On my way home from work Tuesday evening, I witness something reminding me that, despite my efforts to see the best in folks, people really do suck.
You see, I stopped to get gas for the snowthrower at one of the gas stations near the airport. I got out of the car, and observed a man who had obviously seen better days, rolling around on the curb, behind the kwikie-mart portion of the station, groaning/bellowing.
I also saw people looking at one another, wearing expressions of “I don’t want to deal with that guy”…or even worse, driving by, looking out their windows at him, and then driving off.
Now, admittedly, if this were an inner city/urban area, you’d expect the guy to be a homeless person who was drunk, high, mentally ill, or some combination thereof, and perhaps give him a wide berth while alerting the authorities of the situation.
But this wasn’t downtown Hartford. This was where the horse-farms of East Granby and the airport industrial district faded into airport property.
I was the only person to go over and ask “are you OK; do you need help?”, and to call 911 for the guy.
I never did find out what was up with the guy. State police showed up a couple of minutes after I called, and took control of the situation.
But I am still peeved that other patrons of the gas station wouldn’t even ask if he needed help.
Thus is my cynicism reinforced—people really do suck.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Michael Harris // 15 Feb 2008 at 10:59 am
I wonder how many of the other passersby were “Christians”. I guess they never learned the story of the “Good Samaritan.”
2 Vincent // 15 Feb 2008 at 7:18 pm
It’s known as the Genovese syndrome, when people are less likely to help when others are around. Not saying people don’t suck =). Despite how it being unfortunate, it’s a natural psychological response. All people, religious or not, are susceptible to it.
If I remember the Good Samaritan story, I believe that the Good Samaritan was alone when he walked by, thus making him more likely to help.
This is concrete proof that actuaries are the kindest people around.