What would YOU do?
By coffeeshot
@coffeeshot (3783)
Australia
November 16, 2009 1:29am CST
Today I watched Oprah's program about the hidden camera show that aired recently in America. Basically it involved actors pretending to be in awkward/dangerous/controversial situations while capturing the public's response on camera.
One of the scenarios involved a group of teenage girls surrounding one girl in the park teasing and heckling her. A lot of people just walked past but some stopped and helped her.
Another involved a man and woman arguing in a park and the man started to become agressive towards her. It shocked me to see so many people just walking past and ignoring it. Luckily one lady stopped and stood up to the man and told the lady she would not leave her until help came.
The one that upset me the most (don't get me wrong, they were all horrible scenes) was the bakery in Texas where the employee and the muslim lady customer were both actors. The worker refused to serve the Muslim lady and called her a terrorist, told her to get back on her camel and ride home among other insults.
The sad thing is, a few people said 'good on you' to the man. Others just stood by and said nothing. On a positive note, a few people also said they were disgusted and would not return to the shop. Two young girls (one being muslim herself) stood there for 15 minutes and argued with the man.
What would you do in each of these situations? I know a lot of people don't do anything until one person takes the lead, then others follow. Are you one who takes the lead or do you stand back and watch?
5 people like this
14 responses
@Aingealicia (1905)
• United States
20 Nov 09
Wow, after reading that I am shocked. I did not see the program but reading what happened is disgusting upon how numb we are in society as a whole.
I am sure you already know but I am usually the one to stand up and say, "This is not ok."
Ainge
2 people like this
@Jetleena (11)
• United States
17 Nov 09
I actually missed the show though I did plan on seeing it, it seemed like a show that is both a good way to show how the public would act in those situations..
It seems like in situations like those on the show I find myself the only one standing up to people. Though I have no problem with doing that, it makes me sad to see that in most situations it is only ONE person who is willing to stand up. But one is better then none I guess..
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
1 Dec 09
I would act up in all situations. Also, I don't think it's a good idea to do something like that in a REAL bakery, because if I saw it happening, I would NOT go into that place ever again, and I would hate for people to lose business because something like that took place in their shop. I am very aware of things like that.
As for the person being swarmed, I have intervened in that situation already. I called the police from far enough away, and let them know what was happening. I also prevented my neighbour's murder by running into his apartment and pulling him away from a guy with a knife, and got my grandfather to pull the car over after he suffered some kind of "age-related mental episode" while driving. I also prevented a step-child's psychotic ex-boyfriend from getting into hour house, and trying to kill us.
@oasis_9 (831)
• Philippines
17 Nov 09
Honestly if I'm also all alone I'd do the most cowardly stand and just walk away...but if i could see a police near by I'd probably tell him about the situation that is happening that way I'm could help the person in trouble without making me part of the danger. But if i got company and i know that no matter what happens there's someone who would back me up for sure i will stand by the victim and help them.
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
27 Nov 09
I've always been the quiet one, the follower for I don't want to draw attention to myself however, I've been known to stand up for what I believe in and it shocks the hell out of everybody that knows me and sees it. LOL Like one time, my foster brother and I both had to go to summer school and for some reason, our regular bus driver had to take the day off. Well, her sister took over the route that day. My foster brother was doing something wrong, I don't know what exactly but she was trying to get his attention but boys being boys like they were, they were too loud for my foster brother to hear her so then she started calling him "Hey fat boy! Hey you in the blue shirt, the fat boy!" Needless to say, with my hearing problem, I heard her say that and good gosh! Hell's fire flew into me and I stood up and screamed "Who are you calling fat boy? That happens to be my brother OLD LADY! Now take that!" Oh I was so po'd with her that even though she tried to stop me from getting off the bus, I flew past her because I didn't want to hear what she had to say. The next day, her sister came back and told me that the reason she wanted to talk to me is to apologize but I wouldn't let her. Oh well, lesson learned on HER part for she was the adult. We were kids. She knew better.
1 person likes this
@rg0205 (2636)
• Hong Kong
17 Nov 09
In the first two instances, I'd call the cops ASAP. Sometimes when you're outnumbered, you can get beaten before you call for help. Other times, when they know you're calling for help, they'll run. Same applies to the man assaulting the woman.
As for the last, I wouldn't argue with the guy first. I'd try and see if I can get the manager. If in case they weren't around, I'd have a word or two with the guy. Then, I'd get on the internet and post a ton of bad reviews and remember to insert the guy's name on LOL. I'm serious though. I would also write the Company that owns the establishment. I have muslim friends who are good people and I don't think it's right to generalize that all people of a certain race or religion are bad.
2 people like this
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
16 Nov 09
I have a tendancy to take the lead, especially where issues of abuse, racial insults, etc are involved.
I cant stand "fence sitters" who do nothing.
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
16 Nov 09
To be honest, I would have gotten involved in every situation. I would get loud and proud and doing what I could to defend the person involved. I don't find it okay to watch while a teenager was picked on or prejudice in a shop. I didn't get to see the show but I have seen things like this in person, and have stood up for them whether I got banned or not. A while back, I was shopping at wal-mart and seen this man about my age jerking his 2 year old daughter up by the hair because she was touching something on a shelf. He actually shook her slightly and when he put her down, I kicked him in the shin, stood on his chest when he hit the ground and told him "we don't hit, ***hole!". I got banned from that wal-mart but got a formal apology when I filed charges against that man. There is no sense in ridiculing anyone in public, especially a child. He ended up losing the little girl for a while, the newspaper said. So yes, again, I would stand up for them.
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
17 Nov 09
I'm the type that can't stand for people being picked on so if I witness it & no one else will stand up for them I will although I have found a few times where the peoples pride was hurt & took it out on me for interfearing but they weren't doing anything but standing there being attacked so I figured having some one defend them would make them feel better but I guess it just embarrassed them in the end
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
16 Nov 09
well the first one with the girls bully the one girl i would stop and say something or call the cops, second one i would call the cops and stay there until they came. the last one i would stand up for the female too
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
16 Nov 09
I usually watch Oprah but I haven’t seen this one and it sounds like one worth seeing. In regards to the first scenario I don’t think I could walk away without telling the girls to stop, whether they would listen or not that is another story; I would call the Police if need be.
I would not interfere in the second incident but I would call the Police and the third one is a really sad one, I think I would tell the worker that what she said was out of order and walk out never to return.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
16 Nov 09
I watched this show too and couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. The one about the muslim woman in the shop I definitely would have spokened up and I would never return to the shop again, and I'm a survivor of 9/11 in the WTC. That was horrible to speak to her that way. I have to say if a group of people were harming someone I would call the police, which I have done numerous times. There is so much hatred in the world it pains me to hear and see stories like this.
@jb78000 (15139)
•
16 Nov 09
i'd interfere in the first and last ones. the man becoming aggressive i would play by ear, i am pretty small so i might actually just call the police and wait until they arrived because i am not sure that i would be able to help myself. the reaction of those 'good on you' people in the last one is shocking.
