This touching video shows the reactions of strangers to a girl being bullied.
Set up as a social experiment, US channel UPTV created the video to find out whether people would intervene when they came across a person being bullied.
In in the footage, two girls made disparaging comments to a smaller girl, teasing her about her audition for the school play, telling her no one likes her and suggesting she wear makeup.
“Do you have any friends at all?” the bullies taunted. “Are they imaginary?”
“I know a bunch of people … and they said they just pretended to be sick so they didn’t have to go to your birthday.”
The bullying took place at a bus stop, in earshot of bystanders. Uncomfortable with the way the bullies were treating the girl, the video shows many strangers stepped in to put a stop to it.
“This is how you bring people’s self-esteem down,” said one woman.
A security guard shut down the bullies too. “Quit messing with her.”
Others attempted to remove the girl from the situation. One woman invited the victim to sit with her, while a man played her his harmonica.
It’s comforting to know the public won’t stand by and tolerate anti-social behaviour. However, some commentators have questioned whether strangers would be so quick to jump in if the victim wasn’t young, white and female. What do you think? Tell us on Facebook!
