I totally agree with you on this... I'm not sure if people have more divisive views than ever (they very well might, especially served to them over social media) but we can definitely say that intolerant views are being expressed far more openly than I've ever experienced before.
There is a silver lining though, that incredible footage of the unarmed man tackling one of the gunman and wrestling his gun off him gives us all a symbol of courage and hopefully a reminder to us all that any of us can save lives of strangers. Maybe this becomes an example to impressionable young men who could potentially be drawn into acts of violence by the intolerant.
I didn't know you had a sister in Sydney, I'm very glad your family there is okay.
It is like people are emboldened to be the biggest dicks they can be.
The guy that stepped in made an incredible choice. As I told my brother, I am not sure I would do the same in the situation, but would like to think I would. Would only ever know at that point, which is not a situation I hope to be in.
I think it is high time we redefine what it is to be a man. I feel that it wasn't that long ago (when I was young) that a man was considered a defender of women, not an attacker against. If a man saw a woman in trouble, he would step in, even at personal risk. Now, people seem to walk by, not wanting to get involved. Part of it comes down to the increase in violence though, as stepping in is more likely to be met with extreme violence, rather than a punch-up. Men should be incentivised to be builders in a community, not a destructive force.
Totally agree, statistically-speaking, other women are far, far, far more likely to interject to protect a female stranger than men are... and while extreme violence is definitely possible, anyone trying to assault someone they perceive as weaker will likely back away as soon as they're met with equal or superior force.... ie, a man trying to assault a women is most likely a cowardly bully... which maybe makes extreme violence less likely if a men steps in instead of a woman...?
I'm not frequently bars or nightclubs, but I definitely keep an eye out whenever I'm in public to see if anyone needs help like that... hopefully to try and set a good example and to teach people that behaviour is not acceptable (but will I do it when the moment arrives? No idea... but I hope so.)