This comment was by Tom B. on the post “See Something, Say Something: Should Bystanders be Forced to Report Crimes?“
Here is your code of ethics on the street…
A client from the men’s unit where I work was describing an incident where a new female gang member was asked to fight. She told this higher ranking member that she feared being shot. He hugged her and while hugging her, he shot her in the leg saying “now you don’t have to worry about it anymore.
There are countless good men and women who, given the right setting, would and have stepped in. But you referenced New York City subway which is not a setting many would feel comfortable. Please don’t take a citizens lack of response in such a setting and apply it as the norm.
A few years ago a women on west side of Chicago was struck by a car. Before anyone could help, someone went up to her and stole her purse …Ethics? I guarantee you, people on the populated street knew who this guy was but….The snitch factor came into play. It’s called survival.
—
Thank you all for your comments. Many more “Comments of the Day” can be found here.
—
Photo: Tom B. / Flickr
Its actually NOT “survival” in my book. The non-snitch factor is actually “sacrifice.” Witnesses and bystanders willingly sacrifice the health and safety of the victims in some cases and in most, they sacrifice justice in exchange for their own little imaginary box of safety. In Boston, some sleaze-ball recently made a bundle selling T-shirts that basically threatened “snitches” and devalued their lives. Again, THAT’s not survival. THAT is sacrificing in order to teach children that snitches are low-life in “the hood.” The isolation set-up through that “don’t snitch” attitude grows and festers throughout crappy neighborhoods and schools, etc. Its what… Read more »