Apathy :: essays research papers

As you wait to cross the street, a blind man is standing(a) in front of you. Without warning, he begins to cross the street even though the light has not changed in his favor. He seems to be in no danger until you see a car about a half(prenominal) mile away speeding towards him. Totally unaware of the situation, the man continues manner of walking across the street. As you and many others watch in horror he is struck by the car. Although every single ane of you had plenty of clipping to rescue him, you just watched, hoping that someone else would do it. After all, you dont know him so its really none of your business. This is what is referred to as "bystander apathy". People close sufficiency to see, hear and possibly touch one another are socially distant and totally indifferent to the fact that another human universe may be dying, in immediate danger, or asking for dish up. This highly sad urban problem is just that- a problem of cities. The likeliness of this occu rring increases with the number of sight present and it is probable that there will be many people to witness an event when it happens in high immersion cities. Urban sociologists, social psychologists, and criminologists have argued for years that the size of cities is directly associate to the amount of "social pathology" they contain. The legal consequences are not severe. Unless an soulfulness is a certified medical doctor, they have no obligation in Alberta to help anyone in need. So generally, they dont. The personal consequences may be more severe. Feelings of vice and regret may follow an event, especially if it ends fatally or if the individual feels that they could have done something significant. Because of this, people attempt to convince themselves and others that they were justified in their inaction because "it wasnt their place", "I didnt want to do it alone", or "I didnt want to get involved." Excuses like this often stem from fe ars of world seen as abnormal, possible physical harm, public embarrassment, possible involvement in police procedures, lost work days and jobs, and other dangers. Urban people are very concerned with the way they appear to others. Anything that may discriminate them from the "in-group" of society is usually seen as too risky to take use in. And strangely enough, helping people in need is seen as one of these risks.