Helping Strangers in Need

Ihatecuddles-old · 06-12-2012 03:17AM

Little Acorn wrote: »

I have never understood why there isn't some sort of a safety barrier between the people and the tracks. In my head I could picture really tall electrically powered sliding gates working. When the train has arrived and opens it's passenger doors, the electric gates slide open just at the train entrance doors to allow the passengers to board the train.
It seems so simple to me, but I'm guessing there must be some reason that I'm not thinking of that it doesn't get done??

I know its definitely done, Florida airport for one. Doors on the left open, you get off..doors on the right open, people get on.

Truncheon Rouge · 06-12-2012 04:03AM

If arriving on the scene and seeing whats going on I'd probably be more likely to stand back and let someone else help.*
This is because its New-York and theres a good chance that the guy is nuts and wants to take a kindly helpful person with him...or dodge the train and let me die..cause he's on crack and the voices told him to. Then Im the tragic story.
Secondly, from what I presently know (right/wrong) the rails are electrified in NY. So see reason 1.
So basically theres no defined definite course of action that will result in all being happy, whereas there is a strong possibility that my family will end up mourning me at the funeral of my needless demise. (because of a strangers' madness) (there still a psycho in the area too)
Add to that the nutty nature of NY and the fact that no one else is stepping forward (im not so conceited to think they're all less smart than me) ...along with a time limit and the strong risk/return.
No sale on these terms.

*(I know)

Edit: why the fu.ck is there not space allowed in the design of the platform for an unfortunate pedestrian to crawl to safety. See that bit he's trying to climb up, there should be a concave area to climb into/curl into for this very event. Not like they lack the money, in this world of sometimes comical health and safety regulations.

anhedonia · 06-12-2012 05:28AM

Do you think he would have survived if he lay down in the middle of the tracks?

Like if he'd realised he wasnt going to be able to climb back onto the platform in time, and heard the train coming, he could've lay down in the middle of the tracks.

Poor, poor man.

anhedonia · 06-12-2012 05:33AM

Lollers wrote: »

They have made an arrest http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/10558904

Jesus, the audacity of the cameraman, giving out about people taking pictures when he'd been pulled back onto the platform:

"In a written account Abbasi gave the Post, he said a crowd gathered taking videos and snapping photos on their cellphones after Han was pulled, limp, onto the platform. He said he shoved them back as a doctor and another man tried to resuscitate the victim, but it was no use. The man died in front of Abbasi's eyes."

tinkerbell · 06-12-2012 08:55AM

Little Acorn wrote: »

I have never understood why there isn't some sort of a safety barrier between the people and the tracks. In my head I could picture really tall electrically powered sliding gates working. When the train has arrived and opens it's passenger doors, the electric gates slide open just at the train entrance doors to allow the passengers to board the train.
It seems so simple to me, but I'm guessing there must be some reason that I'm not thinking of that it doesn't get done??

They have safety "barriers" at Gatwick airport when you are getting the train between one terminal and the other. You can't see the tracks at all - it's like a wall was built and then doors open when the train arrives which line up with the train doors. You never actually see the tracks at all and no risk of anyone falling onto them at any time.

CruelCoin · 06-12-2012 09:44AM

kumate_champ07 wrote: »

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xS2dNW4uTvE/TyQRBwN_tlI/AAAAAAAACek/xW1LkW0rIe0/s1600/Eddie_Adams_Saigon_Execution.jpg

Not particularly shocking.

Civvy gets murdered during brutal repression.

Daily occurance really.

annascott · 06-12-2012 12:06PM

We all like to think that we could be heroes and step up to the mark when needed, but in reality we do not know what the circumstances were. If he looked rough, abusive and/or drunk, there is always the danger that someone helping could be pulled in off the platform with him.
The photograph is in bad taste, but hits home the seriousness of the crime committed by the guy who pushed him. I hope he is caught but realise that it is unlikely.

krudler · 06-12-2012 01:01PM

Greenmachine wrote: »

On one level it is identical. The two people talking in the background with the camera could potentially have been videoing a man burnt alive.

Yeah but they're a distance away not standing there beside him filming it, that could be a block away in a highrise building for all we know, still an amazing thing to capture on video though

allibastor · 06-12-2012 01:59PM

I had my face smashed in one day helping someone, She just ran off to get her own ambulance and just left me there with my Nose falling down into my face and blood everywhere.
When a friend of mine eventually found me and we rang the guards, the lady in question didnt even tell them that some 14 year old helped her and they had no idea that i was there with a busted face. Bitch.

Still, i would still help someone and have regularily intervened in a fight if someone was clearly over matched or helpless. dragged a father out of a car also when he was hitting a child full force in the back seat. I woudl always like totn hink that i can help some if they need it, though it is very rarely returned unfortunatly.

blurch · 06-12-2012 02:39PM

I am not so sure I would attack the photographer.
The image is a still photograph, a fraction of a second.

The perp was still there and went for the photographer as he approached.

If the perp was still there as he claims, he could well have been pushed on to the tracks as well.

If he did do nothing and just take photographs he will have to live with that. Remember Kevin Carter who took the image of a starving child been stalked by a vulture.

Truncheon Rouge · 07-12-2012 06:37PM

blurch wrote: »

I am not so sure I would attack the photographer.
The image is a still photograph, a fraction of a second.

The perp was still there and went for the photographer as he approached.

If the perp was still there as he claims, he could well have been pushed on to the tracks as well.

If he did do nothing and just take photographs he will have to live with that. Remember Kevin Carter who took the image of a starving child been stalked by a vulture.

I think that turned out to have been faked.

(photoshopped...rather than just staged)

southsiderosie · 07-12-2012 09:46PM

Truncheon Rouge wrote: »

I think that turned out to have been faked.

(photoshopped...rather than just staged)

What did? The train photo or the Carter photo?

Helping Strangers in Need

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