IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, DO YOU SAY SOMETHING?

Have you ever been out going through your daily routine and come upon something that seems a bit off? Do you pause your activity to say or do something? 

For instance, if you see a man and woman aggressively arguing do you check and make sure everything is okay? How many times have you witnessed an act and your instinct told you something was not right but you ignored it, opting instead to continue on your way and ignore what you noticed? If this has ever happened to you, you are not alone; it is known as the “say nothing” phenomenon.

It has been said that society no longer holds the “it takes a village to raise a child” mentality; instead more people have the “mind your business and keep to yourself” mindset. Everyday people witness an act or have intimate knowledge that someone is being harmed yet they do nothing about it. In a recent Trinidad Express article, it was reported that a woman from south Trinidad was abducted and later found murdered in a field a short distance from her home. The family had knowledge that she was in an abusive relationship for three years and never said a word. Although no one has been charged in the case, you can’t help but wonder if her family spoke up and notified authoritues of the abuse, would she still be alive?

Police officers at crime scene in south Trinidad (Photo Courtesy Trinidad Express)

If you ask people “What would they do?” when it comes to witnessing something amiss or having knowledge of some wrongdoing, most will say they would step in to help. However, research shows otherwise. A sociological study was done where a couple argued aggressively in public and the male became physical. Over 70% of the witnesses just watched; they did not step in to help at all. Another study found that residents in New York City who are accustomed to seeing crimes committed are reluctant to step in because they strongly feel that it’s not their business.

There are a few reasons for this “say nothing” culture society holds. One reason is the fear of retaliation. Who wants to get involved in another person’s situation if it puts them in danger? Another reason people are reluctant to get involved is because they think someone else will do it. For example, a woman is being robbed and 10 people see it but nobody steps in because they all think the others will step in. In the end nobody helps and where does that leave the victim?

Photo Courtesy (www.jesusradicals.com)

Now ask yourself this: how is this "keep silent" culture working for us? How many kids are suffering because we do not want to get involved? How many women are in dangerous situations because we are scared to take a stand? You have heard it many times before; if you see something say something. If it were your mother, sister, or daughter you would want someone to speak up. Next time you are out if you see something that you feel could be a dangerous situation for someone, please say something and end the silence.