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AIBU?

To think that somebody should have have helped?

50 replies

harbingerofdoom · 08/10/2012 21:54

My DF (87) stumbled getting on a bus. The step was very high and not one of the modern ones. He has a walking stick,he also has 'big' shades as he has lost one eye and the other may be vunerable. He has fallen and he is hurt and nobody helped. The driver saw-didn't get out of seat.

OP posts:

Report

Soditall · 10/10/2012 22:33

doom tell him lots of us have asked after him.

Your poor dad this has made me cry,I can never understand the thoughts or feelings of those that don't help I have always helped people in need since I was a very small child and I have raised all 5 of my children to be the same.

Soditall · 10/10/2012 22:26

What is wrong with some people.I hope your poor DF is okay now?

I'm seriously ill and disabled myself and I would have helped if I was there.

harbingerofdoom · 10/10/2012 22:03

That's just what I can't understand-why nobody helped. A bus of youngsters but why didn't,even one think of their own Grandpa/dad (if they ever knew them).
Claraschu How old was your DF? I'd like that
He is very badly bruised and bleeding on his knees and hip. Only just coming out of the shock.
I bet the cretins just sat there laughing

OP posts:

Mrsjay · 09/10/2012 09:34

I hope your dad is ok of course somebody should have helped him ,

eggsandwich · 09/10/2012 09:31

Thats disgraceful! how would they feel if it was one of their elderly parents. I help a gentleman a few months back that tripped up on the pavement, he cut his face very badly and was clearly shaken, I pulled over in my car and took him to my gp. I didn't do it for a medal, I did it out of compassion.

gimmecakeandcandy · 09/10/2012 07:50

Your poor dad. I would have helped, please let him know how many people here are thinking of him x

A few years back I was heavily pregnant and an eldest lady slipped - she was over on the other side of the road but I immediately went to her aid but nobody else did even though there were quite a few people about
I'll never understand how people can just stand by but on a positive note, I have seen far more people help people who fall than not

Hope he is ok now x

RuleBritannia · 09/10/2012 07:22

whois
It might be the general rule that drivers have to stay in their cabins (health & safety?) but Reading Buses has buses where the entrance floor can be lowered from the cabin and the driver leaves his lair safety cubicle to let down a ramp to enable wheelchair users to get on the bus. The driver sees them safely on before he returns to his cabin.

It is dreadful that no one rose from their backsides to help the OP's father. I was at a bus stop yesterday when a man using two crutches came and stood at the bus stop. I could see that he was in difficulty and stood up straight away for him to have my seat. He declined though, being independent.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 09/10/2012 06:25

Oh, that's awful. Your poor dad.

I'm surprised the driver couldn't help, though - they've got a rule on the buses I use regularly that the driver helps if you have something like a pushchair or need the step lowering.

I can understand why you would feel much more angry with other passengers who could have helped but didn't (so would I), but I wonder if it'd be possible to write and ask the bus company if drivers could be allowed to help? It seems bad that this driver was looking concerned, so obviously wanted to.

He shouldn't have to on a full bus, but if things like this happen, maybe there needs to be a different rule.

I hope your dad feels better soon and is not too shaken.

claraschu · 09/10/2012 06:22

I don't know if it would be possible for some of us to send him cards: strangers doing something to let him know that random strangers DO care.

My very old father died a few weeks ago, and I am sitting crying about your dad and thinking that my daughter would love to make your father a get well card. Maybe he would find that weird, or maybe he's already better, but if he is shaken up and a bit lonely, it might be nice for him.

Leena49 · 09/10/2012 05:53

It's common too common. I once walked the entire length of a high street and found an old man sat in the middle of the road looking scared. He had fallen. Everyone was walking round him. So I went to help him. Then shouted at some of the people! I just don't understand it.

apostropheuse · 09/10/2012 00:11

I slipped and fell on a busy city centre street and I was so embarrassed - and had cracked my ribs and hurt my knees . The first people to reach me and help were a young businessman and a middle-aged lady. I was so grateful to them and thanked them profusely. To be honest, there were several other people I saw making a move to come over but when they saw I was being helped they obviously left - they could see how embarrased I was and that I was being helped already.

I do think that in general people are kind-hearted.

I am shocked to hear what happened to your dad though - that's awful. I hope he is ok now.

Woozley · 08/10/2012 23:59

Well, you are entitled to your interpretation, I guess...

harbingerofdoom · 08/10/2012 23:39

Woozley I find your post very un caring!
Not one of the students helped.

OP posts:

catwomanlikesmeatballs · 08/10/2012 23:36

That's horrible

spiderlight · 08/10/2012 23:29

Oh, bless him :( I honestly don't understand how people can walk by and ignore someone who's hurt or in need of help. I never can.

Woozley · 08/10/2012 23:28

I am constantly amazed by how caring people are. I tend to believe most people who didn't help had a reason not to. I think most people would help others given the right circumstances.

harbingerofdoom · 08/10/2012 23:26

Exactly.

OP posts:

Alwaysme123 · 08/10/2012 23:22

I cant believe people have no compassion or empathy or bloody manners.. what would it have taken??? a few moments out of their day just to say
" are you ok ?"
" i can give you a hand"

A few years ago now, i helped an elderly lady who was walking in front of me who tripped.
luckily we had a library near by where i sat her down and waited with her until she felt better..

harbingerofdoom · 08/10/2012 23:21

Kalisi, I live a long way away.
Morloth Leicester.

OP posts:

GwendolineScaryLacey · 08/10/2012 23:03

I'm constantly amazed at how uncaring people are. I tripped last week coming out of a baby group. I'm not pregnant or especially old but I was carrying my 8 month old daughter who I managed to catch as I fell. She was crying, I was crying as I'd given my knee such a bang. People stepped over me, people I had spent 40 minutes in a room with before.

I'm sorry your dad had such a horrible experience. People can be utter bastards

Morloth · 08/10/2012 23:00

I try to always be aware of the bystander effect and so always jump in.

It is awful that no one helped, but it isn't normal.

Only once have I seen people ignore someone in distress and that was in Singapore - which can be a harsh culture sometimes.

Where was it?

Kalisi · 08/10/2012 22:57

Oh that's horrible I would have helped! Was he alone? If you were there maybe people thought you were handling it? I know it's no excuse but unless someone is visibly hurt or alone I think people might turn away to save you the "embarrassment" of people watching you fall. Or people are just dicks it depends

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beancurd · 08/10/2012 22:51

That is horrible. It's so random. I nearly died once in a setting where staff could have been called easily...no one bothered bizarrely. I would be writing very tart letters to the bus company about the shit head driver. Your poor dad, hope his confidence comes back.

thecatsminion · 08/10/2012 22:50

I fell over on my ankle when I was 8 months pregnant in a quiet residential street. It was really sore and I lay there for a few seconds, then pulled myself up by railings and rested against the fence for several minutes. The only other person in the street was a man in a suit standing a few meters away who saw me fall, and then deliberately turned his back and carried on his mobile phone conversation. He wouldn't look me in the eye when I limped past him too - he knew fine he should have asked if I was alright (which I would have done if I'd seen someone fall, even if they weren't obviously old, pregnant or otherwise less robust).

People can be bastards. I'm really sorry for your Dad - of course someone should have helped. Karma will bite them on the arse one day. But that's not much sure to your Dad. I hope he's ok and it hasn't shaken his confidence too much.

BitOutOfPractice · 08/10/2012 22:46

Oh how sad I hope he's ok and you can tell him that lots of us wish him all the best so he realises not everyone is So callous

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