Back in leafy North London, looking at houses again.
Outside Finsbury Park station is a young couple, he's holding her face in his hands and murmuring intently in her ear. It could be romantic but there's something just a little off about it. They could be any two young Londoners, wearing jeans, t-shirts and trainers, but they are both thin, dead pale, cheap clothes looking strictly utilitarian and not chosen for reasons of fashion.
I run into them again moments later on the stairs down to the platform, he's looking all around him and I look away when he glances in my direction, I've a feeling that eye contact would be unwise. This time he has his arm around her, on the stairs he pushes her up against the wall, holds her face again, starts muttering. Her face is turned away, long fair hair covering it, she keeps her head down, like she's used to avoiding conflict. Prostitute and pimp? Junkie and dealer? What would you do? I'm a Londoner, and a coward. I walk past.
About Yoko Ono
2 days ago
6 comments:
What to do, though? They could be a couple arguing, it could be anything. If there's obvious violence or a threat of violence, I'd like to think I'd step in. But what would I do then? Punch someone? Perform a citizens arrest? Or exacerbate the situation? Get stabbed?
At the end of the day, whilst you should always do your best to help others in distress, you also have to look after yourself. After all, whatever occurs is not your fault, it's the fault of the aggressor.
If you did something every time you saw anything untoward happening in London you'd never get anything done.
And I think it has been scientifically proven that the only way to survive in London is "to keep one's head down". Worked for me, but then I'm an emotionless husk.
...and it is FINSBURY PARK, an utter craphole and the mugging centre of London. If you must move there, as far away from the centre is a great idea.
And if I see trouble like that on the Tube, I let the station staff know, just so they can keep an eye on things (if they can be bothered).
Shit - that sounds bad. It's all very well intervening but you just don't know what's going to happen. I wimped out yesterday when 2 guys pranced into the kids area (where dogs aren't allowed) of my local park with a jittery pitbull and a bag of Fosters. I stood and stared at them for a moment re: the dog as it was really jittery and growly. They got really jittery and growly themselves and started calling me names and asked me what I was staring at. I was going to have a go but then I didn't really want to let my son see me get stabbed or both of us being set on by a pitbull. So I just picked up our ball and walked away - into the dogs bit and carried on playing football there. I was going to go home and call the police but thought better of it in case they recognised me locally. Oh the fear of living in London - it's shit sometimes. I hope that girl was ok.
Yes, tricky. But, as Clair said, I'd let the station staff know. They must have 'procedures' for dealing with that sort of thing, and could presumably get the police there sharpish if need be. And, thanks to the wonders of mobiles, you could always (subtly) phone the police yourself. Dunno about intervening personally. I'd have to feel very sure the physical threat wasn't too high, and there's not a great way of knowing. Shit. What a shame the body doesn't immobilise itself when the wanker-behaviour indicator shoots upwards.
Del, right, though it's one of the troubling things about living in London and so many people being around all the time, you have about a nanosecond to assess a situation and react (or not.)He was keeping his voice down but still attracting attention, so there was definitely something up. Like you said though, what to do?
Timbo, too true, just sometimes (especially as a woman seeing another woman in what looks like trouble) walking away can make you feel very guilty.
Hi Clair! Awww, poor Finsbury Park. I'd like to think that we in Hackney can give them a run for their money in the mugging stakes, and we put in sterling effort with gun crime and knife crime...
RoMo, poor baby! What bastards. You definitely did the right thing.
It's funny how a fleeting contact can give such a strong impression, I had a feeling with this girl that she was generally in trouble, not just at this moment. Hope I'm wrong.
BiB - yes, I'm feeling like a dope now for not doing that - will remember blogging friends' advice if it ever happens again - though to be fair, he wasn't being overtly violent or even loud, and was cleverly keeping his voice low...
Post a Comment