Wow!
 

Because this is what I do everyday, working with kids, I would have done something, especially after I heard her say you are not my daddy and help. Rather be safe than sorry...

My friends and I were just discussing this video last night after I emailed to them. One friend said that as a child she was taught to scream "Stranger Stranger". Maybe that would be a little more effective thatn "you're not my dad". "You're not my dad" sounds more tantrum-like..."you aren't my dad, you don't tell me what to do." No one can mistake the word "stranger", although again, the girl in the video did say "I don't know you." *sigh*

I watched this the morning that it came out on the Today show. I was late to work that day cause I had to rewatch the part where the guys rushed this man. I was rolling at the man's expression when he saw 2 black men about to dig in his azz. I was proud of the fact that unlike what the rest of society thinks, black men do feel a sense of responsiblity and community. They didn't know this girl but were about to take on this man. I think I would have at least called 911 even if I did nothing else.

I found this critique of that video. Very interesting analysis as to why people did not rush to help.

http://www.livescience.com/othernews...er_danger.html

I agree with this. If you listen to the video again he is saying "there you are, don't you ever leave again like that" or something to that effect. So it sounds as he he is chastising her for wandering off (afterall she was a 7 year old standing there alone,) and she responds you're not my dad. As you said, that could have been taken to mean you can't tell me what to do, you're just my step father.

Personally, I would have thought that she was just a bratty suburban NY kid.

Also remember these were multiple takes, not one continuous one where all those people kept passing by. Different people heard different snippets. The brothas heard the "someone help me, he's not my Dad," but it appears not what the dude said in the beginning. So they heard it in the context of her being snatched.

I am not excusing what happened, but I think the test was a little flawed.

That's exactly what the article I posted above said about this. I stated that because the girl was not convincing, people sized up the situation and accurately determined that the girl was in no immediate danger, they simply took it to be that she was being disobedient. It goes into a number of different things as well but the overall fact of the article says that the exercise was poorly staged.
http://www.livescience.com/othernew...ger_danger.html

Me too on both points!