Outside My Comfort Zone

Have you ever been out in public and witnessed something which made you uncomfortable? Did you struggle with the question of whether or not to engage with the strangers involved and address the issue? Sometimes it is of relatively little consequence such as someone whose tags are sticking out or who has toilet paper stuck to her shoe. Neither is a big deal really, but what if I know that person is heading into a job interview or some other place where first impressions are really important. Do I say anything?

What if I notice someone whose fly is open or whose shirt button has popped off? Pointing out these sort of issues is somehow more embarrassing than the previous ones (both for me and the person with the wardrobe problem) making it harder to speak up, but isn’t it even more important to speak up in an attempt to shield the other person from further embarrassment?

But what about the times when it isn’t embarrassment at stake but potential safety. For example, when I am in the grocery store and I see a grown up yelling at a child. I don’t mean the raised voice, reprimand kind of yelling. I am referring to the yelling and name calling which, if done by a peer, would certainly be considered bullying. As unacceptable as it would be for me to walk away from this kind of interaction between two children it seems societally even more unacceptable for me to speak up when the offending person is an adult. Why is it so unacceptable to intervene? And why am I so fearful of the backlash I might suffer if I choose to stick out my neck?

All I know is if I am that frightened to say something, how must that child feel?