Jun 5th, 2008 | Accidents survey

Do people care about strangers?


A 78-year old man was struck by a hit and run driver. Many cars drive by, a scooter drives around the critically wounded man, and a small crowd almost immediately gathers around him gawking. But nobody calls 911. Lying there, bleeding to death, it takes nearly two minutes before a policeman -- who happened to drive through the area while responding to a different incident -- notice the man and calls for an ambulance.  Commentators speculate that people have changed over time -- that passers-by would have helped him decades ago, but that people today just don't care about each other.  CNN



50 votes, 220 views , 11 comments
 
 
Poll tags:Accidents, Apathy, Social Issues
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Comments (11)
Drowlord
(Reply)
Texas, United States

posted Jun 6th, 2008 at 17:01 CDT

awesome, thanks!  I had a link to CNN, but I couldn't embed CNN's video format in the poll.

Drowlord
(Reply)
Texas, United States

posted Jun 6th, 2008 at 16:52 CDT

Yeah, I've been "a witness" to three accidents.  In all three cases, I was the only person to stop and wait with the crash people for the police report.

Kengarnett
(Reply)
Arizona, United States

posted Jun 6th, 2008 at 16:16 CDT

It all depends on the person.  I'm the kind of person that if I see someone struggling with a heavy object trying to open a door, I'll run up and open the door for them.  I saw an accident a couple years back in the rearview mirror of my car after I had passed through an intersection.  I pulled into a parking lot and went back to check, and thankfully no one was hurt, but I was the only person who had stopped.  There had been people sitting at the light who would have seen it better than me, but not one of them stopped.  Seriously, F&%^ some people, Karma will eat your ass off

Scotkitty
(Reply)
Arizona, United States

posted Jun 6th, 2008 at 15:53 CDT

Here is the video.  The man was kind of stupid crossing the street in front of traffic, but I still can't believe what people didn't do after this happened.  Very sad.

Scotkitty
(Reply)
Arizona, United States

posted Jun 6th, 2008 at 15:50 CDT

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JuxGh5axb2k&hl=en"></param><embed src=http://www.youtube.com/v/JuxGh5axb2k&hl=en type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Drowlord
(Reply)
Texas, United States

posted Jun 6th, 2008 at 09:02 CDT

Ang and I stop to help animals all the time.  I've never been tested with a person in a crisis, but I don't think I'd be so generous.  I used to pull over and help people push their stalled cars out of the road, or through intersections, or such... but I don't anymore.  I'm not sure why I quit.

Poshlife
(Reply)
Italy

posted Jun 5th, 2008 at 20:56 CDT

i care. One day I saw a bird fly into a glass window of Chirpy Chirp Fried Chicken on the corner of Hughes and Franklin Sts.. The little creature fell to ground, stunned. At that moment a mangy, decaying hobo of sorts leapt up and scrambled and pounced upon the bird, trying to catch it before it could gather its wits and fly away. The man, drooling and gasping motioned that he in fact wanted to make this poor bird his own fried delight. Sensing this bird wanted to fly away and be free, and this man wanted  fresh bird, I belted the little thing down and myself and the bumbling bum, seated right there on the greasy ground, each shared a wing while whistling into the traffic and horns in the streets. And I might add, Cardinal beek makes a damn good tooth or fingernail pick!

Enjoylife
(Reply)
Fiji

posted Jun 5th, 2008 at 20:30 CDT

I know I'm being optimistic here, but I have to believe.  What a shame, this story makes me sick.

Bearden829
(Reply)
Pennsylvania, United States

posted Jun 5th, 2008 at 17:51 CDT

I agree with this.  Also, there are many setups where (obviously not bleeding to death) someone feigns an injury just to attack and rob someone kind enough to help. 

Ang
(Reply)
Texas, United States

posted Jun 5th, 2008 at 17:41 CDT

I think people are afraid to help because they might get sued. I think it also depends on the city.

Scotkitty
(Reply)
Arizona, United States

posted Jun 5th, 2008 at 17:41 CDT

I changed my vote.  Altho it seems like I run into a lot of self absorbed people these days, I feel that there are people out there that do still care.  I would hope so anyway.

 
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