Page 176 - Essencials of Sociology

Helping a Stranger

Serendipity sometimes accompanies capture it with my camera.
Real life sometimes
sociologists as they do their work, differs sharply from that
which was certainly the case here. portrayed in research
The entire episode took no more than laboratories.
three minutes, and I was fortunate to

Two strangers are helping the man, with another two ready to pitch
in. They have all stopped whatever they were doing to help a man

As I was walking in Vienna, a city of almost 2 million people, I heard a
they did not know.
crashing noise behind me. I turned, and seeing that a man had fallen to the
sidewalk, quickly snapped this picture. You can see strangers beginning to
help the man. This photo was taken about three seconds after the man fell.

The man is now on his feet, but still a bit shaky. The two
who have helped him up are still expressing their concern,
especially the young woman.

By this point, the police officer has noticed that I have been taking
photos. You can see him coming toward me, his hand on whatever
he is carrying at his hip, his shoulders back, glowering and ready for a
confrontation. He asked, “What are you doing?” I said, “I am taking
pictures” (as though he couldn’t see this). He asked, “Do you have
to take pictures of this man?” I said, “Yes,” and hoping to defuse the
situation, added, “I’m a sociologist, and I’m documenting how people
help each other in Vienna.” He grunted and turned away.
This photo really completes the series, as this individual was acting as
the guardian of the community, placing a barrier of protection around
the participants in this little drama.
© James Henslin, all photos