Do you stand by, or stand out from the crowd? | David Shariatmadari
by David Shariatmadari from on (#ZT22)
It's not always easy to intervene when you see bullying or abuse in public. But as research shows, you don't have to be a have-a-go hero to make a difference
A few months ago I was in a bar with two friends when, a few tables away, we heard a glass smash and looked up to find a man and woman in the middle of an argument. He slapped her and walked out. Everyone froze. She looked horribly alone for a few seconds, hurt and humiliated. Then a customer walked over to see if she was all right, as did a member of staff. They sat with her for some time, while my friends and I wondered awkwardly what we should be doing. It seemed as if she was being offered the support she needed, but was that enough? Should we have offered to act as witnesses if she wanted to take it further? We didn't - and ended up feeling powerless, even guilty.
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