if you saw someone being attacked, would you help?

[sith123]

i for one know i would.

[sp1814]

Yes - and it went horribly wrong.

Driving home from work a few years back, I saw a teenage girl jump out of a car in front of me. The driver stopped his car and ran after her, grabbed her whilst she screamed and tried to struggle free.

I jumped out of my car, grabbed him by the neck, and pulled his arm behind his back, whilst asking the girl if she was alright.

It was at that point that it all went pear-shaped. He was a cab driver, and she had robbed HIM. She legged it as soon as I had the driver off her. She'd even cut him with a razor.

I couldn't have felt worse. For all the right reasons, I intervened, but effectively - I aided and abetted her getaway.

Would still intervene though - got into a massive fight with a bunch of homophobic thugs who were picking on a gay chap sitting on his own on a night bus. That was very silly as the odds were seriously stacks against me - but if I'd have read in the papers the next day, that the chap in question had been beaten up, or killed - I wouldn't have been able to live with myself.

Hmmm...could it be argued that on some level, bravery is an act of selfishness, rather than selflessness???

[DTCwordfan]

It is very much case by case - and yes I guess it can be stupid to wade into certain situations. And many of us still do it....as I said, there is a shock factor that can "work" with many attackers on a 3rd party.

One of the "best" personal defences I have ever heard of was of a guy from Cumbria in Manchester. He was set on by a gang of I think it was eight yobs.

He was exceptionally qualified to instructor and UK competition level in
Taekwondo, Karate and Judo and warned them of his proficiency. They didn't believe him.

Five minutes later, three ran off, two seriously bruised and three in hospital with broken limbs. Bruce Lee in the making?

[China Doll]

No, I don't think I would. I'd call the police but I don't think I would necessarily intervene as I'm not that brave (or foolhardy in some cases). I suspect if it was a child I might do but even that I couldn't say for certain.

[jomifl]

If I saw someone being attacked in the street my first thought would be that perhaps the attackers are the police especially if it is about 6 against 1.

[grffindoor2011]

Unlikely.

You only have to read stories on here where someone has 'helped' and got a criminal conviction for their troubles.

[Postdog]

no, but then I'm not fit enough to take care of myself, let alone anyone else. If it warranted it I would call the police obviously.