Semi-viral video this week emerged of what appears to be a mentally disturbed black man racially insulting and verbally harassing a white couple and their small child on the New York subway.
The couple did its best to ignore the guy, but many commenters seem to think the father should have stood up to the guy or even got into a fight with him. I think the couple did the right thing. Yes when the guy moved toward the couple and the child, the father started to stand up. The guy semi-backed off. I think that was the right way to handle it.
Considering the guy didn't actually touch any of them or make an actual threat, if the dad had done anything he would be the one facing serious charges for obvious reasons we don't need to go into. Racial activists on line and law enforcement at all levels would be accusing him of being the one in the wrong and a "racist."
Further, escalating the situation was the last thing needed by the family or their child. It could have led to more serious harm coming to them.
Putting the racial aspect aside, what is the best way to handle verbal harsssment and intimidating, though not necessarily specifically threatening, behavior on public transit or anywhere these days?
I think not escalating was the right thing to do in this case for a number of reasons though obviously that can be considered weak or cowardly. Not an easy decision how to handle it. Unfortunately these kind of incidents with mental cases and just plain angry people are increasingly all too common in our society as it continues to socially break down and norms of behavior continue to weaken. This will only get worse over time.
