woman attacked on subway platform, workers basically do nothing

[jps]

didn't see this anywhere, though admittedly didn't look too hard this morning.

The young woman had been attacked in full view of a New York City subway clerk, then dragged down the steps onto a deserted platform where she was raped and raped again, the assailant not stopping even when a subway train pulled into the station.

Now, after nearly four years of constant nightmares, bouts of depression and anxiety, the woman has been told by a judge that two transit workers who saw her being attacked had no obligation to do anything to help her other than to signal their superiors that police were needed at the station.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30105703/

maybe it's just the way my moral compass points, but I sure as hell try to actually do something. not because my job says I'm required to -- because it's the right thing to do.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I feel horrible for woman, but the transit workers, according to the story, immediatley pushed the button to summon police.


The guys is no saint that's for sure, but he's no David Cash Jr. either.

 

[The Big Ragu]

How can you sit in the booth and do nothing? How can you be the conductor, close the train doors and pull away while that is going on. I don't care if they hit a button. She's being charitable when she says the least he could have done was get on the intercom and try to scare the guy away. I really don't know how anyone -- even if they scared out of their head by the attacker -- doesn't intercede.

 

[jps]

I feel horrible for woman, but the transit workers, according to the story, immediatley pushed the button to summon police.

The guys is no saint that's for sure, but he's no David Cash Jr. either.

so that's good enough for you? immediately pushing a button? house is on fire, woman inside screaming for help. you immediately call 911 to get the firetrucks there. good enough?

 

[RickStain]

I feel horrible for woman, but the transit workers, according to the story, immediatley pushed the button to summon police.

The guys is no saint that's for sure, but he's no David Cash Jr. either.

so that's good enough for you? immediately pushing a button? house is on fire, woman inside screaming for help. you immediately call 911 to get the firetrucks there. good enough?

I hope I'm never put in that situation to find out. Would I be shocked to find out if that was all I did? No.

I believe it was esteemed Dr. Gregory House who put it:
"If you don't value your own life over someone else's, sign your donor card and shoot yourself in the head."

 

[imjustagirl]

I feel horrible for woman, but the transit workers, according to the story, immediatley pushed the button to summon police.

The guys is no saint that's for sure, but he's no David Cash Jr. either.

so that's good enough for you? immediately pushing a button? house is on fire, woman inside screaming for help. you immediately call 911 to get the firetrucks there. good enough?

Fire's different. Fire doesn't have a gun or a knife or whatever else you don't know about.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

For me personally? No.
But to expect the best from my fellow human beings and to then expect the law - in this case a judge - to issue a decree that would require you, me or anyone else within earshot to jump in and help, regardless of the situation, where failure to do so might result in criminal prosecution?
The guy did what he was supposed to do - he alerted the proper authorties. Did he know if the man was armed? How do you know the man in the booth didn't have MS? Or Maybe he was an old guy with a heart condition?
Look, the two transit workers certainly shouldn't be singled out for bravery, but I don't think they should be persecuted - or prosecuted - either.
Why isn't anyone blaming the cops for not showing up quick enough?

And again .. I feel horrible for what that poor woman went through.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I feel horrible for woman, but the transit workers, according to the story, immediatley pushed the button to summon police.

The guys is no saint that's for sure, but he's no David Cash Jr. either.

so that's good enough for you? immediately pushing a button? house is on fire, woman inside screaming for help. you immediately call 911 to get the firetrucks there. good enough?

I hope I'm never put in that situation to find out. Would I be shocked to find out if that was all I did? No.

I believe it was esteemed Dr. Gregory House who put it:
"If you don't value your own life over someone else's, sign your donor card and shoot yourself in the head."

Not to be too hyperbolic, but that philosophy is why millions of people could witness the Holocaust and then claim a pass because they were powerless to do anything about it.

I value my life. But my life really is worthless to me if I don't live it in a way that allows me to look in the mirror each morning with a clear conscience.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

I feel horrible for woman, but the transit workers, according to the story, immediatley pushed the button to summon police.

The guys is no saint that's for sure, but he's no David Cash Jr. either.

so that's good enough for you? immediately pushing a button? house is on fire, woman inside screaming for help. you immediately call 911 to get the firetrucks there. good enough?

I hope I'm never put in that situation to find out. Would I be shocked to find out if that was all I did? No.

I believe it was esteemed Dr. Gregory House who put it:
"If you don't value your own life over someone else's, sign your donor card and shoot yourself in the head."

Not to be too hyperbolic, but that philosophy is why millions of people could witness the Holocaust and then claim a pass because they were powerless to do anything about it.

I value my life. But my life really is worthless to me if I don't live it in a way that allows me to look in the mirror each morning with a clear conscience.

There is BIG difference between witnessing the Holocaust and taking part in it.
That's as far down this road as I am willing to go.

 

[RickStain]

Not to be too hyperbolic, but that philosophy is why millions of people could witness the Holocaust and then claim a pass because they were powerless to do anything about it.

I value my life. But my life really is worthless to me if I don't live it in a way that allows me to look in the mirror each morning with a clear conscience.

That's a bit hyperbolic. The way to stop the Holocaust isn't to throw yourself into the maw, it's to engage in the political process to keep it from happening.

We aren't powerless to stop rapes and fires, we have social institutions to take care of them, and there's nothing wrong with stepping back and letting them do their jobs.

If someone wants to be a hero, good for them, but I won't look down on someone who would rather make sure he gets home to his wife and kids safe.

 

[The Big Ragu]

There is BIG difference between witnessing the Holocaust and taking part in it.
That's as far down this road as I am willing to go.

Huge difference. And there were still millions who witnessed some horrific acts and didn't intercede. Just like that booth worker and that subway conductor.

 

[PeteyPirate]

I would have expected a more moralistic stance from you, RickStain, but I am in agreement.

 

[jps]

I feel horrible for woman, but the transit workers, according to the story, immediatley pushed the button to summon police.

The guys is no saint that's for sure, but he's no David Cash Jr. either.

so that's good enough for you? immediately pushing a button? house is on fire, woman inside screaming for help. you immediately call 911 to get the firetrucks there. good enough?

Fire's different. Fire doesn't have a gun or a knife or whatever else you don't know about.

either one just might kill/hurt you. like I said - maybe it's just me. but I couldn't sit and just wait it out, hoping for the best when clearly that isn't what's happening.

 

[jps]

I feel horrible for woman, but the transit workers, according to the story, immediatley pushed the button to summon police.

The guys is no saint that's for sure, but he's no David Cash Jr. either.

so that's good enough for you? immediately pushing a button? house is on fire, woman inside screaming for help. you immediately call 911 to get the firetrucks there. good enough?

I hope I'm never put in that situation to find out. Would I be shocked to find out if that was all I did? No.

I believe it was esteemed Dr. Gregory House who put it:
"If you don't value your own life over someone else's, sign your donor card and shoot yourself in the head."

Not to be too hyperbolic, but that philosophy is why millions of people could witness the Holocaust and then claim a pass because they were powerless to do anything about it.

I value my life. But my life really is worthless to me if I don't live it in a way that allows me to look in the mirror each morning with a clear conscience.

agreed.

and I guess I'm not saying that these workers should be held accountable by the law -- but I am saying that they should have felt compelled by something other than what the subway worker rule book says you've got to do in an emergency situation. I just can't fathom being able to sit there for 10 minutes, knowing a woman is being brutalized, and going about my daily routine. I couldn't do it.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

There is BIG difference between witnessing the Holocaust and taking part in it.
That's as far down this road as I am willing to go.

Huge difference. And there were still millions who witnessed some horrific acts and didn't intercede. Just like that booth worker and that subway conductor.

The workers notified the proper authorites. You know, the guys sworn to protect and serve.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Not to be too hyperbolic, but that philosophy is why millions of people could witness the Holocaust and then claim a pass because they were powerless to do anything about it.

I value my life. But my life really is worthless to me if I don't live it in a way that allows me to look in the mirror each morning with a clear conscience.

That's a bit hyperbolic. The way to stop the Holocaust isn't to throw yourself into the maw, it's to engage in the political process to keep it from happening.

We aren't powerless to stop rapes and fires, we have social institutions to take care of them, and there's nothing wrong with stepping back and letting them do their jobs.

If someone wants to be a hero, good for them, but I won't look down on someone who would rather make sure he gets home to his wife and kids safe.

That's fine, I guess, in the eyes of the law. You may or may not feel differently if you or anyone you love, is ever the victim of something horrible while others stand by without actively trying to help. For me it is karma, which is all about the action or the deed. The true test (and a measure of character) is the action you take when it is scariest to take action.

Anyhow, moralizing over.

 

[RickStain]

That's fine, I guess, in the eyes of the law. You may or may not feel differently if you or anyone you love, is ever the victim of something horrible while others stand by without actively trying to help. For me it is karma, which is all about the action or the deed. The true test (and a measure of character) is the action you take when it is scariest to take action.
Anyhow, moralizing over.

I also may or may not feel different when someone I love gets themselves killed trying to be a hero.

The "what if it was someone you loved" argument is always a bit weird to me. Why are we appealing to the people who can look at the situation the least rationally?

 

[jps]

yes, they did. they did the bare minimum, evil. kudos to them. and if they can live with that, fantastic. personally, I wouldn't be able to.

like the woman said - even getting onto the subway's pa system would be something. this guy didn't know anyone pushed a big button - he, I'm sure, figured these guys were too afraid to do anything and just ignored what was happening. maybe if he knows cops are on the way, he splits.

 

[The Big Ragu]

There is BIG difference between witnessing the Holocaust and taking part in it.
That's as far down this road as I am willing to go.

Huge difference. And there were still millions who witnessed some horrific acts and didn't intercede. Just like that booth worker and that subway conductor.

The workers notified the proper authorites. You know, the guys sworn to protect and serve.

They did their legal duty.

Meanwhile, a woman was raped on a subway platform, and they were aware of what was going on and made no effort to help her.

But they did the did what is legally required of them. Good for them.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

yes, they did. they did the bare minimum, evil. kudos to them. and if they can live with that, fantastic. personally, I wouldn't be able to.

like the woman said - even getting onto the subway's pa system would be something. this guy didn't know anyone pushed a big button - he, I'm sure, figured these guys were too afraid to do anything and just ignored what was happening. maybe if he knows cops are on the way, he splits.

I'm not applauding them.. I'm just saying you shouldn't look down on them.
If this helps you - (insert manly-hero voice here) I wouldn't stand for that!! - then kudos to you sir.

Have you ever been to NY and listened the PA system?

I don't think the rapist gave two ****s about whether the cops were on the way. Wouldn't, if someone sees you raping a woman, you assume they are probably calling cops and they might headed to you know stop you?