Penn State Scandal - What Would You Do?

[Lioness]

A lot of people are heaping scorn on the guy who witnessed the rape of the child and left, calling his father for advice. It's easy to say we would have beaten up the guy, rescued the child immediately and called the police. But sometimes a state of shock sets in. I believe that I would have at least yelled at the guy and not left without taking the boy with me.

One thing that mitigates the witness' lack of action is the fact that the perpetrator was not only a revered figure on campus, but also a very close friend of the father's: so that kind of explains why the guy would call his father first.

Another thing is that the child was not crying or in obvious pain. I do think that makes a difference when you walk in on something like that. It's horrifying, but less so than if the child was crying or screaming. (I know, that's even more horrifying on another level: apparently, it wasn't the first time for this boy.) It's also unlikely that after he was seen, the perpetrator would continue his abuse (at that time).

Some have said that the guy would have taken immediate action if it was a girl. What do you think?

If you caught a close family friend or relative violating a child, think about the shock factor. Honestly do you think you would:

a) intervene directly

b) call the police

c) be in shock and consult with a family member first (The child is not in immediate danger of further abuse.)

Have you ever witnessed a crime or immoral act and been unsure what to do?