Helping Strangers in Need Issue 14 Home Page

Sometimes there are other social factors which might inhibit a person's decision to intervene and help a person. For instance, a potential Good Samaritan might be truly concerned about the plight of a victim, but worried about people misinterpreting his intentions. Not wanting this to happen, he may think twice about intervening. Sergey Funygin shares his personal thoughts about dilemmas faced by Good Samaritans who try to intervene to help a stanger in need. Photo: Sandy Peters In a newspaper article I read recently, "A Good Samaritan's Dilemma", the author clearly demonstrated that today people who want to help others could endanger themselves. Photo: Sandy Peters Sergey reads about the dilemma of a man who wants to help a small boy in danger but worries about how people may interpret the situation. Would I Intervene? Sergey Funygin from Russia In a newspaper article I read recently, "A Good Samaritan's Dilemma", the author clearly demonstrated that today people who want to help others could endanger themselves. But this danger comes not only at the moment of helping somebody, but also from a society that miscomprehends their intentions. For example; if I see a small child walking alone in a park, my first inclination is to ask him why he is alone and where his parents are. After that, my obligation is to help him to find his parents or communicate with the police. My second me tells me, "It's not your business." What if his parents are nearby or somebody sees you taking the child. These people would misunderstand your intention and call the police. Then you would have a big problem, maybe." But my first me would say, "Shut up. I do not think that people are so blind and stupid; this child needs help and I will help him anyway!" More on helping strangers in need: Helping a Lost Child | My Father's Scary Story | It Was Worth Taking the Risk When Do We Step In and Help? Return to: Helping Strangers in Need | Issue 14 | Home Page TOPICS Online Magazine - ©1997-2008 - Sandy and Thomas Peters - topics.mag@gmail.com