Would you help out an addict on the street?

Pauliedragon · 24-08-2018 12:44AM

I see your point Stephen but there is a few holes in your statement.
1. Fair enough.
2. The chances of catching a disease are very remote. You have just as much chance catching a virus from opening a door at work.
3. Most drug addicted people aren't on welfare as they have been completely wiped off the system.
4. It's not wasting the ambulance time, they are on call and it's their job to respond to 999 calls and the last time I had an epileptic seizure in the middle of the city I was 2 minutes from dying. The only reason I didn't was because another gentleman recognised it was a genuine medical emergency when all the people around me assumed I was a "junkie"

Stephen15 · 24-08-2018 01:08AM

Pauliedragon wrote: »

2.The chances of catching a disease are very remote. You have just as much chance catching a virus from opening a door at work.

The chances of catching a disease from direct skin on skin contact are a lot higher I would imagine not to mention the potential for contact with bodily fluids. What I would be most worried about though is the potential for a potential needle stick injury which would be quite likely when in contact with a junkie.

I would also be worried about the potential for the person to become aggressive and potentially assault or threaten me especially if it's a junkie

3. Most drug addicted people aren't on welfare as they have been completely wiped off the system.

Many are on the state sponsored methadone scheme. Also many are claiming disability. I use public transport regularly and see rougher types types and junkies getting on buses, trains and trams using free travel passes so they are getting something courtesy of the taxpayer.

4. It's not wasting the ambulance time, they are on call and it's their job to respond to 999 calls and the last time I had an epileptic seizure in the middle of the city I was 2 minutes from dying. The only reason I didn't was because another gentleman recognised it was a genuine medical emergency when all the people around me assumed I was a "junkie"

It is wasting ambulance time. Ordinary decent people like me and you who pay our taxes and work hard for a living are being deprived of an ambulance in our hour of need because of junkies who choose to put a needle in their arm.

As I said I think I could recognise the difference between someone who is genuinely in need judging by their appearance and dress whom I would help versus someone who is a off their face on drugs.

Irish Guitarist · 24-08-2018 01:47AM

I saw a drunk passed out in the middle of a car park once. I was thinking of tapping him on the shoulder to see if I could wake him and tell him he should go somewhere safer but I was afraid I'd get a punch in the face or something. I walked on but kept looking back thinking maybe I should go back and do something.

A car full of girls in their late teens or early twenties drove past and looked at me wondering what I was looking at. They then looked down and noticed the man and started taking photos (or a video) of him with their phones while having a great laugh. I felt bad but they probably got a load of likes on Facebook so something good came out of it.

Rubberchikken · 24-08-2018 01:52AM

Ill be honest and say no.
I have little sympathy for addicts. I aleays thi k a person chooses that lifestyle (for want of a better word).
Also would be unwilling to approach them for fear of being injured.
My opinion and i stand by it btw

One eyed Jack · 24-08-2018 02:20AM

Pauliedragon wrote: »

Are we that far gone as a society that we leave people lying on the ground with no help? Would you stop and help or just walk past?

It’s hardly going as far as anything as a society when people have always done this. Would I stop and help or walk past? Depends on the circumstances - more times I’ll just keep walking, sometimes I might offer assistance if they actually need assistance. Some people just prefer to be left alone.

Yer Da sells Avon · 24-08-2018 02:23AM

Stephen15 wrote: »

The chances of catching a disease from direct skin on skin contact are a lot higher I would imagine not to mention the potential for contact with bodily fluids. What I would be most worried about though is the potential for a potential needle stick injury which would be quite likely when in contact with a junkie.

I would also be worried about the potential for the person to become aggressive and potentially assault or threaten me especially if it's a junkie

Many are on the state sponsored methadone scheme. Also many are claiming disability. I use public transport regularly and see knackery types and junkies getting on buses, trains and trams using free travel passes so they are getting something courtesy of the taxpayer.

It is wasting ambulance time. Ordinary decent people like me and you who pay our taxes and work hard for a living are being deprived of an ambulance in our hour of need because of junkies who choose to put a needle in their arm.

As I said I think I could recognise the difference between someone who is genuinely in need judging by their appearance and dress whom I would help versus someone who is a off their face on drugs.

So much nastiness in that post, I'm 99% sure I'd be banned if I gave it the response it deserves. Anyway, a suited and 'respectable' person who collapses on the street might, for all I know, be an arsehole or a tax-dodger, or (heaven forfend) perhaps they made some poor dietary choices that led to their medical predicament. Would still do whatever I could to help, because it's not up to me to make a moral judgement on whether or not someone is sufficiently 'deserving' of medical treatment.

freshpopcorn · 24-08-2018 02:27AM

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

So much nastiness in that post, I'm 99% sure I'd be banned if I gave it the response it deserves. Anyway, a suited and 'respectable' person who collapses on the street might, for all I know, be an arsehole or a tax-dodger, or (heaven forfend) perhaps they made some poor dietary choices that led to their medical predicament. Would still do whatever I could to help, because it's not up to me to make a moral judgement on whether or not someone is sufficiently 'deserving' of medical treatment.

If you have issues with a post report it and a moderator will see what they can do.

Yer Da sells Avon · 24-08-2018 02:45AM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

If you have issues with a post report it and a moderator will see what they can do.

Does his post break any rules? I mean, I don't think it does.

metaoblivia · 24-08-2018 02:51AM

Nope. I work in San Francisco and if I were to stop and help every addict on the street, I wouldn't be stopping every block, I'd be stopping multiple times on every block. Plus, they're often very erratic. A former colleague once got punched in the face by a raving addict for no other reason than she happened to walk by him. I've seen them do similar to other random people. It's incredibly sad to see, but I have neither the medical knowledge to help them nor the physical ability to ensure everyone's safety. Once in a while, I'll buy a meal for one of the regulars near my building.

freshpopcorn · 24-08-2018 02:51AM

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

Does his post break any rules? I mean, I don't think it does.

I'd only really have issues with one word he used in his post to be honest and I edited.
His views are common enough.
Now I this isn't the proper way to do things by the way.
If ye have issues with a post report it or pm a mod. Some of what you've dont would be considered back seat moderating.

Yer Da sells Avon · 24-08-2018 02:57AM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Some of what you've dont would be considered back seat moderating.

I don't see how finding an opinion abhorrent and ignorant (but not outside of the rules) could be considered back seat moderating. To be honest, I'm a little surprised that you would think that, what with you being an actual moderator 'n all.

freshpopcorn · 24-08-2018 03:02AM

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

I don't see how finding an opinion abhorrent and ignorant (but not outside of the rules) could be considered back seat moderating. To be honest, I'm a little surprised that you would think that, what with you being an actual moderator 'n all.

I took issue with this part of your post. If you think a poster should be banned please report them.
PS, Get this thread back on topic.

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

I'm 99% sure I'd be banned if I gave it the response it deserves.

Yer Da sells Avon · 24-08-2018 03:04AM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I took issue with this part of your post. If you think a poster should be banned please report them.

I... um... don't think a poster should be banned. Nor do I understand why you might think that I think that.

It's quite late.

freshpopcorn · 24-08-2018 03:08AM

Yer Da sells Avon wrote: »

I... um... don't think a poster should be banned. Nor do I understand why you might think that I think that.

It's quite late.

Sorry,my mistake!

erica74 · 24-08-2018 07:15AM

stevek93 wrote: »

I had a friend once at at bus stop who took a epileptic seizure everyone thought he overdosed on drugs he was lying on ground shaking and whole bus stop ignored him..

Funny you mention that because my sister and I were walking out of a shopping centre one day and as we walked past this young girl and her friend the girl just dropped to the floor. We ran over, everyone else just kept walking, she wasn't shaking but looked unconscious. We couldn't wake her and her friend was trying to get the unconscious girl's girlfriend to come out of the toilets. We were panicking that she had taken something and were getting her in the recovery position, when her girlfriend came out and said "oh, don't worry, she has narcolepsy". So the girlfriend proceeded to slap her lightly on each cheek and the girl woke up eventually. Probably one of the strangest things I've seen because I've never seen anyone with narcolepsy.
Everyone kept walking by, even the security guard in the shopping centre ignored what was going on.

I'd help, and have helped, anyone if it was safe to do so. In a busy public place, I'd help, in a dark, deserted alley, probably not.

CrankyHaus · 24-08-2018 07:47AM

corner of hells wrote: »

Sue you for what ?

Anything. It doesn't matter if there's no merit to it. They can still take any claptrap far enough to cause hassle for you, and potential expense defending yourself.

It's for that reason that many doctors are unwilling to help people in trouble in public, or don't leave a name if they do. I know of one who saved a traveller's life when he passed him in a bad way and intervened. Cue allegations of misconduct in his actions that went all the way that a medical review board. Obviously the man he saved was looking for sone free money. Junkies are likely to be the same as they always need more money for drugs.

sbsquarepants · 24-08-2018 07:57AM

Donald Trump wrote: »

Unfortunately the only solution might be juveniles in China/Japan/Korea/India etc

I have no idea what this means?

Pauliedragon wrote: »

2. The chances of catching a disease are very remote. You have just as much chance catching a virus from opening a door at work."

I don't know the actual odds - but I'd be inclined to think this is very wrong.

Pauliedragon wrote: »

3. Most drug addicted people aren't on welfare as they have been completely wiped off the system."

Any junkie I know (and I've known far too many over the years) have all, bar one single exception been on the dole (the one exception was a woman who incredibly managed to hold down a full time job for the 10 years or so that I knew her, apparently without any issue, as far as I'm aware she's still working there and still a junkie, 6 or 7 years on)

Pauliedragon wrote: »

4. It's not wasting the ambulance time, they are on call and it's their job to respond to 999 calls and the last time I had an epileptic seizure in the middle of the city I was 2 minutes from dying. The only reason I didn't was because another gentleman recognised it was a genuine medical emergency when all the people around me assumed I was a "junkie"

I've no time for junkies but I completely agree. You could argue the same about someone speeding in a car, or playing a dangerous sport or anything like that. The ambulance is there for people in need, simple as that.

Donald Trump · 24-08-2018 08:08AM

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Donald Trump wrote: »

Unfortunately the only solution might be juveniles in China/Japan/Korea/India etc

I have no idea what this means?

Youth in Asia

lawred2 · 24-08-2018 08:11AM

Pauliedragon wrote: »

I was in the middle of the city today and I saw a bloke stumbling/falling all over the floor. A lady was trying to help him up but he was all over the place. I helped her out to move him to the nearest steps so he could sit down and gather himself. Long story short I noticed everybody walked past the poor bloke with no intention of helping him. Are we that far gone as a society that we leave people lying on the ground with no help? Would you stop and help or just walk past?

Would in my hell help someone who was out of their mind...

corner of hells · 24-08-2018 08:21AM

CrankyHaus wrote: »

Anything. It doesn't matter if there's no merit to it. They can still take any claptrap far enough to cause hassle for you, and potential expense defending yourself.

It's for that reason that many doctors are unwilling to help people in trouble in public, or don't leave a name if they do. I know of one who saved a traveller's life when he passed him in a bad way and intervened. Cue allegations of misconduct in his actions that went all the way that a medical review board. Obviously the man he saved was looking for sone free money. Junkies are likely to be the same as they always need more money for drugs.

Ireland has a " Good Samaritan " law , you're quite safe from legal action unless it's gross negligence.In fact it's extremely unlikely that traveller even got remotely entertained at any level

A medical review board is related to welfare claims .

I wonder if you are thinking of the medical council ?

stevek93 · 24-08-2018 08:23AM

Donald Trump wrote: »

You had a friend once at a bus stop?

Did you not get their contact details? Could have made a longer term friend

I dont think correcting English is the topic of this thread.

corner of hells · 24-08-2018 08:29AM

Stephen15 wrote: »

The chances of catching a disease from direct skin on skin contact are a lot higher I would imagine not to mention the potential for contact with bodily fluids. What I would be most worried about though is the potential for a potential needle stick injury which would be quite likely when in contact with a junkie.

I would also be worried about the potential for the person to become aggressive and potentially assault or threaten me especially if it's a junkie

Many are on the state sponsored methadone scheme. Also many are claiming disability. I use public transport regularly and see rougher types types and junkies getting on buses, trains and trams using free travel passes so they are getting something courtesy of the taxpayer.

It is wasting ambulance time. Ordinary decent people like me and you who pay our taxes and work hard for a living are being deprived of an ambulance in our hour of need because of junkies who choose to put a needle in their arm.

As I said I think I could recognise the difference between someone who is genuinely in need judging by their appearance and dress whom I would help versus someone who is a off their face on drugs.

Catching hepatitis or HIV from skin to skin contact is practically impossible , that ****e you posted harks back to the day when people thought you could catch AIDs from sitting on toilet seats or shaking hands .

To catch either from blood to blood or bodily fluids has to be an exchange of body fluids.
There a very worldwide documented cases of HIV being contracted by a needle stick injury.

CrankyHaus · 24-08-2018 08:30AM

corner of hells wrote: »

Ireland has a " Good Samaritan " law , you're quite safe from legal action unless it's gross negligence.In fact it's extremely unlikely that traveller even got remotely entertained at any level

A medical review board is related to welfare claims .

I wonder if you are thinking of the medical council ?

I'm not a doctor, I didn't use the precise name of the review body as I don't know it. I used a generic term for a body that would review medical complaints.

Protected unless it's gross negligence? So the person just says it's gross negligence and until it's disproven you have it hanging over you.

Junkies can also just say you were assaulting them, sexually assaulting them, trying to rob them. Regardless of the merit of their accusation the best case scenario for you is lots of hassle. Long story short, helping them unless it's your job is a mugs game.

corner of hells · 24-08-2018 08:43AM

CrankyHaus wrote: »

I'm not a doctor, I didn't use the precise name of the review body as I don't know it. I used a generic term for a body that would review medical complaints.

Protected unless it's gross negligence? So the person just says it's gross negligence and until it's disproven you have it hanging over you.

Junkies can also just say you were assaulting them, sexually assaulting them, trying to rob them. Regardless of the merit of their accusation the best case scenario for you is lots of hassle. Long story short, helping them unless it's your job is a mugs game.

Ah , gross negligence is not just something you can say and leave hanging there waiting for an outcome , there has to be a significant illness , injuries or death .

Addicts can and do say everything , I've had it all said to me , nothing sticks.
How can it ? If they're at the stage when they need CPR or Naloxone administered they're out of it.

sbsquarepants · 24-08-2018 08:59AM

Donald Trump wrote: »

Youth in Asia

Sorry Donald, it's a bit early in the morning for word games. You'll have to give me another hour or so!

MarkY91 · 24-08-2018 09:11AM

I wouldn't help. I see them passed out almost everytime I'm in town and not once have I helped or seen anyone help. I have zero sympathy for junkies. Most people don't so I don't feel bad about it. I care more for an injured pigeon than a passed out junkie. It's just the way I am.

I don't know if it's the same person but a good few times I've seen a passed out junkie in a wheelchair in various locations in town. Most notably smack bang in the middle of temple bar. Great sight for tourists to see!

valoren · 24-08-2018 10:46AM

Wasn't there a social experiment conducted where in scenario 1, an actor dressed as a homeless man, keels over feigning a heart attack on a busy city walkway. Most were reluctant to help. Scenario 2 was the same actor but dressed in a suit, the result being that people were prompt to come to his aid.

A sort of cognitive bias where homeless/addict = potential trouble whereas well dressed dude being 'one of us' = not trouble.

I'm sure the addicts appearance resulted in a scenario 1 situation and it's no reflection for a lack of empathy or an increasing apathy in society.

PlaneSpeeking · 24-08-2018 11:07AM

Not in a million years, and you can judge away.

robindch · 24-08-2018 01:12PM

Pauliedragon wrote: »

Are we that far gone as a society that we leave people lying on the ground with no help? Would you stop and help or just walk past?

It's called the Bystander Effect and it's a well-established phenomenon. One can certainly discuss why the Bystander Efffect happens, but making a simplistic diagnosis of a society "far gone" is silly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Aside from that, well, nobody knows how that guy got there, nor what caused it, nor what he's on, nor the likely reaction to somebody invading his personal space. Best call the emergency services and leave trained professionals deal with him.

Donald Trump · 24-08-2018 01:23PM

robindch wrote: »

It's called the Bystander Effect and it's a well-established phenomenon. One can certainly discuss why the Bystander Efffect happens, but making a simplistic diagnosis of a society "far gone" is silly.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bystander_effect

Aside from that, well, nobody knows how that guy got there, nor what caused it, nor what he's on, nor the likely reaction to somebody invading his personal space. Best call the emergency services and leave trained professionals deal with him.

Plus they're possibly dirty smelly refugees to Dublin. You know the ones I'm referring to. Coming in from hopeless lawless disaster zones like Athlone or Cork. Usually a quare oul' bang of turf and shite off them

Would you help out an addict on the street?

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