If you saw a man push or hit a woman in public what would you do?

@TriciaW (2441)
United States
July 11, 2007 8:26am CST
You hear them arguing and suddenly the man pushes the woman back against a car or building or hits her how would you react? Would you step in or would you call the police? I saw this once and called the police right away only because it was early morning and it was just the 3 of us around and the man was pretty big. Had it been that there were other people around I would have caused a bigger scene myself but I didn't leave I waited for the police to show up. He had seen me watching him so stopped. I am not really sure what I would have done had he continued to hit her. Knowing me I would have had to step in and then gotten beat up myself. I was glad my squealing brakes got his attention and he saw me sitting there with the phone in hand. What would you do?
6 people like this
24 responses
@SmokePiff (436)
• United States
11 Jul 07
i'd just keep it movin. and yell bob and weeve to her. im not gettin stabbed up for no1. sorry
2 people like this
• Philippines
17 Jul 07
sorry, sorry.. :(
• United States
12 Jul 07
^^^^what kinda BULLSH!T is this^^^^
1 person likes this
@truartiss (386)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I think i would call the cops also.
2 people like this
@scottology (1208)
11 Jul 07
i would be like oi do not hit a woman yo
1 person likes this
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
and you think he'd stop and follow orders? :)
@Blazing15 (333)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I think that I would call the cops first. Then if it still continued I would stay in my car with the window part way down and if he continued I would just let him know that the cops have been called and that he needs to stop. I would have to protect myself too considering he was a big guy.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
try considering a hit and run. :)
@yaoyao918 (262)
• China
11 Jul 07
I will call the cop.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
what if it's too late? that the woman might be in danger that the cops wouldn't be able to make it? :)
@Yatayee (117)
• Australia
12 Jul 07
I would, and have, called the police. I would not endanger myself though. I don't think I would be helping anyone if I got us both injured.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
17 Jul 07
right you are. :)
@narcof (65)
11 Jul 07
I'd do exactly what I would do if I saw any kind of unequal violence taking place, I would STOP ths situation, and call the police if it were possible to do so. Too many people walk on by these days, which is why people think they can get away with violence.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jul 07
you've got that right.! too many people think "it's none of my business". well, it is your business if you have witnessed something wrong, such as a beating. and something should be done, at least calling the cops. we should look out for one another in this life. it sure would make for a better world to live.
1 person likes this
@diannebcrs (1549)
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
Nah, I'd get a stone from a corner and throw it at him.. If he looks my way and chases after me, the better.. I'm a fast runner. :)
@Gwapako_28 (2140)
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
I dont have that kind of guts like you.Probably i would be shock and i would leave them.You may say i am irresponsible neighbor but it is none of my business.
@liranlgo (5752)
• Israel
12 Jul 07
I am glad you did what you did and i would probably act the same tricia. The big question is why does the women not doing anything about it? why does she stay with him? It is well known that there is no 'one time act' in violence. It is usually a pattern. So now the big question is how do we help most of the women that view this violence to just hit back their lovely husband or boyfriend or to see him in jail.
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
Me, sometimes i just ignore this kind of scenario, i don't know the idea why a man will hurt woman in public. But if there is no help around for the woman,i certainly report this incidence to the police.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
12 Jul 07
I really don't know. If he were to walk up and ask you what were you staring at, what would you have done? As you mentioned, he is a big fella. In an already agitated mood, he may just go beserk knowing that there is some one watching him and holding a phone! You got some nerve and guts! I would have walked to some safe distance before calling in the authorities. No point sticking around to risk the chance of getting beaten up. No one is going to pay for your medical expenses and the pain you have to suffer after that.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
13 Jul 07
true true! if every one were to look out for each other, the world WOULD be a safer place. But we live in a world of selfish people. Like I mentioned, I would like to help, but not at the expense of my safety as well. Will call the police, but will stay my distance from the brute who is abusing his partner.
• United States
12 Jul 07
just knowing that i helped that poor woman that was getting beaten would help ease my pain. and IMO make it all worthwhile. maybe if more people looked out for one another the world would be a much safer place.
• United States
11 Jul 07
I would totally step in. I can't take it that a guy would hit a girl. Also the same with if a parent hits the child in public I tend to pipe up. I know I probably shouldn't, but why pick on someone that is one fourth your size.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
12 Jul 07
that's really noble of you. if you know martial arts, the better.. but why would you endanger yourself? :)
@mestr12 (226)
• Philippines
11 Jul 07
I would call the cops. In the Philippines, hitting a woman is against the law. We have Republic Act No. 9262 which is otherwise known as Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.
1 person likes this
11 Jul 07
id b**** slap him into next week!
1 person likes this
@sunshine4 (8703)
• United States
11 Jul 07
I would also call the police and wait until they came. If it got really violent, I would somehow try to intervene without putting myself at harm.
@Gorgeous24 (1091)
• United States
12 Jul 07
I would call the cops ASAP and wait for them to come but if he started hitting her more I would probably yell for him to stop because I just called the cops on his sorry butt.
• United States
12 Jul 07
i would absolutely step in and stop it. if all i did was give the woman time enough to get away while the big guy kicked my little a**. but i wouldn't stand for such things. i have done this in the past, mainly at taverns, and usually ended well. my wife was in an abusive relationship when we met. although i never saw any altercations, there were signs and i could not stand by. i figure if the guy wants to hit something that bad, i'll be happy to oblige. i'm only a little guy. 5'7", 125#. so i'm not too intimidating. but i got what it takes. good for you for getting involved.
• Australia
12 Jul 07
call the police but if it got to violent would try to defend the female until the police arrived
• United States
11 Jul 07
I would definitly step in. Im not in an abusive relationship, and never have been. One time though, i made my fiance really mad and she punched me in the face and slapped me. I didnt even raise my voice at her for doing it. I am totally against women beaters. I would however, restrain a female if i felt threatened. i would do so with an arm bar or wrist lock, but just to stop her from hitting me.
11 Jul 07
I'd probably try and make him noticed me and if he didn't stop then I'd call the police.