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From: reh@aplvax.UUCP (Ron E. Hall)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Why not walk them home?
Message-ID: <108@aplvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Jun-85 14:34:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: aplvax.108
Posted: Fri Jun  7 14:34:57 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 10-Jun-85 21:35:26 EDT
References: <1566@reed.UUCP> <592@sphinx.UChicago.UUCP> <5385@tekecs.UUCP> <294@ihlpa.UUCP>
Organization: JHU/Applied Physics Lab, Laurel, MD
Lines: 45

You ask a hypothetical question, you get a rhetorical answer.
Only the real situation can ask an individual "what would you do if ..."
and get a real answer.
The two men in the example were apparently involved by the woman
and answered in accordance with their natures-
to help, even at some obvious risk to themselves.
I accept the risk in escorting a woman 
because I don't want her hurt and I think my presence
will dissuade rapists who prey on lone women.
Against armed men seeking to do violence
I have no real defence, but the slight increase
in exposure to this type of attack I experience
is worth the increased security she has from sexual attack.
In a confrontation with violent men,
where the situation is out of control,
the stakes high, with injury or death likely,
and the outcome uncertain, 
I cannot predict what I might do.
I doubt anyone can.
People react without thinking
to the exigencies of the moment
in accordance with their true nature,
and weighting of responsibilities elswhere
is only one quantity in the equation.
My experience based on ambulance work in college
is that most people try to help in emergencies,
even at some risk to themselves,
and the rest freeze or run away,
and only God sees deeply enough into a person to tell
before the fact which group he belongs to.
It's a good question, really a good thought experiment,
but the  answer isn't useful because
it can come only after the fact.


					Ron Hall
					JHU/APL
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-- 

					Ron Hall
					JHU/APL
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