How would you react?
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
Eugene, Oregon
June 4, 2017 3:09pm CST
Just over a week ago in Portland, Oregon (where my daughter lives), an adult man on a metro train began screaming racial slurs and obscenities at two teenage girls, one of whom wore a hijab.
Three male passengers intervened on the girls' behalf; two died, one was severely injured. The man who did these acts has to be deranged, but was known to attend neo-Nazi and other racist meetings. He had served time for assault some years back.
This incident has been on my mind for a week, wondering what I would do if I witnessed such an incident. I wish one of the victims had been (legally) armed and had put and end to this situation.
I would call the police on my cell phone first of all, but what then? The man did not display a knife initially. If the other men had done nothing, would he have attacked the young women? A man I know thinks that the knife victims should have done nothing.
I am not sure I could sit by do nothing, but I would not get close enough to be knifed by a raging nut either.
What would you do?
29 people like this
27 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
5 Jun 17
I am far too chicken to get involved. I would probably run.
4 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Jun 17
It is a difficult question, I know.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (69156)
• Centralia, Washington
4 Jun 17
@JamesHxstatic I remember when the idea of throwing your backpack, purse, whatever at the idjit devil was what was promoted as a good idea. Not sure if that would be enough to distract him or not.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jun 17
Maybe, but this guy was a whacko I guess and with a knife a deadly one.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jun 17
I don't know how crowded the Max was at the time, but these three males did not act fast enough or harshly enough to keep themselves safe.
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
5 Jun 17
I would explain what had happened and hope that the police would at least check to see that it didn't get worse. You just do not know and so I think it is important to call.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
6 Jun 17
@JamesHxstatic .....Isn't there security of some kind on a train?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Jun 17
Yet, you are on a moving train and how long will it take for the cops to respond?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 17
@celticeagle This is like a rail system that is used for commuting. They don't seem to have police on the cars anywhere that I know of.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502148)
• Italy
6 Jun 17
@JamesHxstatic I think that if people join against those crazy people and they see a crowd against them, they stop harassing the others.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 17
@LadyDuck Perhaps so, but there were three brave guys here and he reacted violently.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 17
True Anna, but only one was nuts; the others were heroes.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
5 Jun 17
I have no doubt I would have gotten as far away from the crazy man as I could, then called 911. Then I'd get off the MAX at the next stop, if that was an option. I am a gutless wonder when it comes to confronting crazy people, and I'm all into self-preservation.
I admire the men who stepped in, but I don't believe it when brave people say, Anyone would've done the same thing.
3 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
6 Jun 17
@JamesHxstatic I wonder, as you do, whether the hate-filled crazy man would've cut those young women. As of now, I am not riding the MAX. Nor will I go to the Denny's where the man was doused with gasoline and set on fire. These attacks seem more and more frequent. Who let the dogs out?
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Jun 17
Nor do I. I am sure those three thought they could back that whack down, but he was too far off the beam and spoiling to hurt someone.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 17
@Essjayd It seems to be a more dangerous world today.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 17
There are many I know, but it would be hard to sit by.
1 person likes this
@Essjayd (1567)
•
6 Jun 17
@JamesHxstatic I would hate
to stand by and do nothing!
I hate seeing others abused for
any reason.
A young dad we knew was murdered
here recently! He went out to stop a
gang of teenage thugs who were
trying to gang up on a couple of people
walking home from a night out!
I think it has definitely made me
question how I would react now
and many friends have said the
same.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Jun 17
@JamesHxstatic thats whats so awful with knives really
when I was young I had a fellow my age jhld meup with a knife
for money I did something really stupid but it worked I tomped on his feet turns out he had ingrown toenails he screamed dropped the kmmife and ram out tje door.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17239)
• China
8 Jun 17
To be honest,I am not sure what I would do at the moment.The three male passengers who leaped to two teenage girls' defence may be rated as heroes .
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
8 Jun 17
They are and they have been honored in Portland, where they lived.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
6 Jun 17
One class we took explained that distraction works at times. Call attention to a police office you see heading toward you or something similar.
The world we live in has certainly changed @JamesHxstatic
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 17
It certainly has, Pat. It is much scarier these days.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
10 Jun 17
@JamesHxstatic Who would think we have to wonder if our family members will make it home from school, work, a walk in the park.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
10 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony I know. Strange times and the "anti-Sharia" protests in some places today won't help.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jun 17
Yes, I don't how big the knife he produced was, but those men got too close it sounds like.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jun 17
I know it is a tough call. I am always one to think about contingencies I guess.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
4 Jun 17
i'd prolly done the same 'n intervened. one ne'er knows if'n someone's some sorta weapon 'pon their person 'r not sadly. jest the chance ones gotta take to do their part to protect others. i'm hugely saddened that those 2 lost their lives, but the outcome could'a been much worse perhaps if'n they'd done nothin'?
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jun 17
Perhaps, or perhaps he would have ranted and then shut up. We'll never know.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
6 Jun 17
i'm uncomfortable to be around any sort of altercation like this. I'd be scared. I'd probably try to dial 911
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 17
That is a good first move. After that, who knows?
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Jun 17
It makes decision-making harder in a tighter space like a train, plane or bus @JamesHxstatic ; there's just no maneuvering room. But yelling Seig Heil as*hole and shooting him would have been great.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Jun 17
I love the sentiment and would have pulled the trigger too!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jun 17
Maybe if someone had just popped him with a shoe or anything from behind even.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jun 17
Yes, I hope I would too somehow.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
5 Jun 17
Personally this Racist issue has gone a little too far, Sad people had to loose their lives over this, but come on. Why is it so important to let others know out in public in a hateful way about how you feel. And they may have only been trying to protect this gal from more incidents as well.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
5 Jun 17
Yes they though the guy was going to attack the girls probably and I admire their courage. He is no doubt an insane racist pig.
@Lolaze (5092)
• St. Louis, Missouri
5 Jun 17
Given that I knew other passengers were calling 911 already, when I saw the man attacking the men who tried to help - I would've jumped in to help as well. I keep what looks like just another key on my keychain but it actually folds out to reveal a small but very sharp knife. Not for sure I'd cause disabling damage but perhaps enough to back the attack off a bit.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
6 Jun 17
It would be hard not to join the fray. Your knife would get attention for sure.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 Jun 17
It is hard to say, but the political climate in the US makes me think of contingencies.
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
5 Jun 17
I would like to think I'd say something, but I'm so non-confrontational that I might just freeze up.
2 people like this
