I can understand what you're saying, but if I had heard a cry of that nature, I couldn't ignore it myself. I would have to act on it, by phone or physical attention if that were possible. The guilt comment would be mine if I didn't act.
I do accept your argument that many people might prefer to avoid involvement by ignoring cries for help, and that the police re enactment revealed that the incident had indeed occurred, and was therefore evidence that their denials had to have been false, would result in repercussions for the man who did in fact give evidence of the incident, in this specific case.
Looking at wider instances, we all have our own personal situations to consider. I am retired, but whilst I was employed as a civil servant I too would have been limited by the conditions of employment as to what I could or could not do outside work. Family responsibilities would also have been there when I was younger. My reply was only to this one instance, but I was rather taken aback by all the neighbours denying knowledge of hearing anything at all. But I grew up in a village, where everyone knew each other, and that I suspect might influence my reactions. I certainly wouldn't judge you on the basis of this post however!
First the film is fiction. But it's believable fiction, because, as I allude to, we may not hear the screams of a woman being murdered on our doorsteps every night, but we hear the screams of wars fed into by our governments, and by other governments and the world is plagued with hunger, and need and want, which we also feign not to hear about.
The moral is that when we actually hear the screams, when we are actually confronted by the screams for help, our compassion will kick in, as you rightly say. So, why doesn't it kick in BEFORE we hear the screams?
Yes, that moves us on to our attitude towards war, hunger, poverty, exploitation and refugees/immigration, amongst others. It has been noticed that the poor have often been more inclined to help each other than those more comfortably off. Capitalism has undoubtedly encouraged us to value money, status, and a comfortable lifestyle. That in turn has caused a distinct gap between people who value their position in society and those whose interest is in their life intentions. The difference in their aims are likely to produce variable approaches to their decisions, I feel that such variations will influence their planning and forward thinking. Our current government is not responding to public pressure over Gaza, or Iran. Indeed, 4 non violent activists have been sentenced to imprisonment for their destruction of weapons that were intended for use in the war between Israel and Palestine, involving the additional allegation of terrorism, which was not disclosed to the jury. There is also severe pressure against public demonstrations supporting Palestine and Gaza, and free speech on the issue.
Kicking in? If you look at the organisations collecting money for all these issues, you find they have many supporters. I am one of them. I also post comments, sign petitions,ask friends to sign. I cover stalls whilst marches take place, arthritis stops me from marching. I'm a pacifist, but join causes covering all the various troubles we have. I'm able to donate to food banks. I write emails to my MP almost weekly, and he does reply.
So there is action before the screams. Yet money has been cut off from shelters for abused women. The waiting list for rape cases is horrific. The waiting list for council housing here in Leeds is 26000. Refugees wait for months, then years, to find out if they will get their visa to stay.The DWP is still considering whether to reduce disability benefits.
Failure to act in the face of acute distress? Not even a phone call? I'd feel outright guilt at that.
https://endlesschain.substack.com/p/challenging-preconceptions
I can understand what you're saying, but if I had heard a cry of that nature, I couldn't ignore it myself. I would have to act on it, by phone or physical attention if that were possible. The guilt comment would be mine if I didn't act.
I do accept your argument that many people might prefer to avoid involvement by ignoring cries for help, and that the police re enactment revealed that the incident had indeed occurred, and was therefore evidence that their denials had to have been false, would result in repercussions for the man who did in fact give evidence of the incident, in this specific case.
Looking at wider instances, we all have our own personal situations to consider. I am retired, but whilst I was employed as a civil servant I too would have been limited by the conditions of employment as to what I could or could not do outside work. Family responsibilities would also have been there when I was younger. My reply was only to this one instance, but I was rather taken aback by all the neighbours denying knowledge of hearing anything at all. But I grew up in a village, where everyone knew each other, and that I suspect might influence my reactions. I certainly wouldn't judge you on the basis of this post however!
There's a broader point here, Liz.
First the film is fiction. But it's believable fiction, because, as I allude to, we may not hear the screams of a woman being murdered on our doorsteps every night, but we hear the screams of wars fed into by our governments, and by other governments and the world is plagued with hunger, and need and want, which we also feign not to hear about.
The moral is that when we actually hear the screams, when we are actually confronted by the screams for help, our compassion will kick in, as you rightly say. So, why doesn't it kick in BEFORE we hear the screams?
Yes, that moves us on to our attitude towards war, hunger, poverty, exploitation and refugees/immigration, amongst others. It has been noticed that the poor have often been more inclined to help each other than those more comfortably off. Capitalism has undoubtedly encouraged us to value money, status, and a comfortable lifestyle. That in turn has caused a distinct gap between people who value their position in society and those whose interest is in their life intentions. The difference in their aims are likely to produce variable approaches to their decisions, I feel that such variations will influence their planning and forward thinking. Our current government is not responding to public pressure over Gaza, or Iran. Indeed, 4 non violent activists have been sentenced to imprisonment for their destruction of weapons that were intended for use in the war between Israel and Palestine, involving the additional allegation of terrorism, which was not disclosed to the jury. There is also severe pressure against public demonstrations supporting Palestine and Gaza, and free speech on the issue.
Kicking in? If you look at the organisations collecting money for all these issues, you find they have many supporters. I am one of them. I also post comments, sign petitions,ask friends to sign. I cover stalls whilst marches take place, arthritis stops me from marching. I'm a pacifist, but join causes covering all the various troubles we have. I'm able to donate to food banks. I write emails to my MP almost weekly, and he does reply.
So there is action before the screams. Yet money has been cut off from shelters for abused women. The waiting list for rape cases is horrific. The waiting list for council housing here in Leeds is 26000. Refugees wait for months, then years, to find out if they will get their visa to stay.The DWP is still considering whether to reduce disability benefits.
I'm stopping here. That is enough.