At the heart of much speculative fiction (and fiction in general) is a question. What if? On Tuesdays I like to throw one out there and see what you make of it. Do with it as you please. If a for-instance is not specified, feel free to interpret that instance as you wish. And if you find this becomes a novel-length answer, I'd appreciate a thank you in the acknowledgements ;)
Imagine that you're out someplace. Maybe shopping. Maybe in a park. Or just taking a stroll someplace. It's a nice day, and everyone is peacefully going about their own business...
What if while you were minding your own business, you witnessed someone chasing another person? Neither are obviously police or some sort of official good or bad guy, so you don't immediately know what the situation is. Do you help the chasee get away? Or do you help the chaser catch their quarry?
I know I would a lease try to the right thing.
ReplyDeleteAh, but what is the right thing here?
DeleteProbably nothing unless I sense that someone's in danger, and if I'm seeing people chase each other out of context, that's hard to ascertain.
ReplyDeleteIt would be.
DeleteI's call 911 right away because there is no way I could run after them or stop the situation. If I am close to my car, I might follow...
ReplyDeleteProbably the wise choice.
DeleteI'd stay out of it no matter what. The only thing I might do is call 911 if I think it's something bad.
ReplyDeleteLots of votes to stay out of it. Interesting.
DeleteI'd probably see if I could help the person being chased, or maybe try to calm down the situation. Although I might not be able to if they're running away from me.
ReplyDeleteI call the police. I'm in no shape to run to help either one of them out and may actually cause more harm tha good.
ReplyDeletebetty
I'd probably have to call the police. It's not that I think the police will arrive in time to actually solve anything (I'm doubtful), but I'm too weak to fend off someone with truly cruel intentions.
ReplyDeleteIn this case you're a bystander. So, not in any danger. Probably.
DeleteWe never know what we will before it happens to us. But, my first impression is that I would do nothing, unless it was obvious what was happening. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYeah, it could all be in good fun.
DeleteTough question. I'd probably have to rely on intuition. I'm pretty good at knowing when something isn't right.
ReplyDeleteThat's good.
DeleteWell being that I am not sure whom is being chased and whom is doing the chasing I think I would step back and see what happens. My luck....I would trip the one being chased only to find out they were the good guys and they were being chased by the bad guys!
ReplyDeleteGood point.
DeleteIf possible, I'd keep an eye on the situation and try to figure out just what it is. But it might be where I couldn't. Often times one just gets a feeling in their bones. If I did, I'd call 911 to investigate. If not, I'd leave it alone.
ReplyDeleteCome see my daughter & her graduation surprise! #Caneyhead: High School Graduation. :)
I have to admit that my bias would show and if it was a girl being chased I'd try to trip up the fella and visa-versa. ANy other scenario I just don't know. Maybe I'd instinctively help out an old person too. Like to think so anyway.
ReplyDeleteAh. I didn't specify, so it could be a guy chasing a girl. Or a girl chasing a guy ;)
DeleteI was just thinking about this as I drove home today on a lonely country road. I think self-preservation would be a big factor. I'd do something though.
ReplyDeleteSometime staying out of it might seem like the right thing. Depends, though. I didn't specify if one had a weapon. Possible.
DeleteSad to say, I would stay out of it if I could. Now if I knew the situation, though, that might be different.
ReplyDeleteYes, I did specify that you don't know. Staying out of it might be the wise choice.
DeleteOy. The urge to stick my foot out and trip someone would be STRONG. But I wouldn't want to trip the wrong person either. Ergs!
ReplyDelete