How do you react to someone crying in public?

Ask them whatsthamatter sonny.

I’ve helped people in this situation before several times.

I’m always wary now though, that they could be crazy or some type of scammer.

Thank you! But do you think the general public is as quick to respond? I feel like people would ignore it..ie. bystander effect

none of my business!

Ignore them.

Never happend to me, but i think i’d deal with it in the most sexist way possible.

i.e. if male ignore; if female consolate.

Hey, i may be an asshole but at least i admit it openly!

Honesty is great.

I guess it would depend on the affect of the crying person. If they seemed merely sorrowful, I would probably leave them alone; if disconsolate or lost, I would ask if he or she was o.k.

If they were alone, I’d ask if they were okay. If they were with someone, I’d just leave them alone.

I’d leave them alone

Im with @BoBo1946 . unless i was asked for help.

I’m a empathetic old coot. I would ask them if there was anything I could do.

I would ask them if there was anything I could do. It doesn’t matter if male or female to me, if someone is upset and there is something you can do to help, you should. Everyone has feelings !

I’d slap ‘em silly….;)

My first instinct is to give them a tissue, and ask if they needed help.
My second instinct is to mind my own business.
It is a conflict, and I usually do what feels right for the moment.

i ussaly just ask them if they need help then talk to them.my therapist used to allways say you never know when you change someones life or mood.

Natural instinct would be to ask if they need anything and if they don’t answer tell them a cow joke. Always works for me.

If it’s someone I know, they get a hug.
I’ve seen an adult break into tears in public before,
and I knew them personally.
If I don’t know them, I’ll ask what’s wrong and… offer them a stick of gum.

@lucillelucillelucille

Tisk! Cynic much? ; )

Cry with them.

On a return flight from Italy, there had been several delays and I had been up for about 36 hours or so. I was in a lobby in O’Hare ariport. I was not crying but close to it, getting ready to get back in yet another line, this time for a hotel voucher where I would at last be able to sleep. A complete stranger woman came up to me and grabbed me. She hugged me really hard, and pushed my hair back and told me that it was going to be ok. She held me while I took some deep breaths, made sure that I was ok before letting me go. I then got in line and another stranger, an airport employee, took me and some other parents with kids and rerouted us to a shuttle and bypassed the check in, straight to a room.
I never got to ask her name and I’ve never forgotten her kindness.

I give a cursory glance to make sure they’re not bleeding or injured.

It depends. If safety isn’t an issue, I’d most likely offer whatever help I could.

I would offer M&Ms.

I feel sorry for them but unfortunately I leave them alone. Last Thursday I walked round Sainsburys crying, no body said anything to me.

I’d judge it on a case-by-case basis…. people who want help exhibit certain behaviours through their body-language.

@thriftymaid Give me M&Ms and I’ll stop crying any time.