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People are people. Societal norms vary. And yes, I would and have put myself in physical jeopardy assisting people in need. Edit: In the US we have 'Good Samar

by tunap 10y ago

People are people. Societal norms vary. And yes, I would and have put myself in physical jeopardy assisting people in need. Edit: In the US we have 'Good Samaritan' laws for most of that. It is possible I could do more harm &/or be liable for my actions. Yet, I refuse to not do what I believe is 'right' out of fear. Yeah, my lifestyle & welfare has suffered(sic) for my principles in many facets of life, but principles require sacrifice and I am comfortable with my choices so far.

mikeash 10y ago
It's one thing to take a small, calculated risk on your life to save someone, and quite another to take a substantial and likely risk of financial ruin or prison just to help someone who will probably be turned out to die by the hospital.
nashashmi 10y ago
Ok. Then would you still do that if the consequences were jail, separation from family, which also means putting family in a desperate situation of worry and runaround? Plus the rebuke that you would get from family too for putting them through so much trouble? Plus if you are the partial or whole breadwinner, which is often the case, putting family in financial calamity? I support what you feel, and I too would put up an aggressive stance of helping the individual, but the cost is a lot higher than just my personal efforts. I put a lot more people through the misery.
dmode 10y ago
Also, keep in mind that India's legal system is broken. Law enforcement and courts are woefully underfunded. Police, lacking adequate resources, are always looking for scapegoats to close cases and declare victory. An easy target is an ordinary individual at a crash site. The immediate instinct of law enforcement in that situation is that the individual is guilty or "knows something". The follow-on steps are locking up the individual and even torturing them to get information. Remember, Indian courts and justice system is broken. Police can get away with virtually anything without any real consequence as long as the detainee is not well connected.

by tunap 10y ago

mikeash 10y ago

It's one thing to take a small, calculated risk on your life to save someone, and quite another to take a substantial and likely risk of financial ruin or prison just to help someone who will probably be turned out to die by the hospital.

nashashmi 10y ago

Ok. Then would you still do that if the consequences were jail, separation from family, which also means putting family in a desperate situation of worry and runaround? Plus the rebuke that you would get from family too for putting them through so much trouble? Plus if you are the partial or whole breadwinner, which is often the case, putting family in financial calamity? I support what you feel, and I too would put up an aggressive stance of helping the individual, but the cost is a lot higher than just my personal efforts. I put a lot more people through the misery.

dmode 10y ago

Also, keep in mind that India's legal system is broken. Law enforcement and courts are woefully underfunded. Police, lacking adequate resources, are always looking for scapegoats to close cases and declare victory. An easy target is an ordinary individual at a crash site. The immediate instinct of law enforcement in that situation is that the individual is guilty or "knows something". The follow-on steps are locking up the individual and even torturing them to get information. Remember, Indian courts and justice system is broken. Police can get away with virtually anything without any real consequence as long as the detainee is not well connected.