Good Samaritan? Do you stop or go?

[+ purplekow]

Last night, coming home from the gym I pulled into my garage.  Unbeknownst to me, the garage door did not go all the way down and as I opened the door to my home my dogs came into the garage.  I turned on the light to see the door opened just enough for the dogs to get out.  Surprisingly. when I called them the two younger dogs came right back in the house, but the 12 year old kept walking.  After the first two were secured, I went out after the old dog.  It was very dark night in Palm Springs and I live on a fairly busy street.  Initially, I could not see the dog.  In my haste, I left my phone inside the house. Then I caught a glimpse of motion and she was about one house away.  I started after her and she continued to walk along the edge of the busy road.  I grew more and more panicked and started to speed up to catch her.  My acceleration coincided with there being a speed bump in thje road which I did not see.  I tripped and face planted into the road.  I did not lose consciousness but I was bleedimg from my head and my left arm and left leg were brusied.  I attempted to get up without success.  

The first car that passed by stopped and the pregnant women, a nurse, grabbed the dog.  She brought the dog to me but could not help me up as she was probably 9 months into her pregnancy.  I would say ten to fifteen cars went around her car, shining their headlights on me sprawled on the pavement.  Most did not even slow down.  After about 5 minutes, which felt like hours, and several attempts to fight through the pain to stand, a car stooped and with that driver's assistance and a slight nudge from the nurse, I was able to stand.  Eventually I was able to get the dog in the garage.

Today 'I am very sore.  Large bruise on the left arm.  But considering, not too bad/.

My question is, how many of you would have stopped and helped and how many would have just passed on by.  I know some will say that it depends on where you were going, but I think that arguement is specious.    So stop or go?

[Nue2thegame]

Glad that you’re ok. I have stopped more than once. I’ve also nearly died retrieving a wayward dog. So I share your pain and sadness that today, the majority of people won’t stop and don’t want to get involved. 

[wsc]

For me, it's a case of "been there, done that." I've needed help a few times and bystanders have always come to my aid, for which I am hugely grateful. So, having been benefitted by the kindness of strangers, I instinctively feel an obligation to assist others when presented with the occasion.

However, I try also to be aware of my limitations and recognize that having an older and out-of-shape man come to the rescue can sometimes only serve to increase the casualty count. So, some cautious reserve is warranted.

However, I would always stop to at least add moral support and summon more able assistance as needed.

Glad you're ok, and may I say, "Bad dog!" Glad she's ok, too.

[+ purplekow]

A few weeks ago, a visiting friend and I were on the way to the gym.  As we approached a trafic light which was red, there was a stopped car with the door open and a man handing out of the driver's seat.  I pulled up next to him to ask if he needed help and he seemed reluctant but finally said yes.  My friend got out and the man had been trying to adjust his seat and the flexible watch band had gotten enlangled in such a way that he was pinned in the awkward position in which we found him.  It took about  ten mionutes to extricate him.  Again it was a busy street but no one else stopped.  I would like to believe if we had not come by, someone else who passed by, seeing his awakward position, would have stopped.  I for the most part, only put on the emergency flashed in both cars and waved cars to slow down.  

I never heard of someone being a literal prisoner of time.  

[pubic_assistance]

I know some people worry that they may be getting scammed when they see someone in need. It does happen all too frequently . 

Edited 18 hours ago by pubic_assistance
spelling

[Lotus-eater]

As someone who has been carjacked at gunpoint, mugged at gunpoint, and punched and mugged, I'm very leery of putting myself into a potentially dangerous situation, so I'm not going to stop on the side of the road at night. Hope you have a full and swift recovery. 

Edited 19 hours ago by Lotus-eater

[+ Just Chuck]

I have stopped and rendered aid for all sorts of issues.  I intervened in a domestic violence/kidnapping.  I’ve pulled over to pull a father away from trying to fight a fully-involved fire in his family’s minivan by beating at it with his jacket (exploding shock absorbers could have killed him and he was breathing really toxic smoke).  I performed the Heimlich Maneuver on a patron at a restaurant.  

I take classes on emergency medicine.  I carry a lot of medical gear in my hatchback.  Helping people in need led me to a career in public safety before I decided to become an engineer and still work in safety-related work for my career.  It’s part of who I am.

[+ poolboy48220]

A guy in the gym was having obvious issues with the knot on his speedo drawstring. I remember it was knotted in the back, and very tightly, so he couldn't see to undo it. I offered to help, he seemed embarrassed but let me help. This was in full view of the locker room, right outside the shower area. I wasn't able to undo it either, and ended up cutting the cord with the penknife on my keychain. 

True story. And nothing else happened 😁 even though he was very hot.

[maninsoma]

I'm guessing that at least some of the people who didn't stop to offer help just assumed the situation was under control (i.e., that if further assistance was needed the person standing up and fully conscious would have already called 911).  

[soloyo215]

16 hours ago, purplekow said:

My question is, how many of you would have stopped and helped and how many would have just passed on by.  I know some will say that it depends on where you were going, but I think that arguement is specious.    So stop or go?

I'd not helped at all. The times and society we're living in today, where people have gotten sued, killed, arrested, insulted, belittled and attacked, simply for wanting to help, it's not worth it.

[Phlmuscle]

I have stopped many times. Mostly when walking on the street when people have fallen. You have to be careful though that there are no broken bones before you move them. If there is a policeman in sight I usually call them.

[+ PhileasFogg]

I would definitely have stopped to help a pregnant woman 😛😅😉

Glad you’re ok!!!  I ’ll explain to my guests why you’re bruised when we get together for drinks next week 🥂

 

[+ Charlie]

It would depend on the situation. If an individual obviously needed help (alone, injured or even unconscious) and there was no one else available, of course I would stop to see if there was anything I could do. Otherwise, I would try to evaluate the situation before I tried to intervene in any way. It would also depend on whether I were alone, the surroundings, etc. 

[+ azdr0710]

Good Samaritan fatally shot after offering woman a ride to warming shelter, family says https://www.kold.com/2026/02/05/good-samaritan-fatally-shot-after-offering-woman-ride-warming-shelter-family-says/

[+ PhileasFogg]

1 hour ago, azdr0710 said:

Good Samaritan fatally shot after offering woman a ride to warming shelter, family says https://www.kold.com/2026/02/05/good-samaritan-fatally-shot-after-offering-woman-ride-warming-shelter-family-says/

I’d rather be harmed while doing something good rather than watching and doing nothing at all.    I'm not trying to "virtue signal," but I've had a number of opportunities in life to make this choice and to act on it

Edited 3 hours ago by PhileasFogg

[d.anders]

I'm the Good Samaritan. I can't chase a dog, but if I've seen that you've fallen and can't get up, I will try to offer help. Throughout my decades in NYC, I have helped many people in distress. No regrets. I have called 911 several times to report a possible death on the sidewalk. Sometimes you can't tell when a drug addict is breathing. I tend to believe in treating others as I wish to be treated. I fear one day being that person on the ground, and I hope and pray someone will come to my rescue when it happens.