It’s called diffusion of responsibility in psych terms, but what does it mean? 

It is when something wrong happens, but people automatically assume someone else will handle it. 

Any Google search of the term will immediately pop up with a link to Kitty Genovese.  She was a young woman in the 1960s who was stabbed to death outside of her apartment.  Though there have been worse crimes, this case scarred the country forever.

Several people heard her screams, but nobody came to her assistance. 

This mind set of “someone else will take care of things” plagues society.

On Jan 28, 2010, several Seattle security guards watched as a 15-year-old girl was assaulted and beaten but did nothing.  Their orders were to “observe and report.”  They passed the blame on to their employers, saying they were just doing their job. 

This incident has received many hits on YouTube, showing the blatant irresponsibility of the so called “security” guards.  Why didn’t they help her? Their defense was that they were unarmed and could not protect her.  How can several grown men not be capable of protecting someone from an assailant who was also a young girl?

On March 18, 2010, in England, an onlooker shot a video of a car with a passenger inside being pushed down the highway by a large truck.  The truck driver could not see the small car in front, so it just kept on going.  My question is why didn’t the videotaper honk their horn to alert the driver? Why didn’t they call the police? 

The real point is that the person should have put their phone down and done something instead of filming the incident and posting it on YouTube. How does 1,000 hits on a website help a woman in severe danger?

Everyone always assumes someone else will make sure everything is okay.  They tell those who protest their actions, or lack of, that they thought someone else would step up, or they simply blame it on something else.

“I was busy.” “I was told to observe and report.” “I was driving.” 

These excuses mean nothing in my eyes.  Everyone should have the compassion in them to be the hero. That could be just calling the police, or honking their horn or even getting other people to help. 

All I ask is that we as a society do something to help someone in need.  How would you feel if nobody came to your rescue?