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Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: PegLeg45 on December 04, 2012, 02:13:05 PM

Title: American Apathy?
Post by: PegLeg45 on December 04, 2012, 02:13:05 PM
A discussion on another thread has had my mind moving a bit.
Solus hit on the point of how no one stepped in to help the teacher who was killed in the attack in Wyoming.... and I commented to the point (in agreement with him) that the nation itself has become more apathetic toward others. It seems like it takes a tragedy like 11 September 2011 to pull folks together, but eventually, the large percentage just goes back to the way it was before. Walking around with blinders on, not wanting to get involved or being too afraid.

That point was hammered home in my mind when I read the story below.....the photo on the front page of the NYT resonating like a fart on an old wooden church pew.

Quote
New York Post piles on the horror with front page photo of man about to be killed by subway train

Han Ki Suk, a 58-year-old from Queens, N.Y., was hurled from the 49th Street station platform onto the tracks by "a deranged man" around 12:30 p.m., according to the paper. Han was attempting to calm the down the man, apparently a panhandler, when a scuffle broke out, police say. The man then pushed him onto the tracks.

-----------------------

"Onlookers screamed, shouted and frantically waved their hands and bags in a bid to get the downtown Q train to stop," the Post reported.

R. Umar Abbasi, a freelance photographer, was among those waiting on the platform. He said he tried to alert the train's conductor with his camera. "I just started running, running hoping that the driver could see my flash," Abbasi told the tabloid.

During the chaos, Abbasi managed to snap the photo that the Post splashed on its cover.

In a larger version of Abbasi's photo, people are seen huddled at one end of the platform in apparent fear.
"People were shouting and yelling when it happened," Dr. Laura Kaplan, another witness, said. "But then people ran the other way."


http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/nypost-photo-subway-tracks-cover-173659604.html

(http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/822i0NG5oECIqlwk69ItUg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTMxMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/thelookout/nyp-subway-tracks.jpg)

Why would they huddle in fear or run?
The train ain't gonna come up there and get 'em like a big ol' booger-man.


Heck, I don't know.....maybe I'm making something out of nothing....... just struck me wrong, I guess.
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: tombogan03884 on December 04, 2012, 05:42:52 PM
Why would they run away ?
Because they are sheep.
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: Timothy on December 04, 2012, 05:48:55 PM
I skipped over this thread!  I couldn't be bothered...

 ;D
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: fatbaldguy on December 04, 2012, 06:22:58 PM
Along the lines of what TB posted, most people act like herd animals of prey.  Avoidance and flight, hell take the hindmost.  (read weak, old, children, women, lame, sick, not necessarily in that order)  In other words, I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you!

A couple of people working in concert could have prevented the senseless death of that man.  By pulling him out of the path of the train, or, by nullifying the threat posed by the deranged individual.

In some ways, the mass of sheeple that will die in the 'civil' unrest that will take place, may not be a horrible thing.

The death of one man is a tragedy.  The death of thousands, is a statistic.  Paraphrase of Joseph Stalin.
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: Timothy on December 04, 2012, 06:29:43 PM
Again, as I've said many, many times...it's NYC!

If you expect humanity to come a knocking, you've fooled yourself into thinking NYC has any!
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: MikeBjerum on December 04, 2012, 07:05:14 PM
Trying to alert the driver with his camera and managed to snap the picture  ???

Yea Riiiiiggggggghhhhht  >:(

This clown saw dollar signs in his future no matter what the outcome was  >:(

Good Samaritan Law:  Do no more and no less than you are qualified and able to do.

Protection from prosecution has also been used to prosecute in cases where people failed to act.  However, this is New York City, and the jerk on the tracks was seen gulping down a 48 oz full sugar soda pop minutes before the assault ... Serves him right!
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: tt11758 on December 04, 2012, 08:32:09 PM
Oh no, that man was pushed onto the track!!!  Oh look, it's time for "Dancing With The Stars"!!
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: tombogan03884 on December 04, 2012, 09:12:52 PM
Along the lines of what TB posted, most people act like herd animals of prey.  Avoidance and flight, hell take the hindmost.  (read weak, old, children, women, lame, sick, not necessarily in that order)  In other words, I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you!

A couple of people working in concert could have prevented the senseless death of that man.  By pulling him out of the path of the train, or, by nullifying the threat posed by the deranged individual.

In some ways, the mass of sheeple that will die in the 'civil' unrest that will take place, may not be a horrible thing.

The death of one man is a tragedy.  The death of thousands, is a statistic.  Paraphrase of Joseph Stalin.

The death of one man is a tragedy.
The deaths of millions is merely flushing the gene pool.
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: Frosty on December 04, 2012, 10:17:50 PM
It's sad most folks don't react but not everyone has that ability to react to the situation - fight or flight, most people will flight.. It happens all the time, look at the Aurora, CO. shootings, Columbine and others. In the theater shootings one guy stated the gunman was practically standing next to him while he laid on the floor. Why didn't he kick the guy in the family jewels? Jump up and knock him off balance? Again, not everyone has the ability to react to the situation.
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: tombogan03884 on December 04, 2012, 10:25:37 PM
Americans, since the late 50's early 60's have been trained to be cowardly sheep.
It starts in school, back in those days if you were dealing with a bully you fought him, do that now and the whole school gets trauma counseling, the bully get a therapist and the kid who hit him back faces a SWAT team.
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: Pathfinder on December 05, 2012, 10:09:34 AM
Americans, since the late 50's early 60's have been trained to be cowardly sheep.
It starts in school, back in those days if you were dealing with a bully you fought him, do that now and the whole school gets trauma counseling, the bully get a therapist and the kid who hit him back faces a SWAT team.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What he say!

Remember the stories of the kids at Va Tech who just stood there and did nothing while Cho took the time to reload  - stood and waited to be executed?

Columbine - hiding behind doors and under desks?

Aurora - running and screaming to the choke points?



Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: Solus on December 05, 2012, 01:38:29 PM
Trying to alert the driver with his camera and managed to snap the picture  ???

Yea Riiiiiggggggghhhhht  >:(

This clown saw dollar signs in his future no matter what the outcome was  >:(

Good Samaritan Law:  Do no more and no less than you are qualified and able to do.

Protection from prosecution has also been used to prosecute in cases where people failed to act.  However, this is New York City, and the jerk on the tracks was seen gulping down a 48 oz full sugar soda pop minutes before the assault ... Serves him right!

I saw the photographer on TV this morning explaining what happened.

He said there was 20 to 22 seconds from the time the man was pushed onto the tracks to when the train hit him.  That is plenty of time for folks to have pulled him out...easy.

And even if he was trying to alert the engineer with the flash instead of getting the job done, that is the photographic equivalent of calling 911 to stop a rape you are witnessing.

Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: MikeBjerum on December 07, 2012, 11:50:34 AM
An item just brought up in defense of the "photojournalist" is that "sometimes you can do more good and help more people by getting the picture than helping the individual."  Tell that to the family of this victim!
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: JC5123 on December 07, 2012, 12:16:28 PM
The death of one man is a tragedy.
The deaths of millions is merely flushing the gene pool.

I heard a quote one time, couldn't tell you where, or who said it, but:

"Kill a few people and you're a murderer, kill a million, and you're a conqueror, go figure."
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: Jrlobo on December 07, 2012, 12:37:48 PM
JC, let's turn that around: "Save one life and you are a doctor. Save a million lives and you are a medic." Maybe a million is a little high, but no mention of journalists in any event.
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: JC5123 on December 07, 2012, 12:46:42 PM
JC, let's turn that around: "Save one life and you are a doctor. Save a million lives and you are a medic." Maybe a million is a little high, but no mention of journalists in any event.

Good point. Too bad all the good doctors are now applying for their Real Estate licenses.  ::)
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: Tyler Durden on December 07, 2012, 10:23:54 PM
You'd be surprised how weak minded people are.  Look at the Milgram study.

I bet easily 90% of the US population is like that work ox with a ring in its nose and a yoke on its shoulders.
Title: Re: American Apathy?
Post by: Solus on December 08, 2012, 12:46:49 PM
It's sad most folks don't react but not everyone has that ability to react to the situation - fight or flight, most people will flight.. It happens all the time, look at the Aurora, CO. shootings, Columbine and others. In the theater shootings one guy stated the gunman was practically standing next to him while he laid on the floor. Why didn't he kick the guy in the family jewels? Jump up and knock him off balance? Again, not everyone has the ability to react to the situation.

Correct...but we here hear it all the time. It's all about Mindset.  

And as has been observed here and on other posts, most are not geared up to be living with that outlook.

Much of the reason, not blame because it is still each individual's responsibility for their thinking, is that our technology has allowed us to insulate ourselves from the harsh realities of nature.   We were able to stop fighting the environment tooth and  nail and, instead, we have "modified" the environment and have built a shield to keep it out.

What folks don't realize how thin and fragile that shield can be.  

My view..    "The world is a snarling beast waiting for an opening to be at your throat and clawing your guts."   And all it takes is some natural disaster, "flash mob", mugger or even a moment of carelessness to be in a struggle for your life.  Be ready for it.

Most folks aren't.  

"It's a jungle out there."   Tough but true reality is that for one organism to survive another must die.

As I've said before  "We survived because we became the most vicious, cunning, intelligent and dangerous animal on this planet.  Let us not forget our heritage."