Internets to the Rescue

[VirusType2]

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/74_of_social_media_users_expect_cries_for_help_to.php

Many Web users said they would use social media to seek help for themselves or others during emergencies, the report said, and those users expect first responders to be listening. Almost three out of every four responders said they would expect help to come less than an hour after their first tweet or Facebook post.

 

[Gargantou]

So like, if one of these people get mugged on the street, the first thing they do is take up their iPhone and tweet "sum guy just put a gun in my face and asked me for my cash and i gave it to him!"?

What if the robber takes their iPhone!?

Then they're doomed!

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

... so if someone makes a fraudulent tweet would there be consequences similar to prank-dialing 911?

 

[Ridge]

So much fail

 

[dfc05]

If I had a phone on me, obviously I'd call 911. If I didn't have a phone, but somehow had internet access, I definitely wouldn't expect actual emergency personnel to be there. However, there's almost always at least one person on Facebook chat who I would totally bug to get help.

 

[Solaris]

I don't believe the poll. People probably intended to answer, "If something bad happened I would post on fb within 30mins" and this has been misconstructed to mean they would post there for help.

 

[Sulkdodds]

Or they're thinking that one of their friends would see their post and call emergency services for them, which seems much more likely and a pretty reasonable expectation.

 

[15357]

Oh god guys I've been stabbed please call the cops for me I'm somewhere around

 

[Gargantou]

^I called the cops and told them you said you were a communist sympathizer so I did my duty to the Korean motherland and stabbed you, they said they'll nominate me for a medal!

 

[Druckles]

To be fair, if I was in a situation that I couldn't call anyone, I'd probably try and text.

Harder to do without looking on a touch screen phone, though.

 

[KiplingsCat]

If the interwebs happened to be the best option available, then yeah, of course I would use them for help. But I can't imagine an emergency situation in which I would actually have internet access...it's not as if you're going to be able to go on facebook or twitter when your house is on fire or you're being mugged. Calls to mind that IT crowd episode where Moss emails the fire brigade (does anybody here watch the IT crowd? It's very good )

 

[FrostedxB]

To be fair, if I was in a situation that I couldn't call anyone, I'd probably try and text.

Harder to do without looking on a touch screen phone, though.

I do believe 911 dispatchers can get texts for help now. But no dispatcher is going to sit on Facebook looking for people who need help.

 

[bam23]

"****IN WAIT! MY COMPUTER IS STILL BOOTING"