Story time with Robert, "curiosity? or morbidity?"

With so much going on in the world. I have to believe that there is genuine concern for our fellow men.  As an Idealist romantic, I want to believe that there is good in the world and that all the evil that surrounds us, is only temporary.

Recently, I have taken to traveling for business. It is okay, I suppose.  Personally, I do not care for flying; it is very expensive and such a hassle at times.  As a person who enjoys “people-watching,” I am exposed to many circumstances that deflate my social idealism.  

Recently, at the cusp of the Christmas holiday, I was at the terminal awaiting my flight. Of course, I get there early to avoid the rush and time delays of waiting in queues.  As a lone traveler, I tend to keep to myself. However, I noticed an acrobatic couple practicing, what look like their routines or maybe just doing stretching exercises.  This is when the person balancing himself on his partner’s legs lost his balance and fell backwards, hitting the back of his head on the metal railing off the window.  This of course made a loud noise. While some people lifted their heads, and some even ran towards the person to see if he was ok. At this moment, his partner yells out for assistance as the person is bleeding.  

Admittedly, I was definitely concerned and torn between rushing to provide assistance, and staying behind so that I was not in the way, but I see others getting to the couple much quicker than I do. Therefore, I simply stay in my seat saying a quick prayer so that the person who was hurt was okay and not seriously hurt.

Nevertheless, as I sat there looking at the commotion and seeing an influx of people coming over to see what happened out of morbid curiosity.  I found myself completely disgusted by these people.  A couple and their teenage son, come over and literally hover over the couple on the floor trying to suppress the bleeding while waiting for emergency response. I see the EMT’s rushing over and having to push these very people of out the way to get to the person on the floor.

It sickened me to think that people are so morbid that they would stand over a bleeding person and not offer any assistance.  Almost like killing prey and watching it die. (I realize that the analogy is not the same but it feels like it applies.)

Shortly after the person was taken to a different site to be cleaned up, facilities came by to clean the area and disinfect the bloodied spots on the carpets. You would not believe that another family came by and sat down on the floor next to the bloodied carpet stains, while the “wet floor” signs were still posted.

These acts make me loose hope for humanity. Like, seriously, where is your compassion?