Compassion

Today I nearly died! On campus I was waiting for a crosswalk. A bus drove by and a jeep went through a red light and directly hit the bus full of students. The jeep spun out and narrowly missed hitting me. The bus hopped onto a sidewalk and took down a tree and metal pole, which came close to hitting a woman. I checked on her; she was fine, but shaken, as were the people on the bus and the jeep driver whose car was ruined. There were several other people there but no one else checked in or called for help. They wouldn't speak to the police either. I wonder why we, as Americans an people in general don't immediately try to help more often. I claim no superiority here, but I have to wonder: is it because of a lack of compassion and an abundance of apathy? I like to think not. What are your thoughts?

Part of it is the whole train wreck thing. We can't help but watch and we get mesmerized by the action in front of us. It's also partly the thought that someone else will take care of it. It happens all the time, I think it was mentioned in another thread but I don't remember which one. It's the reason why people who receive first aid training are taught to single people out for tasks rather than asking the group if someone is going to help. Tell a crowd to do a one person job and they won't move, tell one person to do it and they're more likely to comply.

Also our instincts are for individual survival, then family survival, then friends, then species if it even goes that far. We frequently get as far as protecting ourselves then loved ones and ignore the rest.

I'd say a little bit of both: lack of compassion for some and abundance of apathy for others. Plus a general lack of knowledge, people don't know how to help so they panic and freeze.

Sorry to hear about the accident. I'm glad that you and everyone else is okay.

this past year i've almost been hit using the crosswalk 6 times...each time the drivers acted as though it was my fault that i was legally using the crosswalk while they were violating the right of way....

it's been my observation that an unusual majority of people are too self obsessed now a days to care about their fellow man. several of the drivers that almost hit me weren't even looking....people seem too stupid to properly plan out their travels so they aren't rushing at the last minute...many are selfish, thinking that they are the only ones that have to get somewhere and therefor above showing common courtesy...when they see something happen they become afraid of getting involved...either because it will make them late to watch some lame @$$ show, or that they will have to deal with going to court, or talking to cops, or in some way get hurt....fear, fear, fear....

Goken wrote: Part of it is the whole train wreck thing.

that would be called "morbid curiosity"

On phone so can't say much now other than say that group mentality means people are less likely to help.

Ryujin, it's interesting that you refer to fear here. Do you think that fear is the primary thing which prevents us from acting compassionately?

in many people yes...but not in all people

there isn't really one blanket item that can be applied to all people...

In First Responder training, when "alone" on scene, and dealing with immediate triage, it is taught that bystanders have to be *singled out* and tasked. "Someone call 911" fails at effect, where everyone assume some else will do it, but if' I'm performing CPR, (or am otherwise occupied), I would point (via finger or direct eye contact).."YOU...yes YOU..call 911, Now." "YOU. Direct traffic""YOU. and YOU, get the people clear for Emergency Response Vehicles" Being thus 'assigned" a task, and individual will (more likely) follow through, where a crowd will not. One has to break the spell of "Not my job, I don't know ", and turn it into "Oh, THAT I can do!" A simple bridging of the gap in space between "Being there" and "Letting the Pros do their thing".

Leadership by example.