As I was leaving the office today I ran into something of an ethical issue.
To make a long story a bit shorter, the district where we have our store is home to many of the city's degenerates such as substance abusers and various criminal elements. Today I heard a lot of top-of-the-voice shouting outside as I was packing up, and when I stepped outside I noticed the source. A large pudgy man had cornered a large pudgy woman on the other side of the street and was shouting incomprehensibly at her all the while the rain was pouring down in a fashion that SHOULD make people leery of staying in it.
My first instinct was to call the police and/or walk over to intervene. Last time I was in a similar situation I ended up getting slapped around by the woman, so I ignored my instincts and simply contented myself with pausing for a minute to see if the situation escalated to violence or not.
I pondered what the proper action, if any, would be in this situation as I got in my car and took another look at the situation as I drove away but there didn't seem to be any change from the one-sided shouting.
From watching Cops I've learned that in the US the police will respond to calls about this sort of thing but it would be largely pointless to call the police here since in all likelyhood they would either respond late or not at all so while I briefly entertained the idea I dismissed it quickly.
Another thought that ran through my head is that while I of course cannot condone physical violence in a situation like this, it is also quite possible that the bitch had actually done or said something to deserve a bit of a chewing out, and it would be unfair to get the police involved then.
I can't really make my mind up as to how to respond in a situation like this, and thus I foolishly turn to Languish.
What Would Languish Do?
Discuss.
From the sounds of it, you made the right call.
My body is busy.
Wouldn't have done anything either, unless it actually turned physical.
You made the right call. Calling police could be distracting for you, the woman would want you to be a good witness in case this situation escalated to murder.
I intervened one morning last winter when a seemingly psychotic, seemingly homeless man started attacking the (female) Burger King employee who was quite gently trying to wake him up and make him leave. But probably only because I was the only customer there and kind of felt forced to make a decision.
I avoid getting involved in other people's business when I can. Intervening in every screaming dispute between people you encounter seems like it would get exhausting really quickly.
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on October 15, 2009, 04:48:56 PM
I intervened one morning last winter when a seemingly psychotic, seemingly homeless man started attacking the (female) Burger King employee who was quite gently trying to wake him up and make him leave. But probably only because I was the only customer there and kind of felt forced to make a decision.
I avoid getting involved in other people's business when I can. Intervening in every screaming dispute between people you encounter seems like it would get exhausting really quickly.
I think in your situation, acting or not acting is not a matter of moral dispute unless you are an egotistic bastard, but rather of whether you let your fear for your own safety stop you or not.
I certainly don't witness these kinds of altercations often enough that it would be exhausting to intervene each and every time, but it also means I really don't have a solid enough set of imperatives to help my decision making.
When this has happened to me I just shout at the bloke from afar to stop being a dick.
I don't stick around to see what happens.
In Wyoming, though I am not sure about this, I believe it is legal to gun down people acting in such ways.
Nobody sleeps in Burger King's here.
I've always wanted to sleep in a Wyoming BK, I hear they have padded benches.
There is a high possibility that any such person is someone I've dealt with in court before (this is a small town) so I may well call the cops (I have reported one or two drunk drivers over the years), but other than that I don't get involved.
Quote from: Barrister on October 15, 2009, 05:32:59 PM
(I have reported one or two drunk drivers over the years)
Tattletale. :rolleyes:
There are a few retirement homes and treatment opportunities for the socially deprived near your office, it's not called "hospitalløkkan" (hospitalcorner for you non-scandaweenies) for nothing.
Trondheim isn't exactly a haven for dangerous druggies. The real dangerous criminals are out in the suburbs.
Quote from: Viking on October 15, 2009, 05:43:22 PM
There are a few retirement homes and treatment opportunities for the socially deprived near your office, it's not called "hospitalløkkan" (hospitalcorner for you non-scandaweenies) for nothing.
Trondheim isn't exactly a haven for dangerous druggies. The real dangerous criminals are out in the suburbs.
Oh I don't know about that. One of them regaled me with the delightful tale about the time he spent imprisoned in Sweden for manslaughter.
But mostly it's been the odd goofball stealing the display wine bottles or drunkenly harrassing the female staff.
Quote from: Barrister on October 15, 2009, 05:32:59 PM
There is a high possibility that any such person is someone I've dealt with in court before (this is a small town) so I may well call the cops (I have reported one or two drunk drivers over the years), but other than that I don't get involved.
Snitches get stitches, bitches.
When I was younger, I intervened once in Montreal, when an angry white trash woman was hurling invectives at the waitress, a timid Asian university student. The result was the woman began to hurl those invectives at me, so I just argued with her for a bit. Then, not having a clear plan as to what to next, finally just told her off and left. I considered calling the police for a disturbance, but thought it was a bit lame.
She then continued her fury at the waitress. I felt like I had just made it worse, and drained my own energies for trying. :(
I would do nothing.
Can anyone with a Facebook account (that they check with some frequency) be NOT a busy body?!
Quote from: Martinus on October 16, 2009, 07:21:55 AM
Can anyone with a Facebook account (that they check with some frequency) be NOT a busy body?!
I think there's a difference between frequently looking at other people's profiles and making an occasional post than the nonstop attention-whoring about 5-10% of my FB friends engage in. You for example are perfectly reasonable in your FB behavior. I have an ex-girlfriend who I am friended with (and now deeply regret ever friending) who makes at least a dozen posts daily about the most inane things imaginable.
"I am now going to a Zumba class. Yippeeeeee!"
"I just spilled coffee and broke a mug. WHAAAAH WHAT A KLUTZ I AM"
"Zumba was fun. I KICKED BUTT"
"I hate sports. Don't post sports-related things on Facebook, people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Zumba again. Woohoo!"Lately she's been going on about something called "POWER OF THREE" and she won't ever explain what it is when people ask, or she says "I will send you an email and tell you" :frusty:
I am too oblivious to notice those things when they happen around me.
But I'd intervene, I'm an asshole, I like telling people their are dicks.
My wife likes to intervene in these sorts of situations. She never confronts anyone. She'll either (1) get help or (2) incite someone to do something.
My job is to stop her <_<
Quote from: DGuller on October 15, 2009, 05:36:07 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 15, 2009, 05:32:59 PM
(I have reported one or two drunk drivers over the years)
Tattletale. :rolleyes:
He is just looking to drum up business.
Slarg, you should have taken pics with your cellphone standing really close to them just to see the reaction, would have been a better thread. ;)
Quote from: Martinus on October 16, 2009, 07:21:55 AM
Can anyone with a Facebook account (that they check with some frequency) be NOT a busy body?!
Hey! I barely check on it other than by text on my phone. Now, what Cal describes are the annoying ones.
Quote from: Caliga on October 16, 2009, 07:32:34 AM
Lately she's been going on about something called "POWER OF THREE" and she won't ever explain what it is when people ask, or she says "I will send you an email and tell you" :frusty:
Sounds like she's been watching too many "Charmed" reruns.
Quote from: lustindarkness on October 16, 2009, 03:14:32 PM
Slarg, you should have taken pics with your cellphone standing really close to them just to see the reaction, would have been a better thread. ;)
My current cellphone doesn't...
.. have a camera. :weep:
I'm so embarrassed. :cry: