WWYD - Intervene or keep walking?

[StepInOrLookAway]

Group of 9 kids, boys and girls, around 11 years old. One boy on the ground with 4 boys standing over him, at least one pushing down on him.

If you witnessed this would you intervene? If not, why not? Out of fear for your own safety? Would you alert anyone else? No judgement, just interested.

I did. Had my DS with me. I just approached the lad lying on the ground and asked him if he was ok and if I could phone anyone for him. He declined my help and got up as I spoke to him. The others were talking to me but I ignored them, was just very low key about it. Don’t know whether I helped or not but I wasn’t going to walk by him as he lay on the ground. I wouldn’t want anyone to leave my kids in that situation either.

I would intervene. Most 11 years olds, if you can do a firm, calm, 'teacher voice' would back off straight away.

I would have intervened. This happened to my 12 year old GD and nobody did anything (I don't live near her or I would've stopped it). Little bastards.

Exactly the right thing to do.

most definitely and have done so when I witness 3 14 year old boys kicking hell out of another 14 year old and jumping on his head!!! they ran off!!! luckily the boy managed to get up!!

I would intervene if i was in my own. I'd have no issue blocking someone hurting a child. I worked in a school for several years and have broke up loads of fights. However, I am usually with my kids and I wouldn't put them in arms way. I would call the police but I wouldn't get in the middle.

I would intervene with children that young. I'm not sure how rough an area I'd need to be in before I'd walk past kids that age doing that.

Wasn’t there some sort of experiment set up where it was shown that most people will walk by an “incident” but as soon as one person intervenes other people will stop, it’s just that no one want to be the first.

Yes of corse I'd intervene at that age.

Of course intervene! You're the adult!

It’s a bit like the suggestions they have on a poster on the tube trains about what to do if you see someone being harassed, things like, ask if they know if this train goes to Oxford Circus, or do they know what time the last train goes, or do they have the time, it is using diversionary tactics, designed not to antagonise but to provide a break in the harassment. The “I ‘ve called an ambulance, thank you for helping, is he ok” is a really good idea.

I wouldn't he able to just wake on by. Perhaps stupid but I'm not able to just ignore it. If I'm scared can you imagine how the poor child feels?

A wolf whistle also works wonders surprisingly. It gets attention from others in a crowded area and also suggests that you may be alerting someone nearby also if quieter areas like a park. So far so lucky, I've yelled from a distance, whistled and crowd disperses.

Not as brave with adults perhaps, Road rage incident recently where a taxi driver was beating the crap out of a cyclist. Rang the guards and yelled from my car that I've called the guards and given them his plate number. He kept hold of the cyclist but stopped beating him before 2 other men got out of their cars to help the cyclist.

I did intervene. I saw a group of schoolgirls aged around 13 pummelling a younger boy with their bags one morning and he fell to the pavement. They were really hitting him, he was crying, and one of them was filming it. I told them to stop and the one with the phone did, but the ringleader gave me a mouthful of abuse. The school they were on their way to was just round the corner so I ran there and found a member of staff on the gate. The minute I said what was happening, he ran back to confront the girls. I hope the little cows got suspended.

I would call the police and intervene

I would make a lot of noise in the hope of scaring them away, attracting the attention of others and call the police.

I would intervene but I know my mum probably wouldn't. Not because she is a horrible person but because she has extremely low bone density now. She has intervened in the past many times (including when I would have probably been too scared to) but no longer feels safe.

I’d imagine if it was my son on the ground and intervene while calling 999.

I'll always back an underdog. I can't help myself, I've definitely put myself in some dangerous situations because of it. But I'd rather those consequences than the guilt I'd feel walking on.

I wouldn't try and break it up, but would say something like 'is everything ok?' in the hope it would deter them. I work with younger children and have seen them turn over a room, insure adults, so I know they are very capable.

Yes, I'd intervene, or at very least call the police.

At that age I would intervene 100%. I have a ten year old and nothing that could happen to me would be worse than hearing on the news later that a boy's body had been found.

Yes I would

Having an 11 yo myself who has been physically attacked already outside his new secondary school I would be right in there

Call the Police

Video or photograph the bullying

I would intervene, but I deal with 11 year olds daily so that wouldn’t really bother me. However, the bystander effect would suggest that most people would keep on walking.

I would intervene and have.