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The Old 'What Would You Do If Saw A Guy Getting Strangled To Death In An Elevator' Experiment

March 4, 2013 / experiment, freaking out, hmm, i would have jumped in there kicking and stomping like it was a mosh pit, i'll just take the next elevator thanks, iffy, movies, murder, oh great now i just killed a guy and it turns out it was just a prank -- for the record i shouldn't be allowed to be prosecuting for this, questionable, viral advertising, what would you do?, whatever

elevator-murder-experiment.jpg

This is a viral ad for that movie 'Drop Dead Fred' or whatever (actually 'Dead Man Down' for the sake of journalistic integrity) that features two dudes in an elevator, one pretending to strangle the other with an extension cord, to see how people will react. SPOILER: Poorly -- they react poorly. Most run away (presumably to call for help but maybe just to pretend nothing happened), several jump in there and get physical, and at least one dude just stands there taking pictures. Amazingly, there were no weapon-toting heroes in the bunch to put an end to the experiment. What would you have done? Because I would have just gotten on, waited for the doors to close, busted ass so hard they both passed out, then tied them up and interrogated them. Remember: just because somebody is strangling someone doesn't automatically make them the bad guy.

Hit the jump for the video.

Thanks to Rob, who would have jumped in there, kicked dude's ass, written 'I just tried to strangle a guy and failed' on his forehead, then hit the button for every floor in the building to shame him. Another solid strategy.

There are Comments

  • Most of the reactions in this video are just plain disgusting. Someone is getting murdered and most of them just run away? Even if they get the cops, yeah they might be able to catch the murderer but it'd be too late to save the guys life. Faith in humanity has just dropped a shit load.

  • Speaking of YouTube. Fight or flight are basic instinctive responses, but modern technology seems to have created a new one. Fight/Flight/Film? Interesting.

  • JJtoob

    That's not such a bad idea, if you think you can't physically help the victim, as long as you are sure you can get away, but he should have been yelling for help one way or another.

  • Now, now. Let's not be so pessimistic. Maybe the people that ran away had just realized that it was a ruse and made a quick getaway to change their soiled underpants.

  • I have too much pent up anger from dealing with the public, that poor guy playing the murderer would be seriously injured.

  • Idlethoughts

    It's easy to make statements about what you would do in a hypothetical situation, but no one really knows what kind of person they are until they've been in a crisis situation. Keep that in mind before you rush to judge and look down on others.

  • I'm very disappointed in the number of people who didn't try to help. Even more so in those that just watched. I'm glad that their were people still willing to help or at least call the police, even if it's with a bouquet of flowers. ^_^ ("you're new weapon of choice?" "Yes! That's right! Watch as I thrash our enemies with the mighty power of floral arrangements!"-Alistair; DragonAge)

  • Sonya Kiersky

    Yessss...a fellow fan :) Yup, the lady with the bouquet was the best part because she didn't care what happened to her stuff, she immediately jumped in. That's the spirit, have got to do the best no matter what's at hand....
    Now how would Alistair have dealt with this? Made wise cracks at the two until they walked away feeling embarassed for him? Put on a dress and danced the remigold? Haha

  • maybe, The thought does give me a chuckle! lol

  • Mathias

    I'm surprised no one kicked him in the face ( I probably wouldn't think that far if it was me but anyway ??)

  • Paul Bleemstra

    I can't believe none of them masturbated. Has to be fake.

  • Guest

    Clearly this didn't take place in America otherwise the assailing would have been shot immediately. YAY GUNS!

  • Sonya Kiersky

    This did take place in the US. You were born a moron, are currently a moron, and will die a moron. I am sad to be the one breaking this news to you. Enjoy your uninformed life.

  • It's pretty sad the number of 'awful Samaritans' in this video. I don't know if it's been edited to seem worse than it actually is, but if you just take a photo or video of me getting strangled; when I get up, I'm going to strangle you myself. Don't even get me started on the folks who just walked away (0:55) pretending they didn't see anything.

    However, for every 1 person who acted like a coward, I saw 3 - 4 people who jumped right in and either verbal confronted the attacker [which still takes nuts] or physically got involved. That makes me proud to be a human being again.

  • Lucky nobody had a stun gun or pepper spray, because that would have broke things up pretty quick.

  • Rayn_A

    Oh man, pepper spray in an elevator would probably choke out everyone.

  • Again, no one is just going to see a struggle and pull out a gun and shoot someone. EVEN IF they were just in the mood to come out shooting without asking questions, both guys involved in the fake struggle would, I don't know, say something like "Don't shoot, we're just filming an experiment on the Good Samaritan, to measure how willing people are to put themselves at risk to save someone who's life is clearly in danger. So far, the results are pretty sad, actually - it seems most people are selfish assholes... but hey how are you? Oh yeah, that gun you're pointing... could you NOT shoot it at us? That'd be great. Thanks, man."

    Alternatively, they could say "WAIT - Don't shoot!". That works, too.

  • Idlethoughts

    a stun gun is a type of tazer, used for nonlethal self defense, just like pepper spray.
    Please calm down and read before ranting at people.

  • Maybe no one helped because they were terrible actors?

  • Nah, the adrenaline would take over anyone seeing that - fight or flight would engage. That entirely negates the fact that they are not AAA actors.

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