How far would you go to help someone.

[diane227]

I have been keeping up with the news regarding a male Virginia Tech cutting off the head of a female student right in the middle of the student center. All the bystanders ran and hid and someone finally called 911. No one came to the aid of this woman and no one did anything to try to stop him. He had her down on the floor cutting her head off, then got up and was walking around with her head. He had no other weapon but this knife. What would you have done? Would you have done anything to try and stop him?

[Katnip, RN]

This isn't an isolated incident. There have been many tragic public deaths where people just stand an watch and do nothing. I remember in Virginia some time back when a man walked up to a kid in his yard and started stabbing the kid.

Two female neighbors or passerby did stop and try to help. One woman was injured, but treated and released. Unfortunately, they were not enough to save the boy. But at least they could say they tried while others stood and watched.

I do know for a fact I would do something. I have. Not quite so dramatic, but I was in a bar where some beast of a man started hitting his 8-year-old and not even the bartender was calling the police. I told someone-make eye contact with someone when you do this, or nobody will take it upon themselves-and stepped in. I got a black eye and a bit of a bruising, but at least the kid was ok. Guy ended up in jail for a few days. Not because he was beating his kid, but that he assaulted me and I pressed charges.

It's really, really sad to me that people will not step forward in cases like this. Yes, is scarey, but please. If that were your child, wouldn't you want someone to help?

I just could not live with myself if someone died and I didn't try something to prevent it.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

all i can say is "come lord jesus" !!

praiser :heartbeat

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

no doubt in my mind that i would have found something to beat the tar out of him with.

[kcochrane]

Not to be graphic, but I have to imagine it took awhile to cut her head off with a knife???? In my mind that would give plenty of time to do something. I agree with someone else that mentioned that most likely if one person took the initiative, others would have followed.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I want to say that I would have taken some sort of action, but I truly don't think ANYone can say that unless they're in the situation....intervening on a beating is NOT the same as witnessing something as grotesque and unknowingly scary as what this situation was. I'm pretty sure most brains can't process it, it's too surreal, you know?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

all i can say is "come lord jesus" !!

praiser :heartbeat

you idiot.

[Keepstanding, ASN, RN]

you idiot.

peace be with you canoehead. :redpinkhe

praiser :heartbeat

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I would have been shocked beyond belief!! I would have ran, but certainly would have been calling 911; otherwise, I cannot say what I would have done. I know I would have called 911 as long as the perp did not come after me because I would not want for someone I know to be attacked in broad daylight and not receive some sort of assistance.

What a world we live in where we have to worry about walking around and living our daily lives and still be attacked.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

I look up to my little brother (now a Marine) for stepping up to the plate in a similar situation. He was in the drive-through at a fastfood restaurant and saw someone try to rob a person in a wheelchair.

My brother jumped out of the truck (left it running, this is a small town), beat the tar out of this assailant, and held him 'til the cops got there. Earned a load of thanks from the would-be victim, and when the cops arrived, they arrested the guy, not only for that assault, but for an outstanding warrant for attempted murder.

I have never been in a similar situation - and I don't know what I'd do. I hope I'd have the courage to intervene, because I certainly don't think I'd be able to live with myself if I didn't.

[diane227, LPN, RN]

Someone in a previous post said that it would take quite a while to cut someone with a steak knife which tells me that with the first drop of blood someone should have been out there beating the c--- out of this guy. If two or three people jumped on him he would not have had time to saw on her neck and her life may have been saved. What the H---- is wrong with people anymore. Is there an overwhelming lack of backbone anymore? Not one person had the guts to get out there and fight this guy? I just can't get this story out of my mind. I just can't believe that people did not do something to try to save this girl.