Would you stand up against a crowd?

SugarHigh

I'd like to think I would but the reality would probably be very different. It's hard to know how you'd react in a situation you have no experience of.

Here's a video from the recent riots in Vancouver. Warning the video contains violence and some blood at the end but I don't think it's too graphic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rurteaH_UkU

Would you do what the bald guy did? He really put his life at risk just to save a truck that wasn't even his. While I applaud him and think he's a brave guy I have to wonder if it was worth it. The guy who owns the truck probably has insurance so you're risking your life for very little.

littleredspot

I wouldn't be brave enough, what the guy beside him said was very true "the world is watching" The mob came out looking like savages. Fair play to him.

vangoz

I did and got my ass kicked along with three other friends...... but if we ran the more likely one of us would have been isolated and beaten up REALLY badly. So it was a good choice in the end.
Depends on the situation, if you have a bit of space and you’re on your own, run like the wind!!!

(edit: Sorry slightly off-topic)

SugarHigh

littleredspot wrote: »

I wouldn't be brave enough, what the guy beside him said was very true "the world is watching" The mob came out looking like savages. Fair play to him.

Yea, I've seen a lot of articles titled "Vancouver's shame" and whatnot. It's supposed to be really nice place.

splashthecash

it is a perfect example of "mob mentality" and how in a large group of people all you need is one to start the proceedings and then as anticipation\tension rises...this is what you get

sheep

that guy and a couple of others were the only ones actually thinking "what are you all doing??"

Kintarō Hattori

splashthecash wrote: »

...that guy and a couple of others were the only ones actually thinking "what are you all doing??"

Indeed and fair play to him. Sadly despite what people would like to think about themselves many 'civilised' people are anything but in a mob situation. What the hell does rioting ever achieve apart from making you look like a tool and gaining a bad reputation for your country/city.

While the bald fellow clearly has morals/ethics/whatever and should be applauded for trying to do the right thing he is sadly in the minority and as a result risked serious injury to himself.

iMax

Protect my family, absolutely.
Anything else, not a chance, everything's replaceable.

Dravokivich

I'd want to, but I would be hard pushed to act on it. Although not due to cowardace or lack of bravery either.

The problem here is you've got a mob. Only a couple of other people stood with the guy, everyone else mocked him. I've never seen anyone in a mob thinking about the consequences of what they are doing. You can't make a point to anyone involved in a mob until after a mob is broken up. While his intentions were right, they were falling on deaf ears.

I wouldn't have done it because it would of been a waste of my time. It still got thrashed in the end. His actions only made it a more desirable target, along with himself.

SugarHigh

Kintarō Hattori wrote: »

Indeed and fair play to him. Sadly despite what people would like to think about themselves many 'civilised' people are anything but in a mob situation. What the hell does rioting ever achieve apart from making you look like a tool and gaining a bad reputation for your country/city.

While the bald fellow clearly has morals/ethics/whatever and should be applauded for trying to do the right thing he is sadly in the minority and as a result risked serious injury to himself.

It really is insane the stupid things people do during a riot. So many people have their faces on camera while smashing shop windows and then the image get's published in every newspaper so they have zero chance of keeping their job.

Then there's this guy from the same riots.:D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQzB4QcgWKM

SugarHigh

Sometimes it does work out okay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CKkLYYczdM

tbh

My Hero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-nXT8lSnPQ

Standman

tbh wrote: »

My Hero
tank man

No matter how many times I watch it I am never any less awe struck by the bravery of that man.

SugarHigh

Reddit are having fun at least.:D


It is funny how something as mundane as a sports event can have people risking their future. Who would ever employ these people if their faces become well known.

UglyBolloxFace

tbh wrote: »

My Hero

Tank Man Video

No matter how many times I watch that video, each time the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I become close to tears. Truly remarkable.

Galvasean

tbh wrote: »

My Hero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-nXT8lSnPQ

He is basically a superhero.

SugarHigh

This woman also stood up against a crowd and luckily it was only her car that got smashed up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n6OXzg8Ia8

I think in these cases it's best just to get the fúck out of there as quickly as possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi4xDtMW-2U

LightningBolt

I've gone against the crowd and it involved me getting bottled.

Here's an example of a guy over in Vancouver, tries to stop people smashing windows and has at least five people throw punches/kick him on the ground. Absolutely disgusting.

What's slightly disturbing to note is how quickly the entire mob moves on once the guy has the sh!t kicked out of him...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDlZdz5srsQ

Yahew

Jesus, no way would I protect a car. I've never seen such calm videoing of a riot before. It seems like most people were just hanging, and a few braves, aiming to impress the crowd, try and attack cars. Most people are neither egging them on, nor stoppin' em. Love Ulster it wasn't.

And they all seemed middle class ( I dont know why I think that - it could be that they are white, but they dont look like chavs either). Some savagery exists in all of us.

Were I there i would probably not do anything, but watch in weird fascination. Cowardly, I know. Good post, OP.

SugarHigh

LightningBolt wrote: »

I've gone against the crowd and it involved me getting bottled.

Here's an example of a guy over in Vancouver, tries to stop people smashing windows and has at least five people throw punches/kick him on the ground. Absolutely disgusting.

What's slightly disturbing to note is how quickly the entire mob moves on once the guy has the sh!t kicked out of him...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDlZdz5srsQ

fyp

Yahew

He did wade in with a giant Iron bar, or something. Was he taking them all on? That was a minor beating compared to some I have seen, a few half hearted kicks. Nevertheless I hope the guys are found and held responsible.

A lot of those guys videoing were tweeting to the police at the same time that they had evidence. I was following that a bit.

Logical Fallacy

Mob situations are ****ing scary. I've been in a few, normally demo's gone bad...and people get real brave when surrounded by hundreds of others, they also get real stupid and tend to do things they would never do otherwise.

Bloody Nipples

While it's admirable that the guy in the original vid took a stand for civil order against a baying mob, the car got trashed and his head got badly cut and frankly, I think he's lucky those police officers came on the scene when they did.

At the end of the day, the car still got wrecked. He'd have been a lot better served by getting the hell out of there.

Though if there was something a bit more serious at stake like someone's life, I'd like to think I'd take a stand. Though that might be because I don't like to think of myself acting cowardly to save my own skin, which is another likely enough outcome.

SugarHigh

Mobs aren't always so negative.:D

AFAIK this wasn't planned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA8z7f7a2Pk

Tigger

yes

everything else i could write would be boasting but i'd have to if it was to protect a person or an animal