After reading an article about teens who took video footage of someone drowning instead of calling for help, I remembered an incident from third grade. Our class went next door to another teacher's classroom. Both classes started watching a film. Some kids laughed loudly while watching footage of kids falling off their bikes and tripping over things. I remember thinking, "Why are people laughing about this? This really isn't funny, and it's rude to laugh." After this went on for a while, one teacher stopped the film. The other teacher admonished those who'd laughed.
"This film is not supposed to be funny!" she said sharply. "It's about hurtful situations everyone goes through and how we're supposed to be compassionate and help each other. Let's start the film again. This time, we're going to watch it without laughing!"
No one laughed the second time around. I wonder if anyone ever taught those who have filmed horrific incidents instead of calling for help such a lesson. If so, I wonder why it didn't stick.
