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Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 5:13:17 PM

jlf1961

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This question was posed by Anderson Cooper:

Are you obligated to save a life?

For that matter, if you see someone in trouble, are you obligated to help at all? Whether it is an accident, a crime in progress any instance where someone is in danger, are you obligated to help?

Considering that people have walked past people laying on the ground in obvious distress, what do you think?

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 5:23:27 PM

Swiiitch

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Personally, god yes. Couldnt live with it if i walked past somebody and found out theyd been seriously hurt / died later because I ignored their situation

But I think peoples reluctance is due to the "flight" in fight and flight being whittled down by society - its not our job to stand up for ourselves anymore, its the emergency services. Or even just because they dont like the look of people - passed out homeless guy - people think "drunk, will he attack me?"
Put a suit on him and "oh god are you alright sir?"

(in reply to jlf1961)

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 5:49:19 PM

Powergamz1

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Obligated by whom? Under what circumstances?

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 6:31:01 PM

jlf1961

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Powergamz1

Obligated by whom? Under what circumstances?

In any given instance where another human being is in danger. Simple enough question.

Are you obligated to help another member of the human race.

_____________________________

Boy, it sure would be nice if we had some grenades, don't you think?

You cannot control who comes into your life, but you can control which airlock you throw them out of.

Paranoid Paramilitary Gun Loving Conspiracy Theorist AND EQUAL OPPORTUNI

(in reply to Powergamz1)

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 6:33:08 PM

SadistDave

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Family and friends are one thing. I don't consider it an obligation as much as an act of love or compassion to try to help family and friends.

Strangers? Nope. Not obligated in the least. If I don't know you, you mean nothing to me. I'm obligated to call 911. Since anything I may do beyond calling emergency personnel might subject me to criminal or civil penalties, my only obligation to a stranger is to alert a professional if at all possible before I unass the A.O.

I wish that were not the case, but it is the world in which we live now.

-SD-

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 6:37:35 PM

erieangel

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I few months ago my son was on his to pick me at work, he passed a woman who had collapsed into the street. Nearby, there was a group of teens and 20-somethings, ignoring her for the most part. My son stopped, asked if she needed help. My son pulled over, got out of the car and went to the woman, she was barely conscious. She looked, he told me, to be in her late 60s, early 70s and appeared to be having a heart attack. My son called 911 and waited with the woman until the ambulance arrived, though it had been years since he'd had CPR training, he wanted to do what he could if needed.

A short time ago, my son and I saw that woman near the same street corner where she had collapsed this past summer, as she lives in the neighborhood. She looked healthy, though frail.

Everybody should help others in need, even if it is just to offer comfort and emotional support in times of trouble. Sadly, this nation has adopted the "everybody for himself" mindset far too thoroughly. A woman could have died in the street, in full view of about a dozen onlookers. If not for my son making a phone call, she would have.

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 6:38:57 PM

Baroana

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How crazy. Someone drops and doesn't get up, and nobody calls 911? They probably all have phones in their hands!

(If I didn't know better, I'd accuse "these kids today" of being worse than my generation. Though I suppose it's just the luck of the draw whatever the time or place.)

< Message edited by Baroana -- 12/4/2012 6:40:24 PM >

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 6:48:37 PM

TheHeretic

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quote:

ORIGINAL: erieangel
Sadly, this nation has adopted the "everybody for himself" mindset far too thoroughly.

Completely backwards, Erie. This nation has adopted an, "it's somebody else's responsibility," mentality.

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 7:07:12 PM

MasterG2kTR

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Depends on who is in danger.....I mean if it happens to be some random congressman being pistol whipped or waterboarded....I'm gonna look the other way

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 7:35:21 PM

thishereboi

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quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

This question was posed by Anderson Cooper:

Are you obligated to save a life?

For that matter, if you see someone in trouble, are you obligated to help at all? Whether it is an accident, a crime in progress any instance where someone is in danger, are you obligated to help?

Considering that people have walked past people laying on the ground in obvious distress, what do you think?

I don't think anyone is obligated. That said, if I saw someone in trouble, I would do what ever I could to help them. I can't imagine not trying but it has nothing to do with feeling obligated. I remember when we went to Yellowstone Park when I was about 10. When I was walking back to our cabin I heard someone crying from thier cabin. I couldn't figure out why no one else was paying attention so I went to see what was up. It turned out to be a older lady who had twisted her ankle and had no one to help. I ran and got my family and they contacted the rangers. I could never understand why no one else had stopped and I still have trouble with that.

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 7:56:24 PM

DarkSteven

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Ethically, absolutely.

Legally, no. My lawyer-sub told me of a landmark case where a man went into a Vegas casino restroom and saw a man molesting a little girl. He did nothing, and left. The girl was killed, and the man was sued for doing nothing. The court held that, while the man was pond scum, he could not be legally required to take action.

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/4/2012 8:07:10 PM

Powergamz1

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Obligation. I don't think that word means what you think it means.

Is there any situation of any kind, where someone could be forced to 'help' another person, or effectively be held responsible if they shirked the obligation?

Yes.

If the average person sees another person walk out on to the tracks, will they go to jail if they don't rush in front of a speeding train and carry the person to safety?
If they see someone collapse and they fail to perform an emergency tracheotomy with a ballpoint pen?
If they see some being attacked and don't take on the criminals bare handed?

No.

Everything else falls in between.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

quote:

ORIGINAL: Powergamz1

Obligated by whom? Under what circumstances?

In any given instance where another human being is in danger. Simple enough question.

Are you obligated to help another member of the human race.

_____________________________

"DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment" Anthony McLeod Kennedy

" About damn time...wooot!!' Me

(in reply to jlf1961)

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/5/2012 3:35:13 AM

joether

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Should people volunteer to help others? That depends heavily on one's own moral and ethical code/upbringing. There are plenty of so called 'christians' that drive in their superly expensive cards, fine cloths, and big houses on their way to church every Sunday. They past prisons, hospitals, hospices, orphanages, senior centers and so on. Just so they can bitch that there is no one to help. But on the other six days, do their utmost to undermine, belittle, attack, demonize, villianize, and taunt those that are less fortunate than they are. Its Christians (with a capital C), that keep the whole religion from sinking into a cease pool of 'nothing-good' everyday. They do things for others on such a common basis that christians would run away from them, for fear of catching the 'Jesus Fever'.

One does not have to charge into the road to push someone out of the way of an on coming bus in split seconds. They can volunteer in many different ways and places. There are many organizations with causes big and small that are across the entire planet. I feel those that dont volunteer for things, miss out on some of the most wonderful aspects of being human!

(in reply to Powergamz1)

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/5/2012 3:56:31 AM

ChatteParfaitt

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I'm going to re-write the question as stated, in an attempt to clarify what I believe is the OP's real question.

Do you personally feel morally obligated to help someone who is in danger of potentially losing their life, if you see them in distress or about to be injured in some way?

Of course I feel morally obligated in that situation, and many others would as well. Unfortunately it is a fact of our society that not everyone would

Why is this?

I believe it has much to do with not just the mindset of some in our society (let the people who's job it is deal with it, ie. police, emergency services) but the nature of our society in terms of people's inability to care about everyone on the globe.

I rewrote the question for a reason, b/c let's face it, in this world many human beings are being threatened with death every damned second, whether through starvation, or poor medical services, or tribal war, or religious war, or economic war. Globally there are probably millions of people in distress this very second, and the individual's ability to impact that in any way is nil.

Which means as people we must adhere to a practice of feeling compassion only for those who are close to us, like family or friends or those we know. To do otherwise is the road to madness.

Is there really any wonder why some draw their boundaries the way they do?

quote:

Strangers? Nope. Not obligated in the least. If I don't know you, you mean nothing to me. I'm obligated to call 911. Since anything I may do beyond calling emergency personnel might subject me to criminal or civil penalties, my only obligation to a stranger is to alert a professional if at all possible before I unass the A.O.

Now, why people do not even bother to call 911 is a true mystery to me.

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/5/2012 6:13:23 AM

meatcleaver

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I feel morally obliged to help someone if I can. I just wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror if I walked past someone in distress without making some effort to help. Of course, the context would decide if I am able to help or not.

Though social responsibility in a contemporary individualistic and atomised western society where people are alienated from the idea of wider society is fraught with dangers of sticking your nose in where it is not wanted.

I remember when I lived in an apartment block in London, an elderly neighbour stepped in to stop another neighbour beating his wife up, a not too irregular occurance and both turned on him and beat him up. some people you just can't help.

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/5/2012 6:25:19 AM

tazzygirl

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

Ethically, absolutely.

Legally, no. My lawyer-sub told me of a landmark case where a man went into a Vegas casino restroom and saw a man molesting a little girl. He did nothing, and left. The girl was killed, and the man was sued for doing nothing. The court held that, while the man was pond scum, he could not be legally required to take action.

Seems now he would be legally required.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Strohmeyer#David_Cash

SOUTH LOS ANGELES — A bill inspired by the murder of a local 7-year-old girl in a Nevada casino was signed into law Monday by Gov. Gray Davis.

The legislation, authored by Assemblyman Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch), makes it a crime to witness the sexual assault of a minor without notifying police.

The bill became known as the Sherrice Iverson Good Samaritan Law because it was inspired by the 1997 slaying of the girl at a casino in Primm, Nev.

Iverson was molested and killed in a casino bathroom by Jeremy Strohmeyer, who is serving a life sentence for the crime. David Cash, a friend of Strohmeyer, witnessed the beginning of the assault but never reported it to police or tried to intervene.

Cash was the target of several protests and a campaign to punish people who fail to act when they witness such attacks.

Failure to notify a peace officer of a sexual attack or physical assault on anyone under the age of 14 is now a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and a year in jail.

http://articles.latimes.com/2000/sep/19/local/me-23477

Cash is scum... the whole incident is truly disgusting.

Morally, I would feel obligated.

Legally.... it would all depend on the situation. At the very least I would call 911.

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/5/2012 6:45:05 AM

cordeliasub

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I would want to help someone who was in distress. Unfortunately, I admit that one of my first thoughts would be to assess whether I felt safe helping. For example, if my kids were in the car with me, I probably wouldn't stop on a deserted road to help a great big stranger whose car appeared to be broken down. I might pause long enough to ask if I could call anyone, but sadly, I would have a slight "I've watched to many Criminal Minds episodes" to stop and get out.

I cannot fathom seeing someone collapse and not calling 911. And as far as molestation goes....if someone was hurting a child I think my mama bear adrenaline would kick in and...well, it might get ugly

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/5/2012 6:47:44 AM

Hillwilliam

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Morally, I feel obligated. I have helped in the past.
Once to bring in a swimmer who got caught in a storm rip. 500 people on the damn beach and I and one other person 100 yards away were the only ones to do anything but point and gawk. We met up a couple of hundred yards out. He asked if I was a lifeguard, I said "no, Water safety instructor" he said "same here". Took a while but we brought her in. Im damn glad I had help.
One other was a kid who got smashed up by a car. He was alive and semiconscious when the paras got there but didnt make it.:-(

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/5/2012 6:49:40 AM

coldslayer

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Cant say. I never been in a situation as such. Sometimes my anxiety in certain scenarios can be overwhelming and its hard for me to think straight. If its something dead in my face Id try my damnest to do something about it, but there is no guarantee.

Now if I saw someone on the ground hurt Id freak out... [unless I put them there :-p]. But id probably start shaking profusely and not know what to do. I wouldnt walk pass though lol. Id probably just freak out like a lunatic. Im not good in urgent situations.

< Message edited by coldslayer -- 12/5/2012 6:51:44 AM >

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RE: Are you obligated to help? - 12/5/2012 7:38:30 AM

igor2003

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--FR--

This is not in response to anything in particular. Just something that occurred about 1980 that kind of fits the general discussion.

My wife and I were on our way to Yellowstone for a summer vacation. Heading East out of Boise on the Interstate. We were on a long, gentle incline. We passed what looked like a coyote that someone had hit laying in the middle of the road. A couple of hundred feet later there was a man laying at the side of the highway, parallel to the road with his head in the downhill direction. No cars. Just the “coyote” and man. We were in our Dodge Powerwagon, so we cut across the median (illegal, but what seemed prudent under the circumstances) and circled around to go back and see if the guy was okay. (We had been paying attention to the coyote and almost drove past the man before we saw him, By the time we got slowed down from Interstate speeds and in traffic we were well past the guy. No one else was bothering to stop.)

While circling around I started to wonder if this might be some kind of ruse to get an unsuspecting person to stop so their vehicle could be jacked, so as we went by again I went about 150 feet past the guy before I stopped. Taking the .22 revolver we had with us and tucking it into the back of my waistband, I got out and started walking back toward the man on the ground.

About that time an ambulance showed up, coming from the Mountain Home direction (about 30 miles away, as opposed to about 5 or 6 miles back to Boise). I waited to see if they were responding to the man laying on the ground, and as they, too, cut across the median to get to him I turned and went back to our pickup.

Curiosity got the best of us, so we circled around yet again. As we drove past one more time the ambulance attendants had the man sitting on the dirt bank about 20 feet from the edge of the road…apparently okay.

We never did hear exactly what was going on. It would seem, though, that the coyote was exactly that, a coyote, and the man was a hitch hiker that got tired and lay down to sleep for a bit at the edge of the Interstate. Strange.

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