The Power to Save Another

@expletivedeleted: I didn't think anyone remember the Kitty Genovese case... what lulz. The fact that their neighbors could've switched all their lights on could've scared the would-be murderer away. Everytime he was about to close in on Kitty, she would scream and the lights would go on, and he would run away. This happened around 2-3 times before he finally killed her.
It's ironic, and friggin ridiculous. If anyone would've made the call to the police and made a show that someone was watching she might not have died in vain that night. Honestly, I'd charge that block of the neighborhood where the murder took place with second degree manslaughter.

The way I see it then yes, it's just as bad if you decide not to save someone *if* you're able to (no one will expect you to save a drowning man if you don't know how to swim).

Now, whether it's just as bad, I'd say it depends. Taking the example above, you'd judge differently if the person not helping was a passerby than you would if he was a lifeguard, right? Certain people have the duty to help the rest (doctors, policemen etc etc) so they're judged harsher.

It also depends on whether you were responsible (and how much) in endangering the one you didn't help. See: Not helping a biker that's hanging with one hand from a branch above the cliff Vs The above + you were the one that drove on him and knocked him.



Totally not related:

not really, its just the survival of the fittest. if you think they should live and can survive why not charge em anyway?