I saw someone post it on Facebook, (Hey! Facebook can be educational!)
It talks about the Bystander Effect, a psychological phenomenon that explains why people don't take action for others in their moments of need, particularly when they are in large crowds.
What struck me the most, although all famous examples shown are terrible, was the Homecoming Dance Gang Rape. The fact that people looked on as a young girl was beaten and raped at a school dance, and even took pictures as it happened before them, sickens me in ways I can't fully describe with words.
It dispels the belief that you are in less danger when in a place full of people-you would think that the more people and the more onlookers, the more help you would receive if you were in a dangerous situation. But as seen in many real life instances, the more people who are around, the less likely they are to take action if there isn't someone to tell them to. The mob effect of inaction takes place. It's scary to think about and kind of makes you place less hope in humanity.
But if more people knew more about this and the dire effects of inaction, more people would hopefully be inclined to do something, or say something if they see something wrong, even if no one else does first.
What stops people are thoughts such as, "Someone else will call for help", or "I don't want to get involved". But if everyone thinks this and carries on, then a person(s) in need will never receive any help at all.
The situation becomes controversial when talking about photojournalists however. It is up to a photographer to make the decision whether to help or snap a photo, but it is important to realize that a picture speaks a thousand words and one photo can spark a huge movement of action.
The most well-known example of this is Kevin Carter's Pulitzer Prize photo shown below. The most powerful photo I've ever seen, it doesn't even seem real. But it is.
Anyway, I'm not here to preach at you all, (well maybe I am) but it is interesting and something worth thinking about.
xx
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