Would you intervene?

[tattuchu]

The guy's probably doin' ok by himself. I doubt he'll need my help.

And again. Well played, sir

[maiforpeace]

I would intervene.

I would do my best to determine whether or not the perpetrator had a gun or a knife. It's risky to the victim to intervene in that case. If no, then I would help the victim fight them off. I'm small, but I feel certain I am strong enough and would be assertive enough to do some kind of damage. Weight AND might makes right - two people against one is still better than one against one, especially if the victim weighs less.

My first reaction when my home was broken into years ago and I was home was to grab a heavy vase and move into attack mode, so I feel confident that I would be in the right mind to defend and attack. I will never forget the first rule of thumb I was taught when handling a gun or any weapon was to never handle one unless you are prepared to use it.

[Rob]

You are walking down the road after an evening in the pub, and noticing a commotion you see down a fairly dark side street a large guy assaulting a woman. She is screaming and there is a lot of noise.

What would you do?

Also, let's expand a bit on the theme. What would it take for you to get involved in an 'issue' you see happening on the street? What are the pros and cons?

I definitely would shout for someone to call the police and move to intervene. I'm not physically capable if it were to come to a fight but I still would have to do my best.

[camoguard]

I'd intervene. I'm a verbally activated people. If someone were to describe the situation verbally, I would be unable to walk away. It's not like I'm a good brawler or distracter. I'd hope whatever powers my luck stood the test of confrontation.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

Intervening is kind of a lose-lose scenario.

If the other guy is stronger/a better fighter than you - you get the crap kicked of of you.

If you are stronger/a better fighter than the other guy - you get arrested and charged with assault.

[Rob]

Intervening is kind of a lose-lose scenario.

If the other guy is stronger/a better fighter than you - you get the crap kicked of of you.

If you are stronger/a better fighter than the other guy - you get arrested and charged with assault.

Better to be assaulted than to be allow someone to be raped.

[Trolldor]

Police Discretion, you're unlikely to be charged with assault for protecting someone while they were being attacked.

[Ironclad]

You are walking down the road after an evening in the pub, and noticing a commotion you see down a fairly dark side street a large guy assaulting a woman. She is screaming and there is a lot of noise.

What would you do?

Also, let's expand a bit on the theme. What would it take for you to get involved in an 'issue' you see happening on the street? What are the pros and cons?

I have helped a young lady who was being assaulted by two girls and decided to jump in as a young man was aiming a kick at her head, she was on her belly. The girls immediately ran but the guy came for me. His ass was thrown into the road.
The beaten girl fled.
I moved to Plymouth and one night caught a guy throwing his, I assumed, GF to the pavement bellowing at her. I asked her if she was ok at which point the guy sprinted at me. In this situation I felt less in control so turned around and walked (I never run). Within seconds i spied a police car coming towards me so waved my arms wildly to stop and tell them. They pulled disgusted faces at me and even drove a semi-circle as I stepped into the road to emphasise...

The cons are unthinkable I guess, one drunk with a knife and it's game over.
The pros, being a decent human.

[Coito ergo sum]

You are walking down the road after an evening in the pub, and noticing a commotion you see down a fairly dark side street a large guy assaulting a woman. She is screaming and there is a lot of noise.

What would you do?

Also, let's expand a bit on the theme. What would it take for you to get involved in an 'issue' you see happening on the street? What are the pros and cons?

If the facts led me to believe something untoward was happening to the woman, I would take out my cell phone and immediately call 911. I would be careful about "intervening" in the sense of running headlong down the alley to defend the woman unless I knew exactly what the numbers were and whether they were armed. No sense running down the alley and getting shot in the face.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

Police Discretion, you're unlikely to be charged with assault for protecting someone while they were being attacked.

Wanna bet?

[Twoflower]

Intervening is kind of a lose-lose scenario.

If the other guy is stronger/a better fighter than you - you get the crap kicked of of you.

If you are stronger/a better fighter than the other guy - you get arrested and charged with assault.

Thats why you scream citizens arrest first.

[hadespussercats]

You are walking down the road after an evening in the pub, and noticing a commotion you see down a fairly dark side street a large guy assaulting a woman. She is screaming and there is a lot of noise.

What would you do?

Also, let's expand a bit on the theme. What would it take for you to get involved in an 'issue' you see happening on the street? What are the pros and cons?

I'd intervene by calling the police. No way in hell I'd try to stop him physically-- me being a puny woman and all that, i'd probably just end up being another assault-ee.

[oddmanout]

You are walking down the road after an evening in the pub, and noticing a commotion you see down a fairly dark side street a large guy assaulting a woman. She is screaming and there is a lot of noise.

What would you do?

Also, let's expand a bit on the theme. What would it take for you to get involved in an 'issue' you see happening on the street? What are the pros and cons?

I think I'd take the hedonist stance; fuck it. I wont seek trouble.

[JenTirydail]

You are walking down the road after an evening in the pub, and noticing a commotion you see down a fairly dark side street a large guy assaulting a woman. She is screaming and there is a lot of noise.

What would you do?

Also, let's expand a bit on the theme. What would it take for you to get involved in an 'issue' you see happening on the street? What are the pros and cons?

I couldn't not intervene in that senario, how I'd go about it might be more of an issue. I think I'd call the police before being noticed and I'd call on any available help around me and I think I'd make a awful lot of noise, once I had their attention I probably try some sort of distraction technique. If it was a situation where a group of men were attacking another man then I'd have no choice but to call on help from somewhere and wait before becoming involved. I know that it wouldn't be something I'd could tackle alone, however, I'd still do something, I could never just turn a blind eye and walk away.

[normal]

OK, let's narrow it down. Would you intervene directly, by approaching the fracas?

Are you sure that isn't more of a rumpus?