The general public

[psychiria]

Why are they all such fucking pussies?

I was on a nightbus home two nights ago and, being as I'm getting on a bit and had partaken in a veritable feast of absinthe, I fell asleep.

So about an hour later I wake up, having missed my stop by some distance, to find this sneaky looking rudeboy in a hoodie bent over me, trying to steal my ipod. I take a second to comprehend what exactly is going on, then go to grab him, but he bolts it off down the bus, ripping off one of my headphones in the process, bombs down the stairs, hits the door release and sprints off into the night, clutching his highly-prized headphone in one hand.

Now I can understand this on one level. I'm a respectable-looking, moderately well-off chap with a nice ipod, whereas he probably lives on some 2-bit council estate surrounded by stabbings and whores and generally has no life, so I don't hold it against this bum for trying to take advantage of a sleeping guy on a bus.

What I DO take exception to is the fact that there were a good dozen people sat on the bus at the time, and at least one of them must have noticed that the large hooded rudeboy directly in front of them was trying to steal somebody else's ipod. Yet nobody moved a muscle, made a sound or did anything else to lend a hand.

What is up with society these days? It's completely gone to pot I tell thee. I'm generally happy to ignore the lower classes and leave them to their games because frankly it's none of my business, but I expect better from the civilised classes. This is London ffs, not some ghetto in Zimbabwe...

:wtf

[don143]

I'm sorry that happened to you.

People in society can be quite apathetic. But I think the level of fear, the idiotic courts (at least in this country) along with new generations of thugs that are capable of doing terrible things all contribute to the way people react. It's an excuse, I know. But play out the scenario.

This thief was intimidating, but he ran. If people, or the whole crowd on the bus, had attempted to defend you and it turned out he was armed there could have been bloodshed over an Ipod headphone. It's definitely a fear of the unknown, not necessarily a fear of the individual. But what he might be capable of doing.

People around you might have thought "hmmm, I COULD get involved but he might shoot me and I might end up in the hospital or worse. Or, if he's a wimp, I could beat the crap out of him and he'll sue me and end up owning my house. Or, I could confront him and someone else here gets injured because of my actions. Or, I could do nothing and my life goes on as before. After all, my stop is next and I'm almost home".

Most advice I've heard is if you are faced with a robber, give him what he wants and escape with your life which is the most important thing you have. Count your blessings that he only took an earphone.

It still sucks and again, sorry it happened to you.

[DARKTIGER]

Drinking & Sleeping on public transportation in a major city? :faint

>> http://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dupe <<

[sillyman]

I don't hold it against this bum for trying to take advantage of a sleeping guy on a bus.

I'm generally happy to ignore the lower classes and leave them to their games because frankly it's none of my business



Could be what don143 said, or it could be the other people on the bus feel the same way you do.

[psychiria]

Could be what don143 said, or it could be the other people on the bus feel the same way you do.

Hmmmm, personally I'll always intervene in some way shape or form. Obviously if you're down an alley in a dodgy part of the World the intervention will take a different form - calling the police probably - but on a bus, which is CCTV'd to its ears, I'd give the poor sleeping bastard a shout at the very least.

When I say I'm happy to ignore the shit classes of society I mean I have some degree of understanding for someone in their situation, not that I condone their criminal activity, nor that I'd turn a blind eye if I were witness to it.

I can understand why people would be hesitant to intervene, but the people you find at 4am on a nightbus generally aren't doddery OAPs, there were at least three or four big blokes who looked like they could look after themselves.

I suppose you could call me a reckless idiot, but people who don't lend a hand when they are in a position to do so go down as cowards in my book.

[Scott1]

I would like to think that people would have helped a senior citizen who fell asleep on a bus in that situation, Probably not. Most of society looks down upon the random doped up, drunk guy asleep on the bus as they do the theif. Most people are not going to take a risk to protect somebody who is at risk only becuase of their own risky behaviour.

Not trying to be an ass, just trying explain crappy human behavior.

[Old Canuck]

[QUOTE=psychiria;95572]
When I say I'm happy to ignore the shit classes of society I mean I have some degree of understanding for someone in their situation, not that I condone their criminal activity, nor that I'd turn a blind eye if I were witness to it.
QUOTE]


I'm not sure what you mean about "shit classes" - do you mean criminals? Anyway, don't you realize that class and background has very little to do with whether or not people get involved. A petty criminal is just as likely to get involved on someone else's behalf as some lawyer or stock broker.

[Spinnr1]

how was the absynthe?

[ravenmetal]

Yeah..thats sucks man. And there are all sorts of "shit classes of society" around...everywhere. Ask DT about that he will tell you.

So... how was that absynthe?
:devil

[psychiria]

I'm not sure what you mean about "shit classes" - do you mean criminals? Anyway, don't you realize that class and background has very little to do with whether or not people get involved. A petty criminal is just as likely to get involved on someone else's behalf as some lawyer or stock broker.

I'd disagree, I think a petty criminal would be MORE likely to get involved on someone else's behalf than a lawyer or a stockbroker.

I say 'shit' classes or 'lower' classes because I don't mean middle, upper or working class people, I mean people who have shit morals. My family have been upper, working then middle class in the last three generations so it'd be pretty weak of me to rip on any one group.

I can see where you people are coming from in one respect - falling asleep on a bus is stupid - but it pisses me off that a bus of a dozen people can be so spooked by one guy in a hoodie that they wouldn't even bring to my attention the fact I was being robbed.

And the absinthe was delightful thanks. Truly horrible drink but I never get bored of it.

[AcuseMe]

Honestly, I probably wouldn't have noticed. And if I did, I probably wouldn't have said anything either. Usually when things happen around you, you don't grasp the situation until after it has passed. It's sorta like shock I guess.

And like most people, I don't tend to care much when it's not happening to me. It's human nature...unless you were getting killed, then maybe I would react.

[ravenmetal]

:lurker