The Bullying Experiment!

[hazeleyes202]

Thoughts? If you were placed in the same situation, what would you do? What if you saw this happening in a street setting?

[Harkon72]

That's a very interesting video. I hope that I would have the courage to step in; especially if it were a woman or a child being bullied.

[Lupin1]

Honestly not sure I'd take those guys seriously. Who says "I'm gonna sock you in the face"?

[Patrick]

Honestly not sure I'd take those guys seriously. Who says "I'm gonna sock you in the face"?

A fair point. I like when he says "you just walked away from a guy getting brutally beat." Brutally beat?

I don't know if I would have gotten involved. Especially if I was alone. I'll call someone. I might announce, "I'm calling the cops" out loud. But I don't think I'd jump in.

In some ways, it's for the same reason I don't stop if I see a car broken down. Too many stories of people doing that as a trap and then some Good Samaritan stops and gets robbed (or far worse). I mean, do you think people don't stage fights like this and when someone tries to stop the fight, they turn on them?

I'm sure Brian and/or Alex might have some thoughts on this, working in law enforcement.

And that's not to say there is anything wrong with jumping in or that it's not noble. At the same token, I don't think it's fair to criticize those people who just walked by - who knows if they didn't call for help as soon as they turned the corner?

Patrick

[Lupin1]

I wonder if, as a female, I would be more likely to step in if it were just verbal bullying. I'd be terrified of putting myself into the middle of two unknown males physically going at it, but if he was just verbally putting him down or insulting him, I might be more likely to step in and say something. Or even if it were two females going at it, though that's still messy (what if one had a weapon or we got into legal ramifications or she had friends that were going to come after me).

I, too, am interested in hearing our LEOs' points of view.

[DWx]

It's kinda like the bystander effect. I think it depends on the person watching whether they feel also intimidated by the bully or if they think they have the power, physically or verbally, to help.

It is funny though what people will and won't do. A couple of years ago I spun my car into a ditch and nearly rolled it... the amount of people who just drove past and didn't stop to check if I was fine or needed any help - especially as I was a female alone miles from anywhere. After that I always stop and ask people if their ok if it's not immediately obvious that they are.

[sensei8]

Call the police!!

I'd say something to get the bullies attention away from his/her victim. If I'm attacked by the bully, well, that would be the bullies first mistake.

Something must be done, imho. Whether it's verbal intervention or if it's getting between said victim and bully. But, do something until the police arrive. What I've seen is that too many people are afraid to "get involved" and I don't call it getting involved when protecting someone from a bully.

Bullies have a place, and it's called...JAIL, if warranted.

Would I beat up the bully? NO!! But, I'd do something!!

[bushido_man96]

I'd try to step in and stop it, but that's kind of my job, too. Its tough for us to know exactly what the people who saw this going on were thinking; if they viewed it as serious or not. However, I do think the video drives home a point. Our society is more likely to watch than to stand up and act. As the saying goes, evil thrives when good men do nothing to stop it.

[sensei8]

I'd try to step in and stop it, but that's kind of my job, too. Its tough for us to know exactly what the people who saw this going on were thinking; if they viewed it as serious or not. However, I do think the video drives home a point. Our society is more likely to watch than to stand up and act. As the saying goes, evil thrives when good men do nothing to stop it.

Solid post!!