To the people who saw my dad collapsed on the floor of the Cambie Street Canadian Tire earlier this week

...and walked right past him: please think about what kind of community you want to live in.

*Passive aggressive and divisive rhetoric I kinda regret:*

~~Maybe you thought he was a drug addict or a drunk, and therefore less than human? Were you so scared of homeless men that you didn’t have the guts to even ask a grandfather if he was ok?~~

~~Maybe you were in a real hurry to buy a new bbq or some camping gear, and didn’t have time to help an elderly person who couldn’t stand up, or even muster the strength to speak?~~

~~Maybe you thought he was somebody else’s problem to deal with. After all, isn’t that what you pay taxes for?~~

As he lay there on the floor at the intersection of four shopping aisles, he watched several pairs of feet pass by him without slowing down. This is a man who would never think twice about helping you if your roles were reversed.

My dad eventually got home ok, without the help of any customers or staff. But he’s as sad about the indifference shown him by people in his community as he is about the medical episode itself.

One day, it will be you who needs a helping hand, even if it’s just to call an ambulance. You could be someone having an accidental overdose or drug interaction, someone who forgot to take his meds, or maybe someone having a stroke, panic attack, or heat stroke. And in that moment, the character and courage of the people in your community will make all the difference in the world. I promise I’ll look out for you.

Love,

A Vancouverite

**Edit**: Thanks for all the very kind words in the replies and my DMs. One thing I forgot to mention is that my dad has fallen in public before, and every other time, people have helped him! That fact, coupled with your replies, is evidence that most people do care. Now I’m off for a bike ride with my daughter! Have a nice evening, everyone.

**Edit 2**: That bike ride gave me some time to reflect on the reactions to my post as well as my motivations for posting it. I thought I was trying to spread a message of love, but in rereading what I wrote, I was still way too angry. I should have slept on it. I'm quite dismayed that my post would give even a single person on the fence another reason to move away from Vancouver. I really do think that most of us are kindhearted and willing to help.

I don't know why those particular people didn't stop to ask my dad if he was ok. Maybe it was the bystander effect, as multiple commenters suggested. Regardless, I didn't need to get on my hobbyhorse about our society and how we dehumanize people. Don't get me wrong; I'm genuinely concerned about the way people speak about homeless, refugees, and other folks down on their luck. However, I let those feelings get in the way of what I really wanted to say, which is simply, **Please, let's help each other**.

Thanks again for all of your replies, including /u/PlanetExpressBus who called me out on making sweeping, unproductive accusations, as well as those who raised the value of first aid training.