As they continued on their way, a small crowd began to form around Joe, drawn by the commotion of his presence on the sidewalk. The onlookers gathered with an air of detached curiosity. Several people took out their phones, snapping pictures and recording videos of the scene.
The crowd’s collective gaze was marked by a sense of passive observation rather than active concern. Despite the growing number of people, few made any move to approach or offer assistance. The phenomenon of the bystander effect was unmistakable; each individual seemed to assume that someone else would step in and take responsibility.