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.

The ‘bystander effect’ is real – but research shows that when more people witness violence, it’s more likely someone will step up and intervene
…
As Philpot and his co-authors put it, in a line that presages what Frazier and several others near her did: “We found that in nine-out-of-10 conflicts, at least one person – but typically several – did something to help.”
In trying to understand bystander ethics, the troubling phenomenon of diffusion of responsibility remains relevant. But it is also important to understand the more positive finding that pro-social intervention like Frazier’s by one or more people in groups who witness public conflicts is common.

https://theconversation.com/the-bystander-effect-is-real-but-research-shows-that-when-more-people-witness-violence-its-more-likely-someone-will-step-up-and-intervene-159674

Deffo intervene without thinking !! That’s me all over thou !

And maybe at the same time tell them that you're live streaming the video to Youtube, so right now what they are being doing is already being watched by thousands of people.

Even if you're not that would probably make most cowards run for the hills, and that's all bullies are.

Of course I’d intervene…why the hell wouldn’t you?

I saw kids that age one day a bit older behaving similarly towards another kid. I took photos and videos with their faces clearly visible and emailed it to their headmaster. They were in school uniform and from the same school. I got an email back thanking me and telling me they had been dealt with.

I would in the past, and have done. I once stopped my car, yelled out of the window then opened the door and made to get out. I really was all for racing over to save the poor lad on the ground. Thankfully the ones hitting him ran off.
I’m not too sure I would these days tbh. Some kids are almost feral these days and would think nothing of turning on a middle aged woman. The last incident was several years ago and DH yelled at some yobs who had chased, felled and were kicking an older teen in the head. When he yelled over they turned and started heading towards us, squaring up. We had two young terrified kids with us and had just been about to get in the car, we had to get in and race off and phone the police instead.

At that age I would absolutely intervene and stop a child being attacked.

I would shout at the top of my voice to startle them and make a scene. Hopefully draw any other adults in the vicinity to do the same.

I cannot fathom how anyone would turn their cheek and not help. Even if they were older I couldn’t walk past. This is what society and community means.

I would absolutely intervene. Yell first, then take photos then call the police!

defiantly intervene !

Duplicated

I’d say something briefly but wouldn’t push it as one might have a knife and I don’t want that turned on me.

Double post sorry!

I would intervene and set the wee ratbags running.

In saying that, I have no fear of conflict. I'm in my 40s, but am tall, athletically built, fit and strong and have a natural 'fuck about and out' presence.

I once vaulted over a pub counter and pinned a man to the ground after he tried to dip his hand in the till I was serving from at the time (which, with hindsight, was probably quite a stupid thing for me to do, although not quite as stupid as what he tried to do, as he found out).

You are not me, though, so what you would choose to do in that situation may vary.

Yes I would. I tend to act on instinct but I think I’d shout and get my phone and try to recruit other bystanders.

Intervene every time

I would intervene.

Exactly, in my area I saw a man beating a dog with a metal shopping basket for fighting with another dog at a local shop. I stopped my car and asked what they were doing and an off duty policeman from the nearby station happened to be walking past (train station next to shop) and he said he’d stop but he didn’t have a stab vest on. One dog was obvs a fighting dog. So yeah maybe not intervene.

11 years old yes I would intervene. I would also photograph/video, look at their uniforms to find out the school and call the school to let them know.

I would definitely intervene. This sort of thing should never go unchallenged. Call the police too.

Yes, I would definitely intervene. I think that it’s important for kids to have adults around watching out for them.

I was once in my car outside DC school and an over 6ft guy from the nearby college was drinking juice from a large carton while walking. He then just chucked it on the ground. I wound my window down and told him to pick it up…. he did!!! I then realise what I’d done and my heart just about recovered by the time I got my kids. DH went mad when I told him.

I wouldn't fear for my safety with a bunch of 11 year-olds. I would observe for a moment to make sure I didn't misunderstand the situation then intervene. I had to call the police on multiple occasions witnessing much older people picking on someone (last time was a bit dodgy because it was next to my allotment entrance which was somewhat deserted and two 20-somethings were punching up a 15-16 y/o school boy). You would want someone to intervene if it were your child or yourself in a dangerous situation. I don't even think twice about it.

I would interfere. Also if uniform wearing and clear I would phone school or email school and give description of students. Most school behaviour policy will have something about behaviour outside of school when they are wearing school uniform.

Absolutely would I intervene. Imagine it was your 11yr old on the floor? I would hope that an adult would get involved if it were mine.

Exactly this