The Kitty Genovese Syndrome

[The Spawn]

For the clueless, review these first:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitty_Genovese
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect
http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/predators/kitty_genovese/1.html

Now, answer me this...what would you have done?

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

It's nice to have a title for the phenomenon.

I'm a concierge, but with a "/Security" at the end, so I am always marching right into such things, of course, I'm so jaded and misanthropic that I often just sit and watch such things, hard to say.

 

[ang_hulk]

the will to act is a constant advantage.I also have alot of rage to let out

 

[maxwell's demon]

i'd kick some ass.

 

[The Spawn]

That's a modern way to word it.

 

[ZER0C00L]

i would be the first one there and scream scare the hell out of them.

i worked in a bookstore and a woman fell to the floor had a seizure, borders was packed and everyone froze, i was the only person to scream for help and jump the counter.

people are sheep man.

 

[C. Lee]

The TV movie based upon it gave a good example of how and why people in the big cities become insular.

 

[pyromaniac]

I thought this was the Stockholm Syndrome or am I missing something here?

 

[SuperFerret]

I would intervene with or without people around. I would feel I have to because I doubt most people would.

 

[Cаrter]

I thought this was the Stockholm Syndrome or am I missing something here?

I believe that's when you start to like your captors

 

[pyromaniac]

Oh. Well, both are still a fascinating insight into the psychological and sociological human condition.

 

[Holly Goodhead]

i cannot stand driving past an accident and having everyone infront of me slow down and stare. ****ING DRIVE! unless there's an explosion or body parts on the floor, then it's ok to slow down

 

[heypapajinx]

wow. i have been a bystander on many different occasions and seen things and thought "wow, that sucks for them. but that's their problem".

but reading that information about Kitty Genovese made me feel a little sick to my stomach.

 

[Fenryr]

Isn't this basically what Seinfeld's last episode was about?

I'd say it's different depending on the situation. I don't stop and help someone who's car has broken down on the side of the highway, but if someone's lying in a puddle of their own blood in the middle of the mall, I'd try to do what I could to help.

And yeah, rubbernecking is infuriating. The only time I will actually roll down my window to curse at the other drivers around me for being morons.

 

[HellOnEarth]

I wouldn't just act; I'd probably beat the living sh>t out of the motherfj8KKCer/

 

[HellOnEarth]

i cannot stand driving past an accident and having everyone infront of me slow down and stare. ****ING DRIVE! unless there's an explosion or body parts on the floor, then it's ok to slow down

lol. typical holly.

*sigh*

 

[heypapajinx]

And yeah, rubbernecking is infuriating. The only time I will actually roll down my window to curse at the other drivers around me for being morons.

ooo! yeah! one time i was all like "god! what is everyone stopping to look at! SOME people have to get to work you know!!!" and then i seen it... the bicyclist had been runned over... then i stopped to see too.

RUBBERNECKER!​

 

[HellOnEarth]

heh

 

[Holly Goodhead]

lol. typical holly.

*sigh*

We were driving on the highway in LA at night and I saw a huge ass flame, probably 100 feet in the sky, apparently a gas truck flipped over and there was a pileup. It was kind of pretty but everyone was dead.

Another time I was driving with my parents to somewhere...and there was an accident up ahead. A motorcyclist got into an accident and his head was completely smashed/leveled into the road. It was just his body then brain splatter. Wear your helmet kids!

Thirdly, I was driving with my friends on the highway and we saw a van on an offramp engulfed in flames (on the inside). We couldnt tell if anyone was inside..but there were no people around, no other cars around, no firetrucks/ambulances/cops.

Those are 3 instances when it's Ok to stop and stare.

 

[PLAS]

actually, nobody could tell exactly how they would react in such a situation until they see themselves in it

and still, each time the reaction would be different

so yes, other than just stand there and do nothing, nobody knows what else they would do

 

[The Spawn]

I knew you'd be the one...

 

[HellOnEarth]

We were driving on the highway in LA at night and I saw a huge ass flame, probably 100 feet in the sky, apparently a gas truck flipped over and there was a pileup. It was kind of pretty but everyone was dead.

Another time I was driving with my parents to somewhere...and there was an accident up ahead. A motorcyclist got into an accident and his head was completely smashed/leveled into the road. It was just his body then brain splatter. Wear your helmet kids!

Thirdly, I was driving with my friends on the highway and we saw a van on an offramp engulfed in flames (on the inside). We couldnt tell if anyone was inside..but there were no people around, no other cars around, no firetrucks/ambulances/cops.

Those are 3 instances when it's Ok to stop and stare.

I concur.

 

[HellOnEarth]

If there's Kitty Syndrome, what do you call the Syndrome where people (in uniforms) do nothing and they know for a fact--no help is coming.

The LA RIOTS Sydrome, lmao.
****ing white cops.

 

[maxwell's demon]

actually, nobody could tell exactly how they would react in such a situation until they see themselves in it

and still, each time the reaction would be different

so yes, other than just stand there and do nothing, nobody knows what else they would do

except that i'd kick some ass.

 

[_BB_]

Did this in psychology last year. Its known as bystander apathy and diffusion of responsibility.

Zimbaro did a study on it in new york quite a while ago now if anyones interested