Broke up a fight tonight

Water Garden said:

I do not get involved in other peoples disputes. I do not chase purse snatchers or investigate odd happenings in dark alleys. I will act to protect another person if I am certain that failure to act will result in a innocent person being killed right now, right this second. Other than that, I mind my own.

Click to expand...

Wonder if you would think the same if you were the victim. Several thugs beating you, and no one steps in. The good people (if you will) have some duty to protect each other from the bad.

Tip of the cap to the OP, you handled the situation well.

Conwict,

I have read other posts you've made, and linked to the articles on your webpage. You may have been on auto-pilot, but I believe you were prepared and did the right thing.

Water Garden, I would not have expected to intervene in such a situation, but as I said it was like I was on autopilot and knew exactly what to do. I am sure there are many more situations, probability-wise, that I would not have intervened in, but I happened to be at this one. I totally get where you're coming from...purse-snatching? Heck no.

Click to expand...

I understand.. I was not trying to be critical at all. I would hate to see a World where people will not help one another. My point is that nowadays, it is just so costly to get involved in things, even when its the right thing to do. That is why I feel so strongly about staying out of it unless a life is at stake.

I think the OP handled it very well. I think its a sad situation where apathy and ignorance can lead to devastating consequences. Quite frankly, I think indifference is just as bad as the people doing the evil.

At the same time, after Water Garden clarified himself, I totally understand that point of view. Its like when you help someone and then in turn get a law suit slapped on you when all you were trying to do was help. Quite frankly I haven't made up my own mind on what to do in certain situations, I naturally feel so compelled to help and do the right thing and at the same time, because of our convoluted system of things, we have to dissociate from others just to protect our own hide.

Still though in this case where everything is diffused without any ramifications of legal bs, its definitely the way to go in my mind. Granted if contact occurred between the OP and anyone well then that whole line of thinking goes out the window and the guy getting beat up could sue the OP for escalating the situation and endangering his life.

Either way, glad to hear a fairly happy ending.