Why do people refuse to get involved!

wyeast · 07-27-2006, 08:41 PM

I take my responsibility as a citzen to get involved and help people when I can. My safety and resources are evaluated before I get into something. Last weekend I was walking into Target and noticed a mini van with the back hatch open. It was full of things and no one was around. I then walked over to the sidewalk and watched people for about ten minutes. People were pointing to the open door and even looked into the car. Not one person dared to close the door though. I then went over and locked and shut the door. Next I went and did my shopping and as I was leaving I noticed a couple older ladies at the mini van. One was putting a wheelchair into the back. I went over and introduced myself and told them that I had closed it. It just amazes me people won't help! :whazzup:

Cool Texan · 07-27-2006, 09:06 PM

Would you have posted this if in the end, you locked a lady in a wheelchair out of her van in the heat? :grin:

Sorry, just playing devils advocate.

The Chub · 07-27-2006, 09:10 PM

I have closed trunks while at the mall. I think alot of people just sit back and look because they don't know what's going on, or are afraid to get involved.

ANDYCOHO · 07-27-2006, 09:14 PM

I know what you mean Wyeast....

Just yesterday there was this snake lying in the middle of the road and no one would stop to move the it. It wasn't going to take long before this snake would be hit by a car. Well finally this nice guy stops to pick up the snake (after a few close calls I might add) and move it out of harms way and the snake bites him!!! :blush:

The moral of the story is; best to leave...errr...ahhh..... heck I dont know what the moral of the story is, or what I'm even trying to say.....

wyeast · 07-27-2006, 10:19 PM

Cool Texan,
If I would have locked her out in the heat I would have given her water and parked her in the shade! Then I would have gotten into her car for her.

Andycoho,
If you get a moral to the story, I would like to know it. I still can't believe that snake bit me!lol :grin:

water and sky · 07-28-2006, 12:57 AM

You did the right thing. It does seem that people are getting more and more concerned about self- preservation. Seems like paople who hunt and fish are more likely to help others. Maybe I'm generalizing but that does seem to be the case.

fishncliff · 07-28-2006, 02:57 AM

Quote:

You did the right thing. It does seem that people are getting more and more concerned about self- preservation.

It all stems from the " don't get involved" generation of the 70's and the "me first, time is money" crap from the 80's.

The majority of people today came from these 2 groups and now you have a society of greedy, selfish idiots.

Straydog · 07-28-2006, 06:04 AM

fishincliff,

I think you may have missed the "look at me sideways and I will sue your butt" crowd, and the blood sucking attorney's that will line up to take the case, that influence the fact society is not willing to intervene as they were in the past......

Not saying your assesment is not correct, just incomplete.

Sweet Melissa · 07-28-2006, 07:16 AM

I think there are a lot of greedy, selfish people who will "sue your butt," but I also think there are a lot of people who live their lives in fear every day. Fear that their intentions will be misinterpreted. Fear that their buddies will think they're "uncool" for being "nice." Fear that they might even be physically harmed. And, yeah, fear that they might be sued.

It's amazing how much fear subsides when you turn down the negative, turn down the noise, and filter what you watch, listen to, and read. And who you hang out with.

You did the right thing.

Cool Texan · 07-28-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

The moral of the story is; best to leave...errr...ahhh..... heck I dont know what the moral of the story is, or what I'm even trying to say.....

rimrock · 07-28-2006, 08:07 AM

Actually I�ve witnessed many, many unselfish acts by all different types of people. I truly don�t think there has ever been the �good old days� when everyone was nice to all of mankind. There has always been the kind and the jerk � and there always will.

I couldn�t even begin to list the number of kind acts I�ve seen, but one yesterday was while going through a drive-thru the person in the car ahead of me bought my drink � they did know a thing about me or who I was just a random act of kindness. Also a few minutes later another person as I was pulling out of the parking lot cut me off on the road and then proceeded to give me the finger as he continued to ripe thru traffic about killing everyone in sight. The irony didn�t escape me: one moment an act of random kindness, another moment random jerkiness.

SOOOO, there are many kind people and just as many jerks. That�s simply life.

Irish Pennant · 07-28-2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Actually I�ve witnessed many, many unselfish acts by all different types of people. I truly don�t think there has ever been the �good old days� when everyone was nice to all of mankind. There has always been the kind and the jerk � and there always will....That�s simply life.

duckboy · 07-28-2006, 08:26 AM

There is a phenomonon known as "diffusion of responsibility"

In situations where there are many people that could lend a hand, everyone's mindset can be that the other guy/gal will do it.

It is a documented psychological kind of deal.

I swear it!

suckerfish · 07-28-2006, 09:39 AM

Because sometimes helping out can get you three years in the Pen! :depressed:

suckerfish

cougfan · 07-28-2006, 11:12 AM

Closing the door was a fine thing to do but telling them you closed it opened you up for all sorts of trouble.

MacFish · 07-28-2006, 11:36 AM

I don't think that most people, seeing an open hatchback in a stores parking lot, might have thought anything might be amiss and of those, very few would have waited around to confirm it. You should be congratulated on being very alert, but I don't think it was a matter of other folks not wanting to get involved, I doubt they even recognized a problem.

fishncliff · 07-28-2006, 11:43 AM

Quote:

In situations where there are many people that could lend a hand, everyone's mindset can be that the other guy/gal will do it.

This explains my step children.

Quote:

Closing the door was a fine thing to do but telling them you closed it opened you up for all sorts of trouble. Because sometimes helping out can get you three years in the Pen!

These 2 statement represent the entire conversation and why there is no "help your neighbor" attitude anymore. What a bunch of cowardly crap.

Okie · 07-28-2006, 11:54 AM

I left my rear window open on my Bronco at a well known boat launching site, with a lot of stuff in the rear that anyone could take and was gone all day. When I returned and discouvered the window was down, expected something to be missing. Nothing was gone and nothing disturbed. So luck does happen. There's a lot of good people out there, it just takes one bad apple to wreck everything.
Good Luck;

MacFish · 07-28-2006, 12:03 PM

How can anyone say that people today won't get involved, you see it all the time. Take the lady at the zoo the other day who's attacker was run down and held for the police by a passersby. What about, when during the heat wave, several children were seen left in cars and they were rescued because people got involved. you want to bet I can't keep going? let's not spend so much time looking for the bad in people that we don't recognize how much good there is out there

Herring Impaired · 07-28-2006, 09:16 PM

My Dad used to open car doors/reach through windows and turn off their headlights/parking lights if they left them on.

That is, until he either read or saw on the news a story about someone doing the exact same thing, only to get shot by the owner because he thought the person was breaking into his car.

PapaHog · 07-28-2006, 09:51 PM

I do think that many times we look at the negative about people and stress on that when there are 100 times more good than bad.

Good people happen and happen all the time. I know a lot of people from all walks of life and can think of only a couple that are of questionable character. They are both in jail, a father and son. I know 2 others that I can not fish with because of their questionable fishing ethics.

I know lots of people, including a lot of ifihsers that will go out of their way to help a stranger in need.

BrotherWolf · 07-29-2006, 09:29 AM

So I will ask ya guys this when's the last time you stopped and helped a lady in distress??? when they have a flat tire????..... I stop and change tires all the time for the ladies...Guys your on your own!.... I got fast at it after driving a tow truck in LA for two years....I think the main reason no one helps out as much as they use to is because of the cell phone. I guess they figure if they need help they can call someone??...sitting along side the freeway highway etc isnt very safe for anyone... I have seen a lot of stuff out there and Oregon roads are getting just plan dangerous...kinda like LA..

PapaHog · 07-29-2006, 09:50 AM

It does not have to be a lady in distress for me to offer assistance.

Quote:

Guys your on your own!....

Many a man has medical problems that make it impossible to change a tire. Me included, So I do not distinguish between the two. (however I have to offer my cell phone if it is a tire that needs changing.)

Last good deed was give a man a ride to a gas station and back because he could not believe the motor home he rented for the family vacation would only get 6 miles to the gallon.

fish_on · 07-29-2006, 10:11 AM

Quote:

fishincliff,

I think you may have missed the "look at me sideways and I will sue your butt" crowd, and the blood sucking attorney's that will line up to take the case, that influence the fact society is not willing to intervene as they were in the past......

Not saying your assesment is not correct, just incomplete.

This would be the "no good deed goes unpunished" or un-sued attitude of the 00's

BrotherWolf · 07-29-2006, 08:24 PM

Quote:

It does not have to be a lady in distress for me to offer assistance.

Quote:

Guys your on your own!....

Many a man has medical problems that make it impossible to change a tire. Me included, So I do not distinguish between the two. (however I have to offer my cell phone if it is a tire that needs changing.)

Last good deed was give a man a ride to a gas station and back because he could not believe the motor home he rented for the family vacation would only get 6 miles to the gallon.

It really doesnt for me either I was just gooffing, I do what I can when I can.... I have been commuting to Oregon City from Salem for the last five years and ever time I think I have seen it all I still end up seeing something new