than the flu.
 
Varzar said:
Also, like the guy in the story, an awful lot of people don't want to accept help even if they need it. Pride.
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If I were crying in public the absolute last thing I would want is for people to intervene or call attention to it in any way or do anything at all other than pretend they don't see it. If someone did approach, my response would be to pretend I'm fine and get away from them as quickly as possible.

Now if I'm in obvious physical distress, yes, I would want help then.
 
SDRSpark said:
If I were crying in public the absolute last thing I would want is for people to intervene or call attention to it in any way or do anything at all other than pretend they don't see it. If someone did approach, my response would be to pretend I'm fine and get away from them as quickly as possible.

Now if I'm in obvious physical distress, yes, I would want help then.
Click to expand...
That's why if I were crying I'd do it alone. If I'm crying in public it would literally be a cry for help.
 
Plain and simple, people in general just do not care about anyone but themselves anymore. I suffer with severe asthma and cannot be around smoke of any kind, and I cannot tell you how many smokers have told me to F-O when told that their carelessness in lighting up and smoking around other people is not okay.
 
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