Originally Posted by
Trollkiller
There is a large difference between someone that is having a medical problem and someone seeing a person set something down at the mall. Most people are scared to help a person in a medical emergency because they do not have training and are afraid they will make things worse. When a person has a seizure most do not know that the best thing to do is prevent them from crashing into stuff and let the seizure subside on its own. So any "help" given could be harmful.
Most people have their heads buried when they are in the mall. While they may see someone walk away from their purse it does not click that the person is forgetting the object.
In that link (no I did not read it all too many words for my tired brain) people were less likely to react when there were more people around. This is due to a lack of confidence that they will be able to help. When the subjects were fewer the response rate went up dramatically. (31% v. 85%)
The checkpoint is a wholly different dynamic. If you see someone leave something at the checkpoint you know they did not just wander a few feet away. You know that if you have any type of outburst you will be in trouble with the authorities. So instead of calling out to that person and calling unwanted attention to yourself, you tell the authority at the checkpoint.
You don't understand that most people are intimidated by the TSOs. You guys wear cop uniforms, you can deny passage at a whim, you can submit the PAX to humiliating procedures at a whim and you can call real LEOs and we all know at that point the PAX is screwed.
You guys scare the hell out of people. We feel we are walking through gangland wearing the wrong colors. Do nothing that draws attention and you may make it out unscathed.
I might have not explained something eariler, so I'll try to correct that now. Regarding things left at checkpoints, some times passengers tell us, sometimes they do not. There have been many times where something was left behind and people just march around it. They see it, cause they move out if the way, but seemingly care less that it was left.
I do not doubt that we intimidate people. I consider myself fairly kind and nice. I do not yell at people, i smile all the time at passengers even when I don't feel with, and I am careful of my body language. Yet I'm 6'4", 220 pounds, and I have had people tell me things like I'm glad your security, things like that. And I M nit the biggest guy here. And yes, the "cop" uniform scares people too, even on smaller people.
Yet, I still stand by what I said eariler. Even outside the airport, peeople often fail to help others, report things, whatever. Generally, people need to be taught to do these things.
The link I post cites a theory called dIffusion of responsibility - basically it claims the more people that are around, they tend to think other will take responsibility for whY needs to be done, which is why things often are not done (helping people, reporting a bag).
Regarding the medicle emergency at mcdonalds I walked into, I complained to the store manager after paramedics arrived as to why they didn't call for help. They said they though he was a drug user and sort of got what he deserved... Turns out he was on medication and missed taking a daily dosage.