Watch the social experiment that asks: If you saw these people, would you stop to help?

A nice reminder to do something kind today.

 Rebecca Eisenberg
08.14.15

In the hustle and bustle of Big City LifeTM the notion of kindness sometimes gets lost.

We're all in such a rush to get to work or get home from work or catch that train or flag that cab or respond to that text that sometimes we get a bit lost in our thoughts and forget to look around us.

GIF from "Midnight Cowboy."

That doesn't make us horrible people; it just makes us human.

But it's also good to remind ourselves that our ability to be kind is also part of what makes us human. And kindness is a choice that we should, perhaps, strive to make more often.

A group in London recently filmed a social experiment that asked a simple question: "Would you help?"

To find an answer, the video lays out three different scenarios.

First, an elderly woman with a cane and a heavy suitcase approaches a steep set of stairs:

All GIFs via Action Productions.

Second, a man falls asleep on the Tube with a sign asking other passengers to wake him up at Clapham Junction:

And lastly, a man bumps into a young woman on the street, knocking all of her belongings to the ground:

To be honest — and maybe I'm being cynical — but it wouldn't have come as a shock if no one stopped to help these folks. After all, the National Safety Council reports that 11,000 people were injured in distracted walking incidents between 2001 and 2011. If we're so distracted that we injure ourselves while walking, how can anyone expect us to notice when strangers around us might need our help?

But waddaya know? In each of the three scenarios laid out in the video, kindness prevailed. People helped.

Before the elderly woman could reach the stairs, a man was already on his way down to help her:

The sleeping Tube passenger was woken up in time to get off at Clapham Junction:

And a man almost immediately stopped to help the young woman collect her spilled belongings:

The best part though? Each of these good Samaritans was rewarded with a song from the other "strangers" around them:

And watching the surprise on their faces as they try to figure out why their small acts of kindness garnered such praise is exactly why we should all seek to be kind to each other more often.

Watch the full video below:

humanity and culture inspirational culture
More
True
Airbnb

Japanese women aren't allowed to wear glasses to work because they give a 'cold impression.' Here's how they're fighting it.

Photo by Toni Hukkanen on Unsplash

Are looks more important than the ability to get through a long work day without ending up with eyes so dry and painful you wish you could pop them out of your face? Many employers in Japan don't permit their female employees to wear glasses while at work. Big shocker, male employees are totally allowed to sport a pair of frames. The logic behind it (if you can call it that) is that women come off as "cold" and "unfeminine" and – horror of all horrors – "too intelligent."

Women are given excuses as to why they can't wear glasses to work. Airline workers are told it's a safety thing. Beauty industry workers are told they need to see makeup clearly. But men apparently don't have the same safety issues as women, because they're allowed to wear their glasses square on the face. Hospitality staff, waitresses, receptionists at department stores, and nurses at beauty clinics are some of the women who are told to pop in contacts while they're on the clock.

Keep Reading Show less
gender equality sexism japan
popular

Amazing footage shows a beluga whale playing 'fetch' with marine researchers

via The Guardian / YouTube

Beluga whales are affectionately known as sea canaries for their song-like vocalizations, and their name is the Russian word for "white."

They are sociable animals that live, hunt, and migrate together in pods, ranging from a few individuals to hundreds of whales. However, they are naturally reticent to interact with humans, although some solitary belugas are known to approach boats.

Once such beluga that's believed to live in Norwegian waters is so comfortable among humans that it played fetch with a rugby ball.

Keep Reading Show less
whales rugby
popular

An ad telling people to visit the 'G-spot of Europe' sparked controversy. Now it's actually boosting tourism.

No reward comes without risk - or in the case of Vilnius - risqué. The capitol city of Lithuania has a population of 570,000 and regularly makes lists as an underrated and inexpensive European destination. Lonely Planet called it a "hidden gem" of Europe. In 2016, it was rated the third cheapest destination for a bachelor party in Europe by FairFX. And you've probably never heard of it. In August of 2018, the city started running racy ads to increase tourism, calling it the "G-spot of Europe." The ad features a woman grabbing a map of Europe, clutching the spot where Vilnius is located. "Nobody knows where it is, but when you find it – it's amazing," reads the caption.

VILNIUS - THE G-SPOT OF EUROPE youtu.be

Keep Reading Show less
popular

Elementary school teacher leads students in empowering remix of Lizzo's 'Truth Hurts'

The truth doesn't hurt for an elementary school teacher in California who's gone viral for teaching her class an empowering remix of one of Lizzo's hit songs.

Ms. Mallari — who teaches at Los Medanos Elementary School in Pittsburg, east of San Francisco — took the singer's song, "Truth Hurts," and reworked the lyrics to teach her students how to be great.

Lizzo's song made history this year for being the longest running number one single from a female rap artist. The catchy original lyrics are about boy problems, but Mallari's remix teaches her students about fairness, helping each other out, and embracing their own greatness.

Keep Reading Show less
popular