I remember thinking it was screwed up that when a chick was screaming oh god oh god help me at my building, the only people who came out to see what was up were me and this chick across the courtyard, who waved to me politely and sat down to smoke a cigarette
( ... )
Yeah, in Tallahassee I can totally see that, esp. in the complex we were both living in. Drunk idiot student central. I think I even remember you writing or telling me about that chick. But here? Other than people playing their crappy music too loudly or having stupid arguments, it's pretty quiet. Lots of families and such. There's even a police substation in the freakin' complex, right next to the building where she was standing. And the way she was screaming, too... god. Seriously, I hate people.
this incident was actually in Atlanta shortly after I moved here. I'm in a little spanish building with a courtyard and she was curled up at the entrance to the yard. I also live next to a police station.
I think that it doesn't happen where you'd expect, though. People think its safer in quiet neighborhoods and suburbs but it's not. I don't think nasty people care where you live.
I wish there was a good solution. I don't know what to do in situations like that. Its a screwy balance between protecting yourself and trying to be a hero.
In 1964 Kitty Genovese was chased around her neighborhood for half an hour and then stabbed to death by a mentally ill serial murderer. Thirty-eight people witnessed it. No one did anything to help her.
There's plenty of evidence for the bystander effect; the idea that a person is less likely to act when seeing someone needing help if he or she knows that there are others watching who could also act. If Kitty Genovese had been attacked on a lonely street with a single witness, she probably would have lived.
The fact that you did act puts you in a very, very small category of people who have earned a large measure of my respect.
I don't know... I didn't really even think about it, which was kind of dumb, actually. I went out there wearing nothing but a bathrobe. Some guy could have been chasing after her with a gun. And truthfully, if there had been physical violence, what the hell could I have done? But yeah. I don't see how anyone could have heard her and not come out. People really just don't scream for help like that unless there is something seriously wrong, and I don't understand know how anyone could have just fucking ignored that. People are pathetic.
Yes, she does live in this complex. We heard about it from our neighbor next door (Mr. Bongo). I don't know much more than that, but it was very likely that she knew the guy that raped her. Not that it's supposed to make it any better. I was telling Alex that it just sucks living in an area of town where shit like this happens, and more regularly. We've been hearing about more carjackings and break-ins, too. Sometimes I feel like I hate more than just this area of town, I hate this world.
That poor woman. I wish I could have done more to help her. Car jackings and break-ins? In our complex? Fucking great.
At least you're getting out of here soon. :P I'm going to try and get a six month lease when my current one ends in June and get out of here around Christmas. I'm tired of the shitty maintenence and of not feeling safe. I know this kind of thing could happen anywhere, but I'd feel a hell of a lot safer if I could find a nice little place in Oviedo or Winter Park or something. I'm due for a raise in June, so the higher rent won't be a huge issue if I'm careful. I may even suck it up and find a roommate. I'm not sorry I moved here to begin with, the rent is good and I was glad to have you guys so close, but with you moving, and the increase in people acting like idiots, and the millions of children sitting on my fucking car, I've had enough.
Comments 10
Reply
Reply
I think that it doesn't happen where you'd expect, though. People think its safer in quiet neighborhoods and suburbs but it's not. I don't think nasty people care where you live.
I wish there was a good solution. I don't know what to do in situations like that. Its a screwy balance between protecting yourself and trying to be a hero.
Reply
Reply
Reply
There's plenty of evidence for the bystander effect; the idea that a person is less likely to act when seeing someone needing help if he or she knows that there are others watching who could also act. If Kitty Genovese had been attacked on a lonely street with a single witness, she probably would have lived.
The fact that you did act puts you in a very, very small category of people who have earned a large measure of my respect.
*hugs*
I'm glad you're okay.
Reply
Reply
It's exactly that you didn't think about it. You just did what you knew what you needed to do.
Reply
I don't know much more than that, but it was very likely that she knew the guy that raped her. Not that it's supposed to make it any better. I was telling Alex that it just sucks living in an area of town where shit like this happens, and more regularly. We've been hearing about more carjackings and break-ins, too.
Sometimes I feel like I hate more than just this area of town, I hate this world.
Reply
At least you're getting out of here soon. :P I'm going to try and get a six month lease when my current one ends in June and get out of here around Christmas. I'm tired of the shitty maintenence and of not feeling safe. I know this kind of thing could happen anywhere, but I'd feel a hell of a lot safer if I could find a nice little place in Oviedo or Winter Park or something. I'm due for a raise in June, so the higher rent won't be a huge issue if I'm careful. I may even suck it up and find a roommate. I'm not sorry I moved here to begin with, the rent is good and I was glad to have you guys so close, but with you moving, and the increase in people acting like idiots, and the millions of children sitting on my fucking car, I've had enough.
Reply
Leave a comment