Where has humanity gone?

Amy Steppe

Amy Steppe

Cathlete
On a return trip home yesterday, I witnessed a frail lady fall. She was walking on the regular walkway, but using the bannister for the faster walkways.

She fell. NOT ONE PERSON OFFERED TO HELP HER! The airport was pretty darned busy too. I ran to the lady and helped her up. She felt so frail as I took her little hand and helped her rise from the floor. Later, I noticed she had a companion, but had gotten separated from the person.

I am apalled that people have now become so hardened that they won't help another human being.

Yes, I know about ruses to pickpocket people and I know airline security is high, but to see a lady fall and crawl to get herself upright with people just ignoring her, broke my heart.

It seems the world is growing harsher and harsher. I know we all should be aware of the threats in our world, but I can't just walk by a person who can't get up.
 
Yes, I've noticed this trend. I've noticed a coarsening of our language and behavior, too. It's rather alarming IMHO. People are like animals anymore.
 
>I'm just glad you noticed and were there to help her.

i agree, sometimes it takes one person to make that small difference.

but it is sad. the high school i work at will cuss at eldery, destroy property and steal. i have though of moving to the middle school lately but its not like the problem is ever going to go away. they are not taught at home and now in school we must take "sensitive" approach. heck with that, when i was out of line at school detention,suspension or being arrested if it came down to it.and when i did get suspended one time, don't think i sat around and watched tv. my grandfather found things for me to do. call it the work release program if you will LOL.

kassia

http://www.picturetrail.com/ldy_solana

"And do what thee wilt as long as ye harm none"

http://images.meez.com/user03/06/01/04/060104_10010099873.gif
 
I noticed the same thing last week at the farmer's market - although thankfully it was not as cold-hearted as what you witnessed. A man was making his purchase and the guy at the register said "hi, how are you today?" The purchaser didn't say anything, didn't even look at the cashier. The cashier said what the total was, the guy gave him the money; the cashier gave him his change and said "your change is 1.50," looked at the guy and said "thank you." This a****le didn't say thank you, didn't acknowledge the cashier in any way. Just took his change and his produce and walked away. I couldn't believe how rude. I wanted to run him down and crack him on his hollow head!!
 
Amy, I agree with everyone's comments. Thank goodness you were there to help that lady after she fell! How terrible people just ignore people who need help.

I have a similar story. I was in a department store and a little girl was calling for her mother. Everyone was ignoring her (she was only 7 or so). My heart went out to her and I took care of her. Thank goodness we eventually found her father!

Lorrayne
 
Awhile ago I noticed a blind man (by the way, I don't know if blind is the politically correct term in English) and he was in the middle of the street with his walking stick trying to cross. I was appalled that nobody helped him. I was with a friend and told him to wait for me and I helped the man cross the street. I asked him if he wanted me to take him anywhere and he said no that he was fine and thanked me. I've seen people do things like that all the time. It's almost like they want to help, but they don't take the next step, or they just ignore what's happening in front of them and go on with their business. And don't even get me started on manners! Whatever happened to saying good morning, thank you, excuse me, and please?! The other day I went to a store and I said to the cashier good evening and thank you and he said: "you are so educated", and my answer was: "what are you talking about?". He said: "oh because you said good evening". It's crazy when people think saying good evening and thank you it's out of the norm and that rude is the norm. I'm glad my parents taught me and my brother manners.
 
>I noticed the same thing last week at the farmer's market -
>although thankfully it was not as cold-hearted as what you
>witnessed. A man was making his purchase and the guy at the
>register said "hi, how are you today?" The purchaser didn't
>say anything, didn't even look at the cashier. The cashier
>said what the total was, the guy gave him the money; the
>cashier gave him his change and said "your change is 1.50,"
>looked at the guy and said "thank you." This a****le didn't
>say thank you, didn't acknowledge the cashier in any way.
>Just took his change and his produce and walked away. I
>couldn't believe how rude. I wanted to run him down and crack
>him on his hollow head!!

I see people like that everyday! I'm out and about all the time and no matter where I am, if I make eye contact it is just natural for me to smile and say hello. Most people just look away as if being kind to a stranger would kill them or something. It got to the point that I wanted to b**** slap these people and shout " HEY! Someone was just polite to you!"

So I've just decided that I won't say anything to people I don't know unless they greet me first. Then I'll flash a big ole smile and greet them back. Of course habits are hard to break and sometimes I slip and say hello and get snubbed. :)
 
This topic just hit home with me so I had to respond. Saturday the 23rd we had landed in Mexico on a whole family vacation(Parents,sister and family etc.) and we had made it to our resort and since our rooms were not ready we went down to one of the beach grills. While going up to the buffet a man coming toward me started staggering then dropped his plate and then fell on the plate and started going into convulsions. I looked around and everybody was looking at him and going on their merry may I even witnessed someone step over him ;( I by no means have any medical training but I screamed for my BIL who is an officer in the Navy and has had extensive first responder training( he is also the Chief fire officer on his aircraft carrier). He came running and this also grabbed the attention of a ER nurse on vacation dining near by. The two of them were able to stabalize him until medical got there. So I see how your heart is saddened!
 
I think in the lady's case that people were unwilling to help her since airline security is at an all time high.

People are scared because what if this had been a ruse to steal my carry on while helping the poor lady?

Or to plant a bomb in my carry on?

I don't feel like a heroine by any means. But had I walked by this lady and not helped her, I would have felt guilty as heck.

At first, the lady told me she was OK. But I glanced back and she was crawling. I returned and asked her if she was really OK. She said that she realized she could not stand up.

As for courtesy, I never have a cell phone conversation while checking out or ordering, etc., in a restaurant.

I think it is rude to the person helping me.

I just can't believe this world -- has it always been this harsh and cruel or is this something new?

I say "Good Morning" and "Good Evening" too.

Another rule I try to follow is to treat my husband and my daughter the way I would treat others. What I mean is to show them respect and common courtesy.

My husband is by no means a domineering man. In fact, if he snaps at me, he always apologizes later.

And I do the same for him.
 
>Good for you for stepping up, Amy. After I read your post, I
>saw this article in the newspaper this morning. Unbelievable.
>
>
>
>
>http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/176623.html
>
>
>MissL

Yikes. That's awful. I understand people being scared of blood or retaliation by whoever did it, but couldn't they call 911 at least instead of snapping pictures with the cell phones? Poor woman. I hope she didn't die in vain.
 
>On a return trip home yesterday, I witnessed a frail lady
>fall. She was walking on the regular walkway, but using the
>bannister for the faster walkways.
>
>She fell. NOT ONE PERSON OFFERED TO HELP HER! The airport
>was pretty darned busy too. I ran to the lady and helped her
>up. She felt so frail as I took her little hand and helped
>her rise from the floor. Later, I noticed she had a companion,
>but had gotten separated from the person.
>
>I am apalled that people have now become so hardened that they
>won't help another human being.
>

I think the biggest problem with today's culture is the 'each person for their own' mentality. but that's my opinion
 
eh, give the guy benefit of the doubt, maybe he didn't hear the cashier, or was pre occupied w/something and wasn't paying attention. maybe he just had a bad day. :D
 
eh, give the guy benefit of the doubt, maybe he didn't hear the cashier, or was pre occupied w/something and wasn't paying attention. maybe he just had a bad day.

I used to be a cashier and people would ignore me all the time when I said hi. And having a bad day is no excuse. It doesn't take much energy to say hi. People are just rude anymore.
 
To answer the question posted.....

OUT THE WINDOW!

I hate to say it, but I honestly feel some of the breakdown is how people communicate with each other anymore. Our society is becoming more and more detached bc of internet, cellphones, text messaging, emails........all originally intended to help us communicate more efficiently, but I think it all to often involves "avoidance" of confrontations - - - so therefore people are more often involved in their own little worlds and not as observant of what is going on around them. Does this make sense??? I just see a HUGE breakdown in the way to properly communicate with others.........and how we interact with each other directly DOES affect how we are likely to communicate when we are on the outside world as well.......

not sure that made sense??
 
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