Bystander Effect: Man's Death Could Have Been Avoided

In class we discussed the question about humans being able to see horrible things happen to others but not feel obligated to help those in need. While watching Good Morning America (GMA) on Sunday April 25th, there was a storty that was aired that deals with the ideas of bystander effect, fusion of responsibility, and the desensitization of violence in society today. The story was aired due to an incident that happened on April 18, 2010, involving a man's death in Queens, Nw York. The entire incident was caught on a security video and the story prompts feelings of sadness, disbelief, and a loss of hope for humans. According to GMA, a woman was caught on the security camera being followed by a man who then accosts her, when then Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax, a homeless man, went to help the woman. It was here when Tale-Yax was stabbed multiple times by the man who was mugging the woman. Tale-Yax then collapsed at about 5:36 am on the sidewalk in front of the security camera bleeding, when according to GMA a potential Good Samaritan walked by Tale-Yax one minute after the incident occured without even attempting to help him. The worst is the dying man laid on the sidewalk for more than an hour and a half, as more than twenty-five bystanders walked by him without even thinking twice about helping. The most shocking is that one man snapped pictures of Tale-Yax, while another even approached him, nudged him, saw the blood and walked away. It wasn't until fire fighters arrived a little after 7:00 am that Tale-Yax, who was attempting to help a woman in need, received help but it had come to late. It really makes one wonder how this can happen in the United States.

Story from the New York Post for further reading: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/passers_by_let_good_sam_die_5SGkfx5XDP5ooudVuEd8fbl

What are your first impressions of this story just from reading the blog? After watching the video how did your feelings change towards the story, especially after seeing other examples of incidents much like the one involving Tale-Yax? What did you think about the reactions from the people interviewed on GMA? Is it a legitimate argument that we as humans are becoming desensitized by violence in society for these bystanders actions, or do you think there is something much different at hand? Do you think that if more people were educated about the Good Samaritan Laws that people would feel more obligated to help others? What other reactions did you have when watching the video or reading the story from the New York Post?