(no subject)
Okay so I'm writting this because it is bugging me.
Yesterday I was driving to the northside and what would normally tell me the time between where I am at to CIrcle on the Dan Ryan was replaced with "Child Abduction Alter!" White SUV Liecence Plate #.... So in the back of my mind is that "isn't this putting the child more at risk?" This is telling the kidnappers, on a bright neon sign, that they're carrying a high risk captive if their caught. It would probably be better to just drop off the kid somewhere fast, but we don't want him spilling any info so...
I'm not saying the police should do nothing, but to me this tactic does put the child at risk. But worse is that in a crowded place like the express way, there is a low probablity that the police would get any calls, even if people saw the SUV.
There is this thing called diffusion of responsibility, where people don't make the call because they think someone else would do it. There was a case where one Kitty Genovese was stabed in front of her apartment screaming out for help. Her neighbors went to the window and saw her and some stayed and watch, but no one called the police. They all thought someone else had already done that. So she stayed out there screamign for help and tried to crawl her way to her apartment when her assailent came back and continued stabbing her until she died. The police were never called. Diffusion of responsibility happens when there are more bystanders (say like on the Dan Ryan) and people are less likely to act because they think someone else will do it.
I'm not saying that this is how it happened, but it makes me uncomfortable...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7694020.stm
...my prayers to the Hudson and her family.
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Currently Reading: The Hallow
Author: Agatha Christie