Culture of unhealthy curiosity

The recent advisory issued by the ROP warning people from crowding around an accident or mishap site is a sad re ection of the culture of unhealthy curiosity pervading our society. Such people do not realise the harm they cause victims caught in a road mishap by either denying rescuers easy access to them or preventing re tenders from responding promptly to an emergency. Often, tragic accidents and mishaps are reduced to live entertainment for curious onlookers and passersby. Out come the camera phones and the jostling for vantage angles to capture the drama played out in front of them. Little do they realise that their actions only aggravate the suffering of the victims, if any, or worse deprive them of any slim chance they have of survival.

— Maytha S

The law should be suitably amended to charge those who impede rescue work with culpability if their actions lead to the tragic death of a victim, for example.

THE