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Good Samaritan

The term 'good samaritan' came out of a Biblical parable that Jesus Christ told about a Samaritan that helped a man in need when other who should of, did not. This thread is not about that story, nor the Bible, it is about people you know that have tried to be 'Good Samaritans' and it did not seem to pay off very well. Would you try to help in a case where your own life might be in jeopardy?

GOOD SAMARITAN WOULD DO IT AGAIN

A good Samaritan who had to undergo reconstructive facial surgery after he was savagely beaten for trying to stop a potentially fatal domestic fight has said he would do it all again.
Ref. https://www.stuff.co.nz/hlc/1,,93498~3407317a11~,00.html

Samaritan Good

I think the most recent example we can relate to are the folks in New Orleans sharing food and water or conducting rescue efforts at the risk of their own lives. There were folks walking in contaminated water to allow children and elderly to float on rafts, levee workers getting shot at by looters, and peace officers and guardsmen getting attacked for trying to maintain order. While not having been put in a situation like that all that, I'd hope I'd help someone regardless of the sacrifice.

Not to derail: Is the man mentioned in the news story a "better" samaritan for sacrificing in an attempt to help? That is, do we measure the decency of his act by the result (stopping the fight), his relative sacrifice (hospitalization, pain, etc.), his intent (helping the woman), or some combination of all three?

Good Samaritan Beliefs Religious General

Good points WD Agent. I do not know if he could be consider a "better" samaritan for what he has done, I think that when he saw the guy beating up the woman he did not really stop and think the consequences, he just react as a normal human being would react if they see someone in trouble (I am talking those who have actually "blood" on them!). The example you gave about the people in New Orleans is a bit different because even though those people are willing to help by risking their own lives yet the people who are they helping to are not turning against them and trying to kill them.

Offtopic but, We can see the example of the USA trying to help in Somalia. The same people they tried to help end up killing so many soldiers.

Samaritan Good

It is in these situations when you hae a choice to help or walk away, especially in light of personal harm, that a person's character is defined. This is true for life critical and everyday situations. Do you help the person push the car to the side of the road if it is inconvenient to you such as raining, you are late, or a bad neighborhood. This is a good question for introspection.

Wyldehorse