The Appearances Experiment

This is in Paris too, where there are lots of people who do such scams to get you close enough to steal your wallet... which is worth factoring in to the equation.....
(and shows that the smart thief will use the suit to be most effective Appearing to not need money )

a reply to: Bluesma

I once helped a guy passed out on a pavement (5am) and he then tried to hijack my car by threatening murder. Another time, we stopped to help a 'hoodie' laying out by the roadside and he ran away with friends - a practical joke. After the first example, it put me on guard for a long time.

Personal safety is often paramount but the way we assess our risks can be informed by the media we choose to absorb. Prejudice is a very faulty filter...

Altogether it's hard to generalise why individuals help others whilst most do not. We all act out of different urges and independent reasoning.