Scenario from this weekend...

[mourning_]

alright here's a scenario i came across this weekend, what would you do, if you CHOSE to interveen. (sp)

I was at a haunted house saturday night with my girl friend and younger cousin. We were waiting at the end for my cousin to come out when these 2 guys started arguing with one of the employees about tickets i believe. It was starting to get rather intense and it was the 2 guys arguing with just one employee. They had him in a corner and i was sitting in a chair about 15 feet behind them. They had no idea i was there. As it got more intense i was asking myself what should i do if they attack him? I mean, they were pretty upset and i saw it getting worse. So if one of them had attcked them what could i have done? or should i have done anything? I wouldn't really considering a fist attack or anything, because they would have not done any harm to me, but i don't see 'breaking it up' working either. i saw a guy step inbetween 2 guys before. ended up worse than the actual people fighting did.

and btw there was hardly anyone else around. If something had happened by the time people could fo gone for help they would had him for lunch. =D well dinner, since it was nighttime.

[Jay]

you may end up worse but at least you have helped someone out i belive however that you did the right thing dont intervene until someone actually attacks someone else thenyou can help them out or split the fight up however if it was me i would find this difficult coz im quite small and if they where bigger than me well there only so much you can teach about pushing technique and if you dont have the bodyweigth then your still gonna struggle but i still would have tried anyway to help someone

[White Warlock]

If you do not feel full confident in your ability to deescalate a confrontation, and have prior mediation training, I agree that you shouldn't intervene in the situation unless it gets violent, or reaches a point where violence will definitely occur, especially considering you had loved ones with you.

One option you may have omitted was that of using your cell phone to contact the management of this facility or, if necessary... 911. Also, if there was someone else with you (which you indicated there was), you could have 'ordered' them to seek management and/or security. At the very least, you would have gotten them out of harms way, and thus left yourself free to decide whether your intervention is warranted... without the baggage of knowing you may be endangering more than merely yourself.

[mourning_]

ah i good advice. except calling 911 or the management def wouldn't of worked in this situation. but having somoene go get management would have been a good idea. ended up not goign into anything but i wasn't planning on doign anything unless something happened. (i believe 1 of the 2 said that above.

[Zaine]

I agree with Jay and White_Warlock, but if your were to intervene, you would have to to be careful not to get into a fight yourself and if you did, you better trust yourself enough to win, cause if you dont trust yourself, there isnt a big chance of winning...

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Well, if it had been me...and that's just me mind you...and being the old, stupid guy that I am, I probably would have gone over and said something like "Are we having a problem over here? Can I help?"

But like I said, that's just me. Everybody does what they feel is right and justified at the time. I'm just a meddling old guy that likes to stick his nose into places that aren't always appropriate.

[Anbu Alex]

Also you have to be carful in that type of situation cause if the police got invovled then you would of been grouped together with the other 2 parties

[JusticeZero]

Only other idea I can think of would be to just show up on scene quietly, smile, as if waiting for their argument to end so you could politely ask the employee about some problem of your own. Basically just enough so that they recognize that if they start something, there -will- be a witness. I also agree with sending someone to find a manager.

[mourning_]

thats def a good idea =D wintness. good thinkin, lincoln

[orion82698]

Remember, self defense, not offense. I would have called the Police, and reported a dispute. If it would have gotten outta hand, you would have been forced to use force, and you could have hurt someone. This is a sue happy world, and that's the last thing you want.