What would you do?

Unlike the shows like Extreme makeover: Home edition that illustrate the positive bystanders that are willing to help those in need, are shows like “What would you do?” that reveal negative bystanders. This ABC news show features newsman John Quiñones, who tests human nature through hidden camera scenarios. These scenarios include a 15 year old being pressured to agree to marry a man ten years older before a restaurant, a Mexican man being beaten in broad daylight by a group of racists, and group of teens vandalizing a car while people just walk on by (“What would You Do?”). This TV show is different than others because it actually made me think “what would I do?” Would I stand up to someone who was being bullied? Would I intervene even if others were around, or rather, if no one was around? Would I do the right thing simply because it was the “right thing” to do? I have heard it said that the right thing to do is what one does when no one else is watching, when it is just as easy to walk away. These thoughts have crossed my mind since watching this show, and I respect the producers for giving viewers an opportunity to witness these negative bystanders first hand without a script. Maybe after seeing this tv show I will think twice about my actions and act in some helpful way. Such might have saved the life of a terrified woman who died alone on the streets of New York almost a half-century ago.
So, what would you do?

picture and content citation Information:
"What Would You Do? - ABC News." ABCNews.com. Web. 10 Oct. 2010. .