Would you have been proactive/brave/involved enough to take this action?

I stumbled upon this story tonight:


Air marshal accused of taking photos under skirts

My wife, upon hearing this story, immediately asked "Would you have done that?" I said "Take pictures up a woman's skirt?!?" She said "No, would you grab a stranger's cell phone away and do what that witness did?" I told her that I wasn't sure without being in the situation and knowing all of the variables.

I asked her what she thought I would do. She said she believes that if I was confident a guy was violating a woman's privacy that way that I would do just that. She thinks I would grab it away. She said at the very least she believes I would speak up and turn him in to either security or the flight attendant.

There are a lot of variables at play, mainly how sure I would have to be that that is what is going on.


So I ask you, what do you think you would do in that situation?
How blatant would it have to be for you to act?
How likely would you be to physically interfere versus verbally pass the info along?

 

Go you. Any idea what happened to him?

 

Yes, I would do so.
I've always defended the bullied and potentially hurt...and it has cost me too for the act.

Even at jobs, when I knew my staff was at risk for harm, I did the appropriate thing, took it to HR...and the company forced me out.
At another, I confronted another large man bullying a few smaller.

And outside, if I see someone in need, I'll assist or do what's necessary.

If only more people would get involved, or there weren't consequences for doing the right thing, this world would be a better place.
I couldn't live with myself otherwise.

 

The problem is this...since he's an authority figure...they are given the benefit of the doubt.

2nd problem is...sometimes they use it for their advantage, create a diplomatic scene that allows them to CYA.

I could see this occuring, the person telling the stewardess...the stewardess not wanting to create a confrontation, brings the guy aside for discretion.
Whispering...and not knowing the accuser and their credibility, asks the guy if this is true... he states, but of course not, you know these passengers.
And so he slides away, nobody knowing wiser.
And I make you a bet this may have happened before. Often one caught, has gotten away before with it.

In this case, the accuser created a situation where the spotlight was on them.
Had the object already, so it can be shown openly...and looked through in front of multiple witnesses.
It's a risk...but it got it out in the open.

This is how subtle bad people get away, the leverage the system and people inclination to not confront.
And even those in charge do not want to confront...they're often even skeptical of the idea.

 

I would address the situation, but I think that's largely influenced by my profession and my career goals. I AM an authority figure, and often see myself on par with people in these roles since I have to cooperate with them as part of my profession. I'm not sure that grabbing the dude's phone was the best way to go about it, though.