Gday...

The link didn't work for me for some strange reason, so I will insert it again to see if it works now.

http://faithtap.com/2607/freezing-homeless-child-experiment/

I would also like to add the following comments -

A similar experiment was carried out about 10 years ago. The only difference was they did the 'scenario' in a busy New York Street, the main street of a large regional city, the main street in a medium regional city, and in a small regional town.

The results in the New York street and the large regional city were the same as this experiment. No-one showed any compassion or interest for many hours. 

The result in the medium regional city was very similar. However, people were more ready to stop and help - albeit less than 20% of passers-by.

The result in the small regional town was exceptional. Almost every person stopped and asked to help - often gathering in groups to offer assistance.

Unfortunately, I don't think it is that society has become more 'suspicious' it is more that the majority of our society is now so well off and cosy in our situation we have lost the ability to show compassion and "don't want to get involved".

Add to that, particularly in large cities, if someone is "on the street' as this boy was, the first reaction of "our society" is that this person is "obviously" some drug-addled, worthless 'thing'. People are fearful that if they stop and show interest, or compassion, or assistance, they might get "caught up in this worthless person's life". Society has lost the ability to "relate" to what it is like to be "needy" - GENUINELY needy ... not "damn, I don't have internet here!" 

Interesting that in small regional towns this attitude is not the 'default' reaction - it may ultimately be, but it is not the default reaction. Small regional towns, in the majority of 'civilised' world, seem to be more ready to help people down on their luck - in jeopardy and need.

What a sorry lot the general population has become. 

Cheers - John