to feel disgusted with these people?

[Disenchanted3]

Today we went for a walk and we were sad to see a homeless man had passed out outside a shop, he wet himself and everyone was just stood around staring at him,

Someone was on the phone to the ambulance but the rest were just staring down at him.

One woman was saying 'ewww don't touch him'

DH went over and with the help of another bloke woke him up, sat him up and he went and took a chair from outside a cafe and sat the bloke down on it whilst the ambulanced arrived and waited with him.

I was across the road and a group of people all about 40 years old and above, well dressed and the owners of a buisness across the road were all laughing and saying to one of the women of the group 'oooh he's a real catch for you love, go get his number'

I was really disgusted, what had this poor bloke done to them? He was as down as you can get, lost all dignity and these people were laughing!

Why don't people help people anymore or at least be respectful if they can't manage that?!

Actually another story for you - I went down to the local shop with a friend a few weeks ago to buy some ice cream as we had a few folks over for dinner. It was late evening and cold (as it has been for months!) and there was an elderly lady sitting outside the shop wearing a cardigan but no coat or gloves etc. We were worried as we were freezing in coats, scarves, gloves etc and called the police, who said that there was a lady missing from one of the local care homes and they came to pick her up. This was a busy main high street with people popping in and out of the shop (large Co-Op) every minute, but nobody had taken any notice. Goodness knows how long she'd been sat there.

I would personally be wary of approaching someone who was unconscious or who seemed drunk etc, but it's hardly a big effort to call 999 or (in this case) the local police station. It takes no time at all and you can't assume that someone will have already called. Experience has shown me that.

To restore your faith in human nature somewhat, DP and I were driving DS to a play date last November when a man collapsed and started fitting on the crossing immediately in front of our car.

DP leaped out to help, but was still only the fourth person to get to the man because three passersby had also rushed forward to help. Drivers from the cars behind also stopped and got out.

I stayed in the car to call 999 - took me perhaps 30 seconds to get my phone out of my bag - and was told by the dispatch lady that two other people had already reported.

We stayed with the man for the 5 mins it took for the ambulance to come, as did most of the other people - I think we all wanted to know the outcome, which was that the man would be OK.

Was genuinely impressed by how many people wanted to help a complete stranger.

Er how do you know the guy was homeless? He may have been a regular bloke getting lashed after a very sticky confrontation with his dw
who does not share his passion for power tools. In fact could you decribe what this man was wearing, an Argyll sweater with distinctive maroon and "eau de nil" chevrons by any chance?
My dh popped out to the newsagents quite some time ago and I was wondering what was taking him so long.......

Message withdrawn

Disenchanted3 YANBU. And good on your DH for helping out.

bernadetteoflourdes is this the same hubby who, um, enjoys some quality time with your kitchen appliances? Or am I getting him mixed up with another thread, another spouse or life completely.....?!

To return to how shit people can be to people in need, a few years ago I was at my friend's flat and we heard a strange strangled sound coming from the street outside, followed by frantic ringing on the doorbell. We open the door to find a very very distraught women, naked from the waist down and bleeding begging us to let her in.She had evidently been down the street asking for help and we were the only ones who let her in. It was about 6pm on a sunny summer evening, so not middle of night or anything. She was in a right state, and confused, we sat her down and called 999 immediately. While we waited, it transpired she had jumped out of a window to escape being attacked or raped; and we also got the feeling she might be a working girl and/or a drug addict who had just had a nasty run-in with a dealer. Regardless, she needed our help, we wanted to help her and it was something that you hope somebody would do for you in the same situation.

Now here's the crap bit. The police arrived - 2 men, even after we said it was a woman who had quite possible been raped. They barged in even after we made it clear she might want female only attendance, barraged her with questions, took one look at her tattoos and listened to her slightly awkward grammar and then proceeded to treat her like a criminal. If that wasn't bad enough, when the ambulance arrived, the female paramedic treated her like an animal. It was all I could do to not thump them. I understand if you deal with people who might 'bring things on themselves' it can be frustrating - but does that mean we treat these people like second class citizens?

So, while I know for a fact there are some amazing coppers (one of my best mates) and wonderful paramedics (some of my relatives) - sometimes the supposed professionals can be as vile as those bystanders taking the piss. I only hope my experience was a rare one - if it isn't, I think I would be incredibly sad.

Bernadette I know hes homeless as hes always in the village, under a sleeping bag, day and night.

My dad had epilepsy and for a while it wasn't controlled. Once when I was shopping with him I popped into a shop whilst he went to another. I found him slumped on the pavement and people all around him.
They didn't help him of course and said 'he must be drunk, how disgusting!' Some people even walked over him to get past
Sadly it is a sign of the times. Nothing surprises me anymore.