OTC Self-defense Sprays Don't Work!

[griffin1977]

To avoid a hijack, posted this as its own thread FYI…

Origin of "don't yell 'help!', yell 'fire!'"

To avoid hijacking another thread thought I’d ask this. This fact is pretty much ubiquitous, I’ve heard it both as a real life advice and heard it movies. The idea (as its usually relayed) that in a crime-ridden big city no one is going to rush to help someone in trouble yelling “help!” or “rape!”, but a fire threatens them directly so they will come running if you yell “fire!” Is there any actual evidence this is true? Where did this “fact” come from? I realize there may be some less jaded …