Is this the fault of society or lawyers or authorities?

[Manedwolf]

Cars Slow to Watch as Teens Beat Homeless Man to Death

Friday , June 27, 2008

AP

CLEVELAND 
A group of teenagers beat a homeless man to death as passers-by slowed to watch the attack, some of which was caught on videotape, police said.

Anthony Waters, 42, suffered a lacerated spleen and broken ribs during the attack Wednesday night and died at a hospital, police said.

"The pack mentality going on in the city of Cleveland must end," police Commander Calvin Williams said Thursday at a news conference where he urged the attackers to come forward.

Portions of the attack were caught on a surveillance camera outside a towing company on the city's east side. Police said the videotape shows passing cars slowing to watch three teens attack Waters until he staggered into the parking lot, where he was assisted by employees of the towing company.

Watch a video report from MyFoxCleveland.com

"It was just horrifying the way he looked," said Marlo Massey, Waters' sister, who saw her brother's body after the attack. "They beat him to death and I just can't stop thinking what was on his mind while it was happening."

Waters suffered from blunt abdominal trauma, a head injury and damaged internal organs, the Cuyahoga County coroner said.

The attackers, who appeared to be between the ages of 14 to 17, robbed Waters of a music player and headphones, police said. No arrests have been made.

Waters was a welder by trade but had been staying at a Cleveland-area homeless shelter, said Paul Eadeh, a friend.

"He's a good guy, a hardworking person," Eadeh said. "He was just trying to make some money to eat and to live."

Eadeh said Waters worked odd jobs for him at a beverage store.

Here's my question. Do people not stop to interfere anymore because:

1. They do not care about anyone but themselves.
2. They are afraid for their own safety.
3. They're afraid the police will arrest them and charge them if they get involved.
4. They're afraid that the teens' parents will sue them if they touch their little snowflakes.

What do you think? Why are people passing by this sort of thing without taking action?

[Jamisjockey]

2,3,4 have caused 1.

[Werewolf]

Too busy, too much bother, more trouble than it's worth, what's in it for me attitude that has become prevalent in our society over - ummmmm... - the last 30 to 40 years or so.

What's interesting is that charitable giving is up a bunch over the last decade. I suppose though that's kind'a goes hand in hand with the above. In other words giving of time is too much bother; I'll just give 'em some money and let someone else do the dirty work.

Though - 2, 3 and 4 are a big part of the problem too.

[41magsnub]

Too busy, too much bother, more trouble than it's worth, what's in it for me attitude that has become prevalent in our society over - ummmmm... - the last 30 to 40 years or so.

What's interesting is that charitable giving is up a bunch over the last decade. I suppose though that's kind'a goes hand in hand with the above. In other words giving of time is too much bother; I'll just give 'em some money and let someone else do the dirty work.

Though - 2, 3 and 4 are a big part of the problem too.

On the charitable giving how much of that is the boomers hitting that age where many have extra cash or are looking to do things for tax deductions?  How much is from the younger generations?  God that was cynical....

[Scout26]

It's Fistful's fault  1, 2, 3, and 4.

[ilbob]

2,3,4 have caused 1.

+1

The police have made it very clear that if you intervene they will arrest you first, and then you will be sued by the miscreants. you may eventually get off on both the criminal and civil issues, but it will be a costly experience.

[El Tejon]

Lawyers.

[anygunanywhere]

Lawyers.

And legislators, and judges (well, lawyers again).

Anygunanywhere

[Nick1911]

Lawyers.

How ironic - since you're a lawyer and all... 

[MechAg94]

As ilbob said, if you get involved, you will be called a vigilante, arrested and charged by the cops and sued by the thugs.  Hell, some of those politicians seem to want to call you a vigilante for defending yourself. 

How many of those drivers tried to call 911?  Did they say that? 

[MicroBalrog]

How many people have called 911? We don't know.

And a lone, unarmed man can do little against a band of thugs.

[De Selby]

I'm hesistant to comment poorly on passersby in these cases because raw aggression has a tendency to stun people-even to the level that they'll sit and allow themselves to be killed if the momentum of the aggressor is sufficient.

I think it's human nature, not some societal fault.  Of course it's not good, but it just seems to be universal-if you move on people with enough aggression and violence, in many cases they'll freeze.  I think that's the real cause behind some of these cases of apparent callous behavior.

[crt360]

There's also the fear of contracting AIDS, Hep C and various other crap from injecting oneself into a violent swap of bodily fluids.

In some cases it's hard to tell who the good guy is.  I saw some guys fighting on the sidewalk one night.  They were both throwing punches, but one was clearly beating the *expletive deleted*it out of the other guy (who was yelling and apparently in need of assistance).  I'll admit, I stood there and watched.  I didn't have a phone on me and I sure as hell wasn't going to jump in.  Well, after awhile they finished and sat down next to each other.  I could hear ass-kicker telling ass-kickee not to steal his stuff anymore.  Apparently they were friends who figured a public sidewalk was a good place to throw down. 

[SteveS]

Lawyers.

And legislators, and judges (well, lawyers again).

Anygunanywhere

Labor unions, too.

I don't think this is anything new.  People just don't want to get involved.

[Azrael256]

Here's my question. Do people not stop to interfere anymore because:

1. They do not care about anyone but themselves.
2. They are afraid for their own safety.
3. They're afraid the police will arrest them and charge them if they get involved.
4. They're afraid that the teens' parents will sue them if they touch their little snowflakes.

What do you think? Why are people passing by this sort of thing without taking action?

People have never, *EVER* stopped to interfere.  Lawyers, society, police, global warming, and poor parenting have nothing to do with it.  (I mean, they have everything to do with the attack, but nothing to do with observers' inaction.)  Thinking that there was some time back in the "good ol' days" when people would have done something about it is simply wishful, and not supported by fact.

Punch "Kitty Genovese" into Google.

Unless responsibility is concentrated to a single person or small group of people, its diffuse nature will always preclude action.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

People have never, *EVER* stopped to interfere.

broad brush  demonstrably untrue
same period as kitty genovese  in a greek neighbor hood in new york  someone/s shot a cop  folks on the street disarmed and nearly killed them

[Azrael256]

same period as kitty genovese  in a greek neighbor hood in new york  someone/s shot a cop  folks on the street disarmed and nearly killed them

Unless responsibility is concentrated to a single person or small group of people, its diffuse nature will always preclude action.

[BlueStarLizzard]

i think those who start a resistance to obviouse atrocities are fewer in this day and age. and that is caused by e.) all of the above.

people, especially of my own generation, who are induated with lessons that involve meekness and calling upon the 'authorities' to deal with any given problem and the 'no tolerance' rules in schools (where even just defending yourself will get you kicked out) are even more prone to not steping in.

but resistance still happens even now. don't forget the fourth plane on 9/11.

[never_retreat]

I going to blame the democrats as usual.

plus 1 2 3 and 4

[Tallpine]

If you posted this incident as a "what would you do...?" over on THR, at least half the folks would say things like:

"my CCW is to protect me and my family only"

"call 911 and be a good witness"

"how do you know the guy wasn't a pedophile and the kids were resisting a rape?"

etc etc etc