Do-gooder-er

I think I've written before about how people who do Psychology A-level tend to become domestic superheroes, on account of being taught in the Social Psychology module about bystander apathy and Kitty Genovese. Kitty Genovese; the screaming woman whose attacker was able to head off for a bit then come back to kill her in public view whilst nobody called the police, because everyone thought someone else would. Kind of like the parable of the Good Samaritan, except that there was no Samaritan. Everyone else thought someone else was a Samaritan.

I'm a bit of a wader-inner. I can't quite help it. It gets me into trouble. Sometimes I offer detailed advice where even the vaguest of advice is not wanted or needed. I get excitable about half baked projects and ideas and rattle off disturbingly long emails to people. I used to be the kind of girl who let people know she fancied them by love letter. Then email. I'm no longer allowed to email when I'm drunk. Some of these impulses I've knocked on the head, but still the instinct to do good is just below my fingertips. Another of my habits is that I read every missing pet sign I see, and then make a concerted effort to look for that pet. I'm always vigilant for Killa the cat, two budgies and a three legged diabetic yorkie.

A few weeks ago I saw a business woman fainting on the tube platform, and I didn't do anything to help her. I felt terrible about this as soon as I realised what I'd not done. I should clarify that she had four other people helping her at the time and I didn't want to cause more drama. But to be frank they weren't looking very good at it. I'm no Dr Kerry Weaver but I do know that when someone is fainting you just want to guide them safely to the ground as quickly as possible to stabilise their blood pressure and put something soft under their head so their skull doesn't go clunk, not hold them by the arms and try to frogmarch them to a bench so their skirt doesn't get dirty.

That one got by me. Next time I'll just wade in anyway.