A man, walking with a crutch, falls down. Would you help? Of course, you say? Would the man's appearance matter?
Be honest now.
Diego Dolciami and Matteo Moroni of DM Pranks decided to stage a social experiment in Italy. They filmed two scenarios: the first was with a well-dressed "businessman" in a suit. The second was with a homeless man in ragged clothing, carrying what seems to be his whole worldly possessions. In both instances, the men walked with a cane and fell down in front of strangers (both men and women).
Then, Dolciami and Moroni watched whether passers-by would help. They repeated the experiment 10 times each, and came to this shocking - or, depending on your point of view, obvious - conclusion that our decision to help someone in need is absolutely colored by our judgment of that person.
In 10 out of 10 cases, the businessman was helped by passers-by. But only 2 out of 10 instances was the homeless man rescued. Some people saw the homeless man fell down but hesitated to help, some approached but backed away when they saw the ragged clothings, and some didn't even stop at all.
Before you tsk, tsk-ed the choice of the people in the video clip, ask yourself what you would do. Would you be afraid that the homeless man might be crazy and try to hurt you if you tried to help? Maybe he's dirty and smelled bad?
What would you do?
I probably wouldn't bother helping the businessman either. I guess I would assume it's a distraction in either event. I've seen too many thieves in Italy. Here at home, I may be more helpful.
However, I have worked in my church's homeless outreach ministry for many years, and have come to regard many homeless or home-insecure people in my city as friends or frequent contacts whose situation is not as simple as I had first assumed. I have also come to regard their care and respect as my own responsibility: a privilege and burden gifted to me by my God, and so I am compelled to be compassionate and give assistance.
Because of this, I have had experience with the discipline of disregarding my natural defensive thoughts and attitudes in order to obey the command to follow the example of the 'Good Samaritan'. It is no easy thing, and I can understand the compelling impulse to ignore a fallen homeless, poor, smelly and strangely-behaving person.