Indifference and Egoism in our Society

[Shelter]

I don't know if this thread will of interest to you - but I hope so.
Today I've read in my newspaper a very unsettling article.
There was in a city in Germany an old man (82) who was stepping on a sunday into a Bank because he wanted to get his money from the cash machine. But before he could do so, he collapsed in front of the cash machine and was laying in front of it.
And now something happened what for me is so unbelievable - during a time of nearly 30 minutes seven persons, men and women, entered the room, saw the old man laying there, stepped over him to reach the cash machine, took their money and left the Bank again. No one of them took care of the old man. After 30 minutes again a young man entered the Bank, saw the old man and tried to help. He at once phoned the Fire Departement and a short time later they arrived but couldn't help this old man. In the meantime he died from a heart attack.

All this is doented by the camera in the Bank. Now the police has this film and they will search for all these indifferent people, which will not be very hard to do. They will find them. These people shall be now accused because of denial of assistance.

 

[gb2000ie]

Is it actually a crime in Germany not to help?

Morally, there is no doubt each and every person who stepped over that poor man has a dark blemish on their souls, but legally, I think they would be in the clear in Ireland.

I'm shocked that anyone could be so inhumane, let alone seven different people. The fact that the 8th person tried, but did not succeed makes me wonder what would have happened had the first bothered to try!

I know helping can be dangerous in some situations, but I could never do nothing. If a child was involved, I honestly think that in 2016, the only thing I could do would be to phone the police. As a man, I could not safely approach a child in need in our modern society. A collegue of mine tried to help a kid who was lost at a fairground - it literally put him in hospital. He was bringing the lost kid to the information desk so they could do an announcement for the parents, when out of the blue he got punched so hard it broke his jaw and put him in hospital. It was the father, he just assumed, because of our societal paranoia, that my colleague was a pedo abducting his kid!

Maybe our society is so sick it actively discourages people from helping by punishing them?

B.

 

[slimjim]

Not that this excuses things, but it might explain..... maybe they presumed he was a vagrant/rough sleeper or possibly that he was very drunk and were totally unaware of any life threatening illness?

 

[W!nston]

Not that this excuses things, but it might explain..... maybe they presumed he was a vagrant/rough sleeper or possibly that he was very drunk and were totally unaware of any life threatening illness?

I agree with this theory. He was mistaken for an intoxicated vagrant. One of the 'invisible' people. They are societies rejects because they have nothing more to add in the way of material goods so they become invisible.+

I would bet he was not the only person to die this way on that day in Germany. The difference being he was not really invisible and the others were. He had a place in society where as the others did not so their story is never told.

It's a sad truth but it exists in every society from the richest to the poorest.

 

[gb2000ie]

I can imagine myself not being brave enough to approach someone I thought might be a drunk vagrant, but I can't imagine myself not phoning for an ambulance.

The more I think about this, the more apalled I am. Hopefully this public shaming makes many people stop and think. Next time they are in the situation where they have to choose whether to step over someone or to help, they might choose to help.

B.

 

[Shelter]

I can imagine myself not being brave enough to approach someone I thought might be a drunk vagrant, but I can't imagine myself not phoning for an ambulance.

The more I think about this, the more apalled I am. Hopefully this public shaming makes many people stop and think. Next time they are in the situation where they have to choose whether to step over someone or to help, they might choose to help.

B.

Yes GB "apalled" is the correct word. All of you are right if you say, that helping in such situations can be dangerous. So many bad things happened if one person tried to help another one (that's the other side of the shield!) But to do nothing is inhuman!

And yes in Germany the "denial of assistance" is a criminal offence. The German criminal Law says:
§ 323c
Unterlassene Hilfeleistung

Wer bei Unglücksfällen oder gemeiner Gefahr oder Not nicht Hilfe leistet, obwohl dies erforderlich und ihm den Umständen nach zuzumuten, insbesondere ohne erhebliche eigene Gefahr und ohne Verletzung anderer wichtiger Pflichten möglich ist, wird mit Freiheitsstrafe bis zu einem Jahr oder mit Geldstrafe bestraft.

§ 323c
Denial of assistance

Who will not render help in accidents or simple danger or distress, although this would be necessary and according to cirstances would be reasonable, especially without significant dangers or injuries for himself and without violations of other important requirements, will be penalized with a custodial sentence until up to one year or with a financial penalty.

 

[haiducii]

Sad.

Consumer society and a desire for material goods have driven society to become more selfish over the past years. Capitalism has brought on this crass materialism. I'm not saying socialism is the answer but neither is capitalism. DEFINITELY changes are required.

 

[Mardo]

I wonder is it more likely to happen in a city? Perhaps with so many thousands of people scurrying about, feeling crammed in as it were. Walking through the streets of a city center always makes me feel more anonymous, even invisible sometimes...

I would hate to die in such a fashion.

 

[Shelter]

I wonder is it more likely to happen in a city? Perhaps with so many thousands of people scurrying about, feeling crammed in as it were. Walking through the streets of a city center always makes me feel more anonymous, even invisible sometimes...

I would hate to die in such a fashion.

You may be totally correct. To live in a big city means as well to live as an nearly invisible person. But that is our time - isn't it?!X_X:thinking:

 

[topdog]

I can't find this story. Do you have a link?

 

[haiducii]

Today’s society

Perfect photo for this thread!

 

[Shelter]

I can't find this story. Do you have a link?

I've had the link - but it is vanished???? :thinking::?:?:?

 

[haiducii]

I can't find this story. Do you have a link?

Read the whole story here -> German / English

 

[prickles]

I know helping can be dangerous in some situations, but I could never do nothing. If a child was involved, I honestly think that in 2016, the only thing I could do would be to phone the police. As a man, I could not safely approach a child in need in our modern society. A collegue of mine tried to help a kid who was lost at a fairground - it literally put him in hospital. He was bringing the lost kid to the information desk so they could do an announcement for the parents, when out of the blue he got punched so hard it broke his jaw and put him in hospital. It was the father, he just assumed, because of our societal paranoia, that my colleague was a pedo abducting his kid!

B.

This reminded me of a story in America. Where a guy found a kid, lost, in the middle of an empty aisle and was arrested. And Walmart(i think) said it was store policy to contact the police whenever they were aware of a child in the company of a strange man.

I agree with this theory. He was mistaken for an intoxicated vagrant. One of the 'invisible' people. They are societies rejects because they have nothing more to add in the way of material goods so they become invisible.

And this reminds me of an experiment. Where an actor, in the same place, same time of the same day of the week a few months apart pretended to collapse. When dressed roughly(torn jeans, unkempt hair, ripped jacket) he was ignored, even by patrolling police. While, when repeated a few moths later, dressed in expensive and professional three piece suite had dozens helping him within moments.

But no matter what it only takes moments to call 999, 911 or whatever the emergency number is where you are.

 

[Shelter]

The emergency number in Germany:

Police --- 110
Fire-Dept. --- 112

For all here who have forgotten or didn't know.

 

[gb2000ie]

Also note that if you are on a GSM cellphone anywhere in the world, you can always get the emergency services at 112. In Ireland 112 gets you 999, in the US 112 gets you 911 etc..

 

[tonka]

Also note that if you are on a GSM cellphone anywhere in the world, you can always get the emergency services at 112. In Ireland 112 gets you 999, in the US 112 gets you 911 etc..

I didn't know that.
Thanks

 

[coolfashion]

In my country, it happened when someone reached out their hand to help, but ended up being accused by those greedy families of that poor guy.

If there is a law and there is a recorded evidence to protect your innocence, I think it's a must and great thing for people to help those in need.

But in my country, probably the best solution is to call the ambulance or police, let the authority do its job.