I saw someone die the other day.

VladtheDestroyer

VladtheDestroyer

Well-known member
It was at this huge outside plaza in front of strip mall, where I catch the subway to work. The paramedics were already working on him when I got there. Alone, heavy set, over 6 feet, mid to late 50s, grey hair. Laying on his back, stripped down to his boxer shorts. It seemed to me like someone should be there. I waited for a minute, but everyone just kept walking by. Not even looking at what was going on. So I left too, and walked around the corner where I could still see. 100 people walked by and no one batted an eye. And it was so sad to see how hard the medic who was giving him chest compressions was working. He must have gave it a good 10 minutes. And nobody even seemed to care. They just cared about doing their shopping. It made feel like I wanted to start yelling at everyone "Hey! This man is dying!"

I cannot stop thinking about this. When I was kid, if a fire truck or an ambulance came to a house on your street, the entire neighbourhood would be outside and showing concern. Even neighbours who normally hated each other would be asking each other, "Hey did you see what happened? I hope he is going to be okay!" and they would become friends on that day!
 
annabenedetti

annabenedetti

like marbles on glass
VladtheDestroyer said:
It was at this huge outside plaza in front of strip mall, where I catch the subway to work. The paramedics were already working on him when I got there. Alone, heavy set, over 6 feet, mid to late 50s, grey hair. Laying on his back, stripped down to his boxer shorts. It seemed to me like someone should be there. I waited for a minute, but everyone just kept walking by. Not even looking at what was going on. So I left too, and walked around the corner where I could still see. 100 people walked by and no one batted an eye. And it was so sad to see how hard the medic who was giving him chest compressions was working. He must have gave it a good 10 minutes. And nobody even seemed to care. They just cared about doing their shopping. It made feel like I wanted to start yelling at everyone "Hey! This man is dying!"

I cannot stop thinking about this. When I was kid, if a fire truck or an ambulance came to a house on your street, the entire neighbourhood would be outside and showing concern. Even neighbours who normally hated each other would be asking each other, "Hey did you see what happened? I hope he is going to be okay!" and they would become friends on that day!
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When I was a kid and we heard a siren, my mom would say a quick prayer for the person in distress, and ask God to have mercy on them if it was their time. I still do that to this day. You don't know, but maybe there were people praying for them when they passed by. Honestly, I'd rather see people keep walking (seeing that he was receiving medical aid and wasn't alone and unaided) than see them pull out their phones and start taking video of a dying man. May his soul rest in peace. I do understand what you mean about the hugeness of it, that this man's soul was traveling out of this world. That everything in this life had come to a final end. That can really stay with you.

As for neighbors... I've lived in wildfire country for most of my life. It was a common thing when there was a fire for everyone in the neighborhood to come outside and gather wherever we could get the best view, and gauge whether there was need to take action or not, and if not, let the kids watch the firetrucks and water drops. On a city street, though, it's a little different. I think had this happened in a neighborhood and not in front of a strip mall, it might've been different.
 
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