By-Stander Effect

There was a blind lady ahead of me attempting to exit the train this morning. Apart from a guy half-heartedly pushing her arm from behind (probably cos he, too, had to alight), everybody else either did the Glance Past, the Look Down and Shuffle or the Stare Straight Ahead, and moved on with their oh so very busy lives. Seriously?? Is it that hard to just take her hand? You don't even have to say "Let me help you." I had a lot more faith in my countrymen before today. What gracious society have we been speaking of?