Comments on: Charlie’s Story Page 28

By: Morgane

Morgane — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:02:43 +0000

skipped a word, I meant “they didn’t want to get involved”
and toward the end “no intervention”

By: Morgane

Morgane — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 06:59:08 +0000

@ unsteady, sarah:
On one hand I agree with you, it can’t believe it could happen like that, and I feel like it’s a bit exaggerated/unrealistic.
On the other hand, psychologist have forged a concept called “bystander effect” (look it up on wikipedia) also called “Genevese syndrome” after the name of a woman who was raped and murdered in the street and in her building in the 70s (see wiki again). Between the moment she was 1st attacked and the moment someone called the police, 30 minutes to an hour went by, but they were several witnesses that were aware someone was being attacked. They just thought someone else would call the police, or they didn’t to get involved. They thought it wasn’t their responsibility.
My point is, when several people see something bad/dangerous happening, they won’t necessarily immediately call the police, they’ll hope some other bystander will do it. And they don’t necessarily try to stop it from happening themselves for fear for their own safety (and in cases of bullying/mobbing, that’s often what happens: not intervention to avoid becoming a target).
Just to be clear, that is the explanation offered the psychology of such behaviour. I, of course, don’t think one should do nothing when something bad-whatever it is- happens in front of you.

By: Nexus

Nexus — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:23:41 +0000

Wow, my condolences for how your past was, but it was uplifting to read about the progress made where you live and your friend.

By: Roxolan

Roxolan — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:54:19 +0000

That’s as may be, but Charlie doesn’t know (and that girl might not either).

By: Ivy

Ivy — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:17:39 +0000

i personally have heard of a lot of people getting away with it here. Yeah they would be charged.. if they get caught or the person being bullied calls the cops. problem is some people that are bullied are too scared to. and if u live in the small hick town i do in iowa.. a lot of cops over look stuff like that. However I personally and a few friends of mine (I have a friend like Charlie actually ^_^ her names jesse) have banned together and joined PFLAG and now there are even a few gay night clubs around town and GSA’s in the high school So now they dont get away with it but when i was in high school… they did. Its sad really.

By: Izzi:P

Izzi:P — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:14:45 +0000

Yeah, but I got my criminal record at 11, I call bullshit on the legal handling, they’d be in jail PDQ, they’re like 15, assault, battery, GBH, ABH, sexual assault, affray, the list goes on, If I got charged for ABH pushing someone to the ground, they’d be screwed, plus witness testimony doesn’t override actual evidence, and they’d have at least their parents and the art teacher to vouch they were being harassed.

Not that this isn’t a really powerful comic, but my mum was a SOCO, and my best friend is from a Police Family, I picked up enough to know that being under 16 wouldn’t stop them from going to prison.

By: DanD

DanD — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:45:05 +0000

Unfortunately this does happen. The “Gay/Trans Panic” defense exists, it’s not widely accepted, but people have gotten away with it.

Also mob violence where even the people in the crowd who don’t outright support it fail to call the police is more common than anyone would like.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 15:21:15 +0000

I know, seriously. To both statements.

By: unsteddy

unsteddy — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:26:08 +0000

Ok really. Who in the hell would expect that explanation? Can’t believe that no cops were called…