The Bystander Effect

A tragic situation unfolded on the streets of Queens, New York on March 13, 1964.  As she was returning home from work, Kitty Genovese was brutally stabbed outside her apartment building. Many neighbors heard her screaming out in a panic, but only one man shouted out his window, “Let that girl alone.”  That was all…

The Open Door

A preacher had a phone number that was very similar to that of the Public Library’s “Dial-A-Tale” system. Any time a child wanted to hear a fair tale, the youngster would call the number and could listen to a story. Since the preacher’s number was only one wrong digit different, the preacher often received wrong…

The Missing Sponge

A surgeon was very selective with the people he wanted to work with.  It was the first day on the job for a young nurse and the surgeon decided to issue a test.  As the young nurse assisted the surgeon during a procedure, she noticed a problem. “You’ve only removed eleven sponges, doctor,” she said…