Under the "bystander effect," experts say that the larger the number of people involved in a situation, the less will get done. This phrase was coined in the 1960's
after people witnessed a young woman being brutally killed and stood by and did nothing about it.
Should people who witness a crime be forced to report it to law enforcement?
Should law enforcement charge people with a crime who stand by and do nothing?
Do people who take video footage, verbally encourage assailants, watchers of a crime, or people who walk away without getting involved all have the same responsibility and accountability?
Please respond to the full story below with direct reference to my questions.
Offer a persuasive argument in a detailed response.
Please read the article below , as well as the full story on www.cnn.com.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/28/california.gang.rape.bystander/index.html
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26 comments:
I feel that the bystander effect seems to be an accepted effect of large crowds and thus this could have happened because of that. However, I believe that over 2 and a half hrs is long enough for someone to snap back to reality and realize what is going on. I don't understand how you could video tape this and not report it. I feel that if you are a bystander and you don't report it I don't know whether you should be prosecuted, I don't know enough to give an informed opinion. However, something should be done to help them incase something like this does happen.
Chris Grenzig p. 2
Often times, many think to themseleves," Oh, I don't want to get involved, someone else will tell." Then that next person does the same thing and the dangered person is left without anyone helping or calling to help anyone. I agree with the more people, less will get done. People feel that the others will get whatever it is done and they can just stand by and watch. Basically everyone in this group gets this mentality and nothing ever really gets done about it. If pressure is put on you, and there are very few people around or involved in your group, you do not really have a choice and must get done whatever needs to get done, or help whoever needs to be helped. I think that there should a person should be charged if they are a "by stander". What if the person who was being hurt or in danger was one of your family members of friends? Wouldn't you want someone to help them? You can save a persons life and prevent harm from others, so you should be charged if you do not help, just stand and watch, or act as if you do not really see what is going on. People watching have the power to change what is going on, so therefore use the "power" and help those/the one in need. What if one day you found out that your mom or sister was raped with people watching and nothing was done?
I do believe that someone who has witnessed the crime should be required to submit their report to authorities. I think that if they do not report it, they can be looked at as a suspect in the case. There are really no negatives to reporting the crime. I am not sure you can charge for people standing by and doing nothing. As much as it would be ideal to step in and stop the crime, those people could also be putting themselves in danger. I do think that people should be held accountable for encouraging the assailent. That is just as bad as committing the crime.
Chris McCormack Period 2
If you just stand there and do nothing you are equaly acountable for the crime because even though you didnt start the crim you did nothing to help it so your just as bad as the person doing the crime but if you are in a croud then you might feel that there is nothing wrong and every one should pay who watch and takepart in the crime
Bobby M Peroid 2
Compassion is a hard emotion to feel, however common sense is something that everyone should have, and is not easy to come by. It SHOULD be required for people to come forward for it is the right thing to do. Many situations are put into perspective by saying " if it was you..." but think about it, What if it was you? What would you do? Would you want someone to help? Absolutly. There needs to be responsibility for actions. Indeed it is impulsive to cheer, but the same impulse is necessary in order to bring people forward. Those who take footage should be prosicuted and in ways taught a lesson. People should try their best to keep people safe, because we are in a harsh world, BUT people should think about the harsh effects of violence and take action. Do not be a bystander, do not fall into that effect. People are watching out to ensure that kids dont do drugs, and kids do well in school, but we need to make sure that kids can stand up for themselves and stand tall in difficult situations. Perhaps we need better role models.
I think that people who have witnessed a crime should be forced to report it. Not saying that they need to get involved but if your willing to stand there and watch it happen, knowing that its not right you should do something. I also think that if you get caught witnessing a a crime and never reporting it, you should be charged with some sort of crime. If you are able to watch a crime happen and take video footage you are just as acountable as the person commiting the crime. I dont know what would posses someone to do something like that, but it has happened, it makes them just as a bad as the person they are chanting on.
Lauren Graff pd2
i think that people who bystand and watch things like people getting raped and murder are as much at fault then the people doing it. i cant even imagine people just watching as someone is getting murdered. why wouldnt you just yell hey stop or call 911 to help these people who can do nothing for themselves. i would never if i saw this happening to someone i would call 911 and run to the nerest adult to get help. i have no idea why people would not do this to help save the life of someone else. even if they are not murdered these people are never going to be the same after they get raped and people watch and put it on you tube. it is not a joke to watch someone get hurt.
I think that witnesses should have to report a crime, since that could help stop the act. If they do not report it, they can be held partially accountable since they let these acts continue. With the CNN article, the bystanders should be prosectuted because they were standing there for 2 hrs not doing anything except taking pictures.
Stephen Pulaski Per. 2
People who witness a crime should be forced to report it to law enforcement because they could help save someones life or even put someone in jail who commited a hurtful crime. Law enforcement should charge people with a crime who stand by and do nothing because they are just as guilty as the person who is committing the crime. People always think " someone else will do something about it " put they never put themselves in the situation and think that if it was them they would want someone to help them.
People who take video footage, verbally encourage assailants, watchers of a crime, and people who walk away without getting involved all have the same responsibility and accountability because they are aware of the situation and are almost enjoying the fact that it is going on and thinking that it is funny. People need to take a stand and be more aware of the situation , and help the person being victimized.
It's a touchy subject when you deal with sending a bystander to jail for witnessing a crime. Some people are just not built with a high deal of courage to get physically involed. But, there is not excuse for not calling the police. It's only a dial away, and you can call annoymous.
What really disturbs me is when people take videos of these crimes. When your taking the videos your egging on the crime. You give the criminal the spotlight, now he feels like he needs to do something "cool." If police do find out who captured a video, they should be charged.
Bryan Martin Per.2
Yes people who witness a crime should be forced to report it to law enforcement.
Law enforcement should charge people with a crime for standing by and doing nothing.
Yes anyone who takes pictures or video tapes should also be chared.
If there was a penetaly for being a bystander more people would be compelled to help out. if that were so crime and violence would decrease. People who do nothing are just as responsible as the person comitting the crime.
People are so quick to pass on responsibility, and when things go wrong they are so quick to pass on the blame. Many feel that when issues occur, it is not their responsibilty to fix it because they aren't involved in it. However, personally I feel it is so important to speak up when you see things out of place. Just the other day, I was driving to school, stopped at a red light. Across the intersection was a runner on the side of the road, doubled over holding her ankle in pain. 4 cars passed her, until finally one stopped to help pick her up and get her help. This is just one example of how self-avsorbed our community has become. We need to speak out and help the members of our community no matter how minor or major the issue may be.
People who witness a crime should feel compelled to help. What kind of morals do you have if you have the ability to overlook someone in desperate need of help? Technically, it would be acceptable for the legal system to charge bystanders with a crime - obstruction of justice. It is the same scenario...you know of illegal actions occuring and you keep your mouth close. You are with holding information that prevents justice from being served. Bystanders with cameras, taking videos, standing with their mouths closed yet their eyes open have every chance to make thigns right. They have the power to SAVE someone, in certain issues. If they choose to overlook that, then I definately feel they should be brought up on charges.
When put in a certain situation some people will react, but most will not. I think people that witness a crime should be forced to report it to law enforcement. If someone was to brutally attack and innocent person would you just stand there and not do anything? I think there should be a fine and jail time for not telling any law enforcement about the crime. Because if you are not part of the solution you are probably helping the problem. People, who take video footage, verbally encourage assailants, watchers of a crime, or people who walk away without getting involved, all have the same responsibility and accountability. I think it is insane that people are allowed to witness such a horrific act and not do anything to try and stop and they don’t get any kind of punishment or accountability towards the crime.
Kevin Schlakman
Period 2
The bystander effect is in part due to the many individuals who are self-centered and care only about themselves. They fail to notice the importance and value of other people around them. This therefore means that people who watch a crime occuring should be the first ones to look up the number of law enforcement and report the act that they just watched. It's morally wrong to just watch and not act. The individuals who stand by and merely fulfill the role of a bystander should be charged with the same accounts of punishment that the abuser faces. They had the potential to intervene and make a stop, but they felt compelled to stand and watch the innocent victim being beat. Even if they didn't want to intervene in the attack, they couldv'e called the law enforcement and acted anonymously to report the incident that was occurring. This would've allowed them to fulfill their intention and know deep inside that they did the right thing. Usually the reason why bystanders don't report a crime is because they fear being the bad person and they don't want people to hate them. They also tend to fear that bad things will happen to them if the accuser finds out who "tattled on them" and was the reason behind them receiving a jail sentence. The people who take part in encouraging, videotaping and watching a crime take place are just as guilty as the accuser because they are standing there publicizing the assailant and the wrongs that their taking part in. I believe that everyone should be a witness who takes part in the right actions,not only because it will make them feel good about themself, but it will also help make the victim's life better.
Gabriella Sehne Period 8
I think anyone who witnessed the situation and did nothing about it should be charged. Also, the school should be completely liable for what happened because it was their responsability to keep their students safe. 7 security guards was certainly not enough. I think that the school should have been more aware of who was going in and out of the dance and if they were aware of the men standing outside, they should have done something. I think bystanders are worried about geting involved because there is no punishment for not doing anything.
Julianne Russo per 8
I feel that bystanders could prevent and 50 percent of the issue. But somthing as horrible as this, someone should have ran and got help right away. I am disgusted how others could watch and even video tape it. Its unbelievable how there was no security near by or even outside. I completely think if you are a bystander and don't report that problem right away, you apart of this. You could have saved someones life or horrible memories. Think about if that was you and noone came to help.
Jackie saggese
period 8
I do believe people who witness crimes should have to report it because that can help save people’s lives and can help people get less hurt. I do see why people don’t report it, and that it most likely from fear. The fear that if they report something, that can lead to the other people hurting them in the way that they are hurting the victim. Now this may sound selfish, but it most likely is hard for a person to put themselves in danger, however I know if I were to ever be in a situation like this I would report it because I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t. I do believe people should be charged a fine of maybe $500 if they don’t report it because hopefully this will get more people to standup for others when the other people are in danger. As for the people who took video footage, pictures, or even encouraged it like it’s a game, should not be tolerated. There is no reason why anyone around a scene should allow things like that to happen. When that poor girl was getting hurt, I don’t believe anyone should have been watching. Since they were in a group I think they should have all worked together to fix things, or at least got one of the adults to take care of it.
Jackie Loveland
Period 8
I don't believe that we can punish people because that will only create more complications and variables when trying to convict someone. It won't solve the problem and is worth too much effort to go after people that aren't involved to a point where witnesses may never come forward to avoid any legal trouble. Don't get me wrong, if an idiot is dumb enough to record a crime and cheers the attacker on, they should recieve the same punishment. It is just a sad thing that people wouldn't take action and that there really isn't a way to stop the effect.
I don't think the bystander effect really applies in this situation. The people who witnessed this crime and didn't try and call for help - even joined in! - are disgusting, probably just as disgusting as whoever initiated the crime. The bystander effect as I understand it, comes from an interest in your own well being, as an individual. If you were walking down the street at night in a bad area, and passed an alley where someone was being mugged, you would want to get the hell out of there and not get mugged yourself. That's looking out for yourself alone. In this case, in such a large crowd, I don't think the circumstances are too similar. Certainly those who recorded video of the crime should be punished, and greatly so, "14 and under" law or not.
Stephanie Chocko
Period 8
People who witness a crime and do nothing about might as well have committed the crime themselves. By seeing someone do something illegal and not say anything and basically an accomplice. The law should prosecute those who don't do anything about a crime they have witnessed because they could have stopped it. As for the people who encourage the criminals by shouting and videotaping should DEFINITELY be charged with something. To me, that's worse then seeing it and not saying anything! They are just as responsible and accountable for the crime as the person actually committing it because they took part in the crime by encouraging it. I also agree with Nicole Williams.
-Michele Marciante p.8
I believe that if a person witnesses a crime or any event that is life threatening to someone else than they should without a doubt notify officials. If a person watches a horrific act such as, the one mentioned in the article and does not report what they saw I feel that they should be charged. The charges should be more serious when a person tapes and distrubutes a video of the crime that is committed. When in a larger group the bystander effect does become more apparent. I think people either don't want to get involved and put themselves in danger, be the one to have told, or they think that out of that large group one of those people will make the phone call for help. I don't undertand how for two hours people stood by and chanted while a 15 year old girl was gang raped. In this case I feel that all the persons present and especially those who physically committed this unbelievable crime should be charged for their actions. The school should also be held accountible because there was minimul security pressence and they were fully aware that there were people outside the dance who did not attend the school.
Nothing is stopping someone from having the human decency to pick up the phone and dial 911. People that just stand by and let something horrible like that happen should be persecuted by the law. The sentence should not be equal to that of the actual criminal but it should be close. Its the same thing as lying. I hate when people say "Oh well I didn't lie to you"...Because if you didn't "exactly tell me the truth" either. You don't have to have committed the crime in order to be responsible for it.
I feel that a bystander lacks character. People feel that they are better off not getting involved because it seems like the easy thing to do in a difficult situation. I honestly don't understand how a person could watch a horrific even without immediatly feeling the need to do whatever possible to stop the persons pain. I feel that someone who is recorded something as a bystander is accountable for what happened because they elected to do nothing about them. This involves them in more ways then they originally intended because I feel they are responsible for doing nothing.
I feel like if you see that something is wrong, you should address the situation. I am not saying that you should jump right in and stop the man that’s holding a gun. No obviously I don’t want you to put yourself in danger, but call the police. Instead of walking by texting on your iphone, press three little numbers and anonymously report a crime. You don’t have to sit there on the phone with the police officer and give your name and number, just say hi I would like to report a crime. The police are obligated to hold your identity a secret; they obviously won’t go to the gun man and say so and so said you were holding a young girl hostage. If you see something wrong, report it. But no reporting it you are letting a crime be committed to the fullest.
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