Stand next to someone being harassed
Intervening directly can escalate. Standing beside the person and talking to them usually does not.
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Why it lands
The instinct is to confront, which often increases the risk for the person being targeted. What tends to work better is distraction: attending to the target rather than the aggressor removes the audience the behavior depends on and gives the person an ally without a confrontation. It works because harassment is a performance that needs a passive crowd, and it stops being one when somebody joins the other side.
How
Go and stand with them and start an ordinary conversation — ask for directions, the time, anything — while ignoring the aggressor entirely. Stay until they are safe. Ask afterwards what they want to do rather than deciding for them.
Answer if you want. It changes which ideas are shown first.
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