04-18-2007, 06:23 PM
Quote:Angel' date='Apr 18 2007, 06:04 AM' post='127862']
How is one to trust that the fellow or lass sitting next to you, or across the hall, will be as diligent in his/her plight to take down one such mass murderer? "Well, if I'm taking a chance trying to take this guy down, I sure as hell want to be certain those people over *there* will too!" Also, most people would probably assume that the first guy out of the chair is the first one who hits the ground. Rationalising. "Hmmm, if Chris and Claire go for him first from their table, he'll hit them first, but I'll be able to take him down from this angle."
Valour and self-sacrifice are noble ideals, but realistically speaking, who among us would react instinctively and give our own life for people we hardly even know?
I can't seem to find the post you were replying to here, but it is an interesting aspect of the situation. If someone points a gun at you, I think the initial reaction of most people is to appease the gunman and live to see another day. This is the best thing to do if all the guy wants is your wallet or your Nikes. If he starts killing everyone in the room without making any demands, then action is necessary, but panic will ensue. The people who faked dead or jumped out the window probably had a better assessment of the situation than most of the others. If everyone is going to die though, you have nothing to lose by trying to be the hero.
It is reminiscent of the hijacked plane taken over by a few men with box cutters. If the people in the plane realized they were never going to land, any small number of them could have neutralized the situation and prevented a tragedy. Perhaps they were just too afraid, but perhaps they incorrectly assumed that their captors had some motive other than maximum body count.
I would guess that this is not the type of thing you can really educate the general public on in a relatively peaceful place. It would be like trying to teach Florida natives how to drive on any icy road. Even if they visualize the situation, when the day comes that they have to use that knowledge, they will panic and do something completely unpredictable.