London Bridge Terrorist Attack: Should you ever intervene in a violent situation?

[Soph0571]

I am sure most of you saw the terrorist attack in London today. I am not going to rehash it here; it has been discussed in depth elsewhere. However, one of the standout moments for me in the entire story was the intervention of strangers. A bunch of chaps in the midst of this attack ran towards the terrorist and was not having it. In interviews afterwards some stated that they not scared. Better that they intervene than anyone else being hurt.

Now, I don’t know about any of you, but I do not think I would ever have the courage to do what these chaps did. I may think it a good idea (although probably not to be honest), I may want to intervene but common sense and good old fashioned fear would hit me upside the head, of that I am sure. Should I intervene in that situation? Probably not. Would I intervene? Probably not. Heh. I am a child of the troubles, self protection kicks in.

Of course we all know a story about a have a go hero who ended up on the wrong end of a gun, or knife. The chap that runs into trouble rather than running away with it. The chap that is probably in reality more of a hindrance than a help! But this is not about that chap. That chap needs validation and will always risk his neck.

Here we are talking of a different kind of chap. You in fact. I am not talking about your family here. Of course with family, instinct and adrenalin take over. I am talking about a random act of violence as witnessed by you. A mugging, a domestic violence incident, a robbery, an attack on the street.

I use the word SHOULD here by design. Would you intervene is probably a relatively easy question to answer. You know yourself and your instincts. However whether you should or not is a much thornier issue. Should you ever intervene in a violent situation? If so, what sort and why? What should be the trigger that stops you walking away? Or should you just not ever go there?

PS they are very brave chaps and well done them!

[Skittles]

1. I would

I know, because I already have - I jumped on the back of a guy who had slammed his child to the ground. I would always try to help someone or prevent someone from getting hurt.....I would act before thinking - it is my nature.

[hamsterjill]

6. Good!!!

The world needs more action-prone people, especially those who yield the physical strength to be able to subdue a culprit hell bent on hurting someone else.

[braddy]

2. Men of action will act, warriors will resist, it is their biological impulse.

[Cattledog]

3. Most of those who intervene don't think about it.

It is not something you can answer because until you are in the moment you never know.

[Blue_true]

4. I would.

A knife or screwdriver wouldn't be a problem if I am clearly stronger than the attacker or about equal strength. Most people that threaten with those things on the street don't know how to use them.

If the person had something big like a machete or spear, how that person is approached becomes more critical than if they were using a knife or screwdriver. In the case of the bigger weapon, look for a weapon, in cities things like trash recepticals, loose bricks or stones can be used, even dirt on the street of near gutter openings.

I really don't like fighting, but if I had to save a person's life I would fight. Living knowing that I did nothing would be worse than dying for me.

[Demovictory9]

5. i heard minors were stabbed. hard for adults to stand by for that

[SMC22307]

7. I probably would. I can be confrontational...

and although I'm pushing 60, I'm tall and fit for my age so I'd at least put up a decent fight. I once tripped a mugger stealing a little old lady's purse. Others joined me in in keeping him down. I got in the face of a guy smacking his kid around at the pool. That could have ended badly for me, but he slinked away, thankfully. Lifeguards then intervened.

In these situations I don't think there's enough time to analyze the 'should's'... you gotta act.

[ripcord]

8. I did 6 months in LA County jail for taking down a guy who punched his girlfriend

He was about 6'3" and around 225 lbs and full on punched his 5'2" 100 pound girlfriend full on in the mouth, we later found out he shattered her cheekbone. I would like to say my response was calmed and reasoned but the truth is I saw red at that bit of brutality, the judge said he was sympathetic right up to the point where I took my steel toed boots to him. I must not be too bright because I would intervene again but hopefully I would remember the judges warning.

[Karadeniz]

11. ❤❤❤

[Jake Stern]

16. That's the problem with intervening, especially using physical action. . .

Knowing when to stop.

[cwydro]

9. I've seen posts here today saying the whole thing was fake.

I’m gonna bet that no one there thought that.

[LuckyCharms]

10. I have, and I most likely would again...

I used to be fearful of a lot of things, but as each year passes, I grow less fearful.

I do still have a significant fear though, and that is ending up in prison because I got myself in a situation that I should not have.

That fear is most prominent in my mind these days, and that fear has virtually eliminated any physical aggressiveness that might have been there when when I was younger.

In every situation that I find myself in that that gets a little sketchy, or has the potential to go sideways, I ALWAYS ask myself "Is this going to put me in prison if I get involved in this"? It's usually a very quick calculation for me. I think I'm pretty aware of my surroundings, and I normally exercise pretty good judgment.

All that being said, let's say two people were having a fist fight. I'd stay away from it. If one of the people got knocked out or something, and the other person kept hitting him/her and putting their life at risk, I would try to stop that.

If an innocent person was being attacked, I hope that I would jump in (I have before), if I thought there were fair odds that I could stop the attack. If someone who I perceived as innocent was getting knifed in front of me, or if someone was seriously attacking a loved one, I would try to kill them. Assault is no joke...people can die with one punch, and I'm not sure I could live with myself if someone got killed in front of me and I didn't try to stop it.

I'm stating what I *think* I would do at this stage of my life. But as always, you really never know for sure how you would react in a given situation.

Good and thought provoking OP.

[cwydro]

15. A good and thoughtful post too.

[LuckyCharms]

17. Thanks, cwydro...

[Karadeniz]

12. You cannot be a hero, sacrificing your own safety or survival, from the brain. The physical

Brain is there for self-interest. You can only put yourself in harm's way when soul takes over.

[SonofDonald]

13. A lot variables and quick thinking

Are those being attacked your friends or loved ones?

Are you big enough and fast enough to do something?

Will it work?

It all depends on the person, how they were raised, were you taught to look out for the little guy or girl?

I can't list all the reasons why you would try something.

I've stood up when it counted before, but I've been beaten on, stabbed, lots of broken bones over the years, no stranger to pain so fear of it isn't the same.

I'm too old and trashed now but I'm thankful for those who stand up to be counted.

[GulfCoast66]

14. Guy stabbing innocents with a knife pretty sure I would take action.

Never to difficult to find something to go up against someone’s head. I read a couple of the hero’s today did just that. One used a fire extinguisher.

One picked up a 5 foot Narwhale tusk that was on display!

Make it a firearm and I am going the other direction.