General Discussion

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,740 posts)

78. Couple of things.

Thu Jul 9, 2015, 03:05 PM

Jul 2015

Last edited Fri Jul 10, 2015, 08:30 AM - Edit history (1)

When the train operator is alerted, he gets on his radio and contacts the train dispatcher. The train dispatcher alerts the WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) transit police. The transit police show up at the next station where they can intercept the train. The train is stopped there and offloaded so that the police can do what they can. If the bad guy has left the premises, his image is on several video cameras, and he is tracked that way. Each car has cameras, the platforms have cameras, and the sidewalks around the Metro stops have cameras. There will be video of him.

Second, the "emergency stop cord." There is no such thing on Metro cars. There is no such thing on intercity passenger trains either, at least nothing that you can pull that will stop the train. Even in the old movies, that was made up.

All pulling on a cord on an old passenger car would do was cause air to flow in an air line that ran from the passenger cars to the locomotive. This air flow caused a signal to sound in the locomotive. The engineer would then actuate the brakes, if that was the indication he got from the signal. Pulling the cord itself would do nothing to actuate the brakes.

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Passengers watched killing on Metro car. Should they have intervened? [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 OP

Confront how? MineralMan Jul 2015 #1

yes... i would... and i would expect some of those other dozen or so to help ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #4

It's not a disturbing statement about our culture; its a phenomenon of being human. Brickbat Jul 2015 #5

convenient excuse for being an amoral coward... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #8

We are a herd. When you're in a herd, it creates something called the diffusion of responsibility. Brickbat Jul 2015 #11

ah, the old 'talk tough' on a message board ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #32

He probably could'veput it much better but MissB Jul 2015 #97

Googling Kitty Genovese would get you a lot of misinformation. Jim Lane Jul 2015 #133

you're calling out "talking tough" in a thread where you started that? CreekDog Jul 2015 #108

i am calling out someone claiming that ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #120

Yes, when everyone is responsible, Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2015 #144

Well the guy who did the stabbing isn't much for a herd or community The2ndWheel Jul 2015 #15

I'm sure that you'd reach right through the internet and grab the knife from his hand. Orrex Jul 2015 #19

Well, that poster might actually intervene. I have no idea. MineralMan Jul 2015 #31

Since his claims are contrary to my experience of reality, I require evidence to believe him. Orrex Jul 2015 #44

yay... another person who doesn't know me... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #35

Since I don't know you, I have no reason to believe your claims of bravery Orrex Jul 2015 #41

and no reason to mock them... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #45

If it walks like a duck. Orrex Jul 2015 #50

that's fair i guess... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #60

Uncool? I'm not so sure. Orrex Jul 2015 #64

The mocking comes from your dismissal of a documented psychological effect.. frylock Jul 2015 #81

it's actually being away from the herd that makes you think for yourself Skittles Jul 2015 #130

The suspect was armed and was attacking someone with a knife. LisaL Jul 2015 #13

That's exactly what the bystander effect covers. Kitty Genovese was a prime example that stevenleser Jul 2015 #55

Yes, back in the 60s there was a case where an elderly man was murdered on the street while jwirr Jul 2015 #21

you may be thinking of Kitty Genovese -- after whom 911 was created GreatGazoo Jul 2015 #94

Yes, that is the one I was talking about just forgot some of the facts. jwirr Jul 2015 #95

Where in the article did it say "a dozen"? Glassunion Jul 2015 #10

uh... in the OP's snip ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #22

Sorry. The bottom article linked made no mention Glassunion Jul 2015 #29

i just went with what i saw... ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #34

Not on a holiday. Glassunion Jul 2015 #37

i would have figured it would be packed on the 4th ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #39

The attack took place between the Rhode Island Avenue and NoMa-Gallaudet U Metro stops. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #52

You might step in. Or you might not. MineralMan Jul 2015 #18

I have stepped in to help with an armed attacker ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #26

OK. MineralMan Jul 2015 #33

in fairness to an individual witnessing this ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #42

Depends on who was there and who they were. MineralMan Jul 2015 #46

indeed... i will defer and retract ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #47

which is interesting qazplm Jul 2015 #59

what would someone knowing me have to do ProdigalJunkMail Jul 2015 #62

No one can really know exactly what they would do in the situation. Glassunion Jul 2015 #85

That was my observation in similar circumstances jberryhill Jul 2015 #89

Or its just an example of "the bystander effect". PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #106

...^ that 840high Jul 2015 #131

Yes, it is a disturbing statement about our culture Samantha Jul 2015 #132

An acquaintance of mine once tried to stop a fight MannyGoldstein Jul 2015 #2

I know people who have bones broken trying to break up fights. frylock Jul 2015 #82

Reminds me of that case in NY City so many years ago. cwydro Jul 2015 #3

That's the right name, but the story is more complex than initially presented, I have heard. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #6

Thanks for posting. cwydro Jul 2015 #7

Yes, Kitty Genovese. Brickbat Jul 2015 #9

This may be the same case I was talking about - I thought it was an older man. jwirr Jul 2015 #24

with a madman flailing away with a knife? I'd keep my distance. I value my carotid artery too much geek tragedy Jul 2015 #12

a madman flailing away with a knife edgineered Jul 2015 #53

An enforcer... Chan790 Jul 2015 #128

Sometimes it is difficult edgineered Jul 2015 #136

Fucking scary romanic Jul 2015 #14

Firing a gun on a subway train might not work out as well as hoped mythology Jul 2015 #30

I think the victim... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #61

Did anyone press the intercom buiton to alert the train operator? KamaAina Jul 2015 #16

Yes. I had to omit that due to the four-paragraph limit. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #23

That was my thought. cwydro Jul 2015 #65

They did call 911 philosslayer Jul 2015 #68

Oh, I have no idea, except that I thought there is an emergency stop cord cwydro Jul 2015 #69

Again, I'm not questioning you philosslayer Jul 2015 #73

Couple of things. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #78

Re: emergency stop on the Metro mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #145

Good point. cwydro Jul 2015 #79

The linked article lists two of the witnesses as a 52 year old woman and her 76 year old father Bluenorthwest Jul 2015 #17

Too bad... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #20

There are very, very few CCW permits in DC, where this occurred. MineralMan Jul 2015 #25

Like I said,... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #51

I 'd like to see someone from Utah fire a straight shot on a subway. msanthrope Jul 2015 #66

Did you just ask me... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #70

yes I did in fact ask you if you'd ever been on a subway because it seems your knowledge is limited msanthrope Jul 2015 #90

I've never played Call of Duty... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #96

You might not care how shaky the train is, but bystanders might. Demit Jul 2015 #112

In this situation... TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #124

so there you are on the subway with a.22 sport gun that isn't made for self defense msanthrope Jul 2015 #114

And when you get within 5-10 feet in a shaky enclosed space, gun advantage is almost negated stevenleser Jul 2015 #115

At least I would have tried. TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #122

I think she is asking because its often so shaky in a moving subway car you can't stand up without stevenleser Jul 2015 #92

^^This^^ Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #99

Firing a gun on a crowded subway car into a melee... Maedhros Jul 2015 #56

Indeed, someone could die NickB79 Jul 2015 #98

And that someone is likely to be in addition to the person who was knifed. Maedhros Jul 2015 #101

The rights hater crowd always makes extreme assumptions. former9thward Jul 2015 #103

Wow, this far into the thread and your first irritation is about gun control CreekDog Jul 2015 #111

This whole thread is about rights control. former9thward Jul 2015 #116

no it's not, but thanks for telling us why you're here CreekDog Jul 2015 #118

"Almost always a gun is going to make the perp stop and run away if possible." mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #139

If cops won't intervene, how can we expect civilians to do so? Orrex Jul 2015 #27

There is no legal requirement for a bystander/witness to intervene Lurks Often Jul 2015 #28

Just curious as to what everyone thinks: snot Jul 2015 #36

Be 18+ yoa, get approved through "District of Columbia Self-Defense Spray Registration Form," and Eleanors38 Jul 2015 #75

Here's a clip from the linked news article about the attack. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #38

In DC watching is the most you can do since they've disarmed all but cops and criminals. ileus Jul 2015 #40

The truth. Once legally disarmed, does an atmosphere of impotence prevail.... Eleanors38 Jul 2015 #67

Yeah TeddyR Jul 2015 #93

This is why I avoid public transportation as much as possible. AngryAmish Jul 2015 #43

As someone who took public transportation in L.A. quite a bit, it's not anywhere that bad AZ Progressive Jul 2015 #71

I'm a 66 year old woman. SheilaT Jul 2015 #48

There is cell service in the tunnels, but this part is above ground. NT mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #57

Me personally, I would rally people to help me stop the attack. Rex Jul 2015 #49

maybe they could have swung a backpack or something... Liberal_in_LA Jul 2015 #72

It's probably hard to get a mob going when everyone just watched a man butcher another man Rex Jul 2015 #74

Then the suspect likely would have attacked whoever it was that swung the backpack. LisaL Jul 2015 #86

FWIW... Someone on reddit posted that they were one of the witnesses... Glassunion Jul 2015 #54

Thanks for posting that. Bluenorthwest Jul 2015 #83

. TeeYiYi Jul 2015 #102

Only if i have a weapon LittleBlue Jul 2015 #58

It's a classic ethical excercise - when does a bystander have responisbility to intervene? haele Jul 2015 #63

I can't with this thread JustAnotherGen Jul 2015 #76

Connecticut congressman speaks out on slain American University graduate mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #80

I intervened once in a mugging, because I thought the 20-30 people nearby would back me up. bettyellen Jul 2015 #77

I would have intervened, but I also worked as a bouncer in one of the roughest biker bars in Ghost in the Machine Jul 2015 #84

Oh yeah tough guy? Glassunion Jul 2015 #87

LOL! Ghost in the Machine Jul 2015 #88

Were you nice... PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #107

Not always... there were times that I would be a real a$$hole just because nobody could do anything Ghost in the Machine Jul 2015 #125

Best wishes to you. n/t PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #126

Thank you... I am so laid back now that I tell people that if I were any more laid back, I'd be like Ghost in the Machine Jul 2015 #127

I believe I would have attempted to help TeddyR Jul 2015 #91

I stopped a purse snatching once. AngryAmish Jul 2015 #100

I would hope if I was with several other healthy people, men and Women, that we would all randys1 Jul 2015 #104

This would be a good time for people to read up on the "Good Samaritan" laws... roamer65 Jul 2015 #105

And read the following wikipedia page on the 'bystander effect'... PoliticAverse Jul 2015 #109

Duty to act laws are more common in other nations. roamer65 Jul 2015 #110

one never knows for sure, until the moment of truth arrives HFRN Jul 2015 #113

Easy question seveneyes Jul 2015 #117

I was riding the DC Metro at that time but on the Green Line. DCBob Jul 2015 #119

"A killing on a Metro car is quite unusual here." mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #142

Should they have intervened? Yes. Should they be condemned for not doing so? No. n/t Gormy Cuss Jul 2015 #121

If several strong, healthy men had acted together, they MIGHT pnwmom Jul 2015 #123

I would do something, no question, because I have intervened before Skittles Jul 2015 #129

No one knows until they are in that type of situation Marrah_G Jul 2015 #134

NO!! NEVER!!! oneshooter Jul 2015 #135

I wouldn't have Chirpio Jul 2015 #137

Many years ago a man was attacking his ex-wife... meaculpa2011 Jul 2015 #138

I rescued a lost dog from the road once: That's more my speed. lindysalsagal Jul 2015 #140

This question came up a lot during the #BlackLivesMatter Protests daredtowork Jul 2015 #141

I believe the key is Dyedinthewoolliberal Jul 2015 #143