cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/50617095

No simply means No, but some people really don't seem to care. Here are some examples from my life: 1️⃣ Three guys were pushing a girl into a car, against her will, I told them to stop, they threatened me, the police came. The victim was asked next to the perpetrators, her "boyfriend" told her to shut up & everybody was just laughing at the police and having a jolly good time until they released them. 2️⃣ Two girls shouted loud for help, while surrounded by a big group of guys, apparently somebody had spit at them, maybe more, it was in a crowded area and I was the only person to stand between them, luckily there was coincidentally police around. This time they luckily separated the victims and the perps and as far as I saw before I left, they did a good old catch and release.... 3️⃣ In a club, a guy chatted up a girl from my group and bought her a drink. She was friendly with him, but clearly told him that she was not interested.

He kept lurking around and followed us for like an hour, he told me "she is sooo beautiful", I asked him friendly to stop as the women in my group, especially one, were scared of him, he got aggressive, so I decided to tell security, the first time we didn't find him, but the 2nd time I saw him again, they finally got him, they talked to him and walked him out of the room, so we were relieved that he was finally gone. I told him to "fk off" and he gave me a headbutt, and hit me in the face, luckily he didn't do too much damage, I then was able to overpower him, but bystanders kept pulling me off, which helped him escape, he then ran out of the club. The crowd & staff came at me until the we had explained who it was & why. I truly hate violence & it's just sad that in 2026 people still behave like that. Staff told me they would remember his face & not let him in again - a real penalty for a tourist. Just felt like putting these stories out there, as I'm repeatedly shocked how bystanders and security usually don't really seem to care, the legal system doesn't either and police is left with catch and release, with abusers and criminals laughing in their face (both of the cases - as they know not much will happen anyway). I know of many places where the situation is way way worse. Surely as a society and humanity we can do better in protecting people from this kind of abuse.