Question

What do you think held the people on the platform back from taking action before the

man fell? When have you seen people holding back from intervening or helping others?

Answer 1

Inferred you are referring to the article “Help Him Up!”: A Witness’s Account of Panic on a Subway Platform By Michael Wilson.

Answer:

1. His ppearance and status

2. When someone was drowning in a river (pool of water)

Step-by-step explanation:

Note that we are first told he was looking odd in appearance; he was filthy doing some kind of deep stretching.

Added to that we were told he was a homeless man. Despite the fact others watched his unsual activity, they likely felt minding their their own business was best for them until the man fell on the tracks.

2. When someone was drowning in a river. This I believe was because no one present at the time knew how to swim. Thankfully, someone who knew arrived on time to save the person.