Most are not "Keyboard Warriors", Not in this instance.

[ScreamingMeemie]

I'm sorry, but I cannot stand seeing that in this instance. I agree with the keyboard warrior comment as it relates to tall tales of encounters on the street with those we don't see eye to eye with. I agree that many inflate what they would do in any given situation. But I have seen with my own eyes people call the cops on parents who slap their children in public, or otherwise mistreat them. I have known educators and coaches who have done the same. Is it silly for someone to say they would chop off a penis, or beat someone senseless while calling 911? Yes. But that is anger that this situation happened talking. Do I believe that person would have done the right thing, which is more than what happened that day? Yes, Milgram be damned. Why? Because it was a 10 year old being raped by an adult male. Not a woman being beaten, or a man being mugged. It was a child. And I believe the studies that say it is within the human psyche to protect children. It is why there are so many instances of people going overboard and calling CPS on their neighbors. To call someone who simply posts that they would have intervened (without all of the beating and bravado) a "keyboard warrior" is to demonstrate a serious disconnect, in my opinion. I truly believe that the vast majority of people who participate on this board, even the ones who claim we all "don't know what we would do", would have done the right thing...which was to call 9-1-1 and protect the child.

[beam me up scottie]

1. I could never live with myself if I walked away.

I would see that image over and over again, even if I did do the right thing.

I've risked my life to save animals, and animals risk their lives every day to save us, you don't think about it while you're reacting, it's instinctual.

For most people.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Exactly. You put it way better than I did.

:hi:

[beam me up scottie]

3. I knew exactly what you meant.

I thought you'd get slammed for posting this.

:hug:

[TBF]

4. I agree - if it were another child witnessing the event (or teenager) they might be too scared.

But I believe most adults would at the very least call the authorities even if they didn't directly intervene.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. My quarrel is with those who insist there should have been real time physical intervention

Those who claim they would have committed themselves to immediate mortal combat get down right testy when you point out the silliness of their statements.

Make your presence known and then calling the cops is generally the optimal approach. It is the the course of action most adults could handle successfully. Unless they have had significant training and maybe even actual experience, to say they would fly into action and defeat the perp is utter nonsense. To advocate it as the best and correct course of action is even more foolish.