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realityhofosho t1_iu5c2ea wrote

Reply to comment by Ultimating_is_fun in what to do when witnessing a person threatening people on the train by am_pomegranate

Action is often the thing that the offender is trying to avoid as well. At least group action. They may crave the attention of a one-on one confrontation, but our caveman instincts can often sublimate the need for attention when confronted by an antagonistic group. Studies have shown time and again that the worst bullies back down completely when the bullied has even half an ally. Apathy is our greatest temptacion, and collaboration our greatest collective weapon.

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Ultimating_is_fun t1_iu5gd5p wrote

>collaboration our greatest collective weapon

I believe an actual weapon is stronger, so Ima continue to just chill. I won't step in unless the dickhead starts getting physically aggressive.

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realityhofosho t1_iu6cn7h wrote

And that’s exactly what we’ve been trained to believe. “Do what the man with the gun says.” But research now says differently. Group-think (or even a bunch of kids armed with staplers and hole-punchers to throw at an assailant, can be just as powerful a deterrent to a shooting (or any other kind) of abuse or violence.

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