I witnessed my first Bystander Effect...

[Lychee Fruit]

Night before last a woman started screaming bloody murder outside my window, begging to be let go. I could hear that she was being dragged to the parking lot. I turned a light on and the distraction was enough for her to run upstairs, but the attacker, apparently her boyfriend, followed her into her apartment and started yelling and god knows what else. By now I'd already called 9-1-1.

Yesterday we talked with our property manager and learned that while multiple neighbors called her in the morning to complain about the noise... nobody else had called for help when the woman was being hurt. They could hear it just as well as I could, and none of them thought, "I need to help her."

Serious question, guys. If you were literally five feet away from someone being attacked, possibly raped or killed, what would you do?  

[Undead Honey Cake]

i would like to think that if i was i would do something, though having never been in that type of situation i don't really know.

I do think it's ever sad and patentic that out of all those people that heard, only one(you) thought to do something. Good job to you though.  

[coldheartedangel]

One of my neighbours was like that.

We had to call the cops on them many times because they would be threatening to kill each other. He is now not allowed back onto the property and if we see him we have to call the cops. . .again.  

[Maze]

You're good folk, Lychee. 3nodding You can live in my neighbourhood anytime!  

[Renard Muldrake]

I'd like to say I'd be all dashing, & helpful, & try to help in any way I could.
But, I'm a coward at heart, so no promises.

Also, good on ya Lychee the world could use more folk like you.  

[AquilaLiberum]

Oh yeah because obviously someone being noisy is more of an annoyance to your neighbours than getting attacked is to the woman. Well done for caring Lychee, we could use more like you smile

I actually think if you took a very small neighbourhood and stuck all of us in the houses, it'd be the best neighbourhood EVER.

Welcome to Suites Ave.
Population: AWESOMENESS.

~Nya-ha!~
blaugh

 

[Rinoa Hatake]

It's like an episode of "What Would You Do?"!

My neighborhood is like that. No one cares what's going on or what happens to anyone until it happens to them. Then its outrage that no one helped them...  

[Fuji_hobo_jacket]

Find something heavy and throw it at the boyfriends head. Worry about the legalities later because that douche has to go down. evil

My major problem is that in my job we've all been instructed not to get in the middle of fights or potential fights, because we're representatives of the university while on campus or more specifically in the residence hall area and as such if we get involved the university could be sued. xP

Like I said though, I'd still get involved and worry about the legalities later.  

[Junimaia]

I'd panic attack for about 5 seconds, then do either one of two things:

A) Call 911

B) Go Tae Kwon Do on Mr. Assailant's pudgy fail of an a**.

...both if I'm feeling particularly confident. But that's a rare thing for me D:

I'm usually more of a coward than a fighter, but lack of justice tends to send me into a berserker fury.  

[Aaditya]

I would definitely call 911, but as for stepping in to physically help, I'm not that strong and I don't own a gun.  

[Nexus Carbuncle]

I'd call for help, but that's probably all I'd do. I'd love to think that I would help, but I'm 5'9" and I weigh 130, and if the person was armed, I'd be too scared to do anything. ]: