【英语时差8,16】介入或旁观该如何拿捏？

Several years ago, I was standing¹ at a bus stop when suddenly a couple emerged from a nearby alley², arguing loudly. More or less in unison³, we at the bus stop all turned and looked them.

Then the man grabbed the woman by the shoulders and, yelling, began to shake her till she was about to fall to the ground.

I walked quickly to the couple and called out, "Please, sir, please stop doing that. You're hurting her."

The man did stop. His mouth agape, he stared me down and let go of the woman. Two things then occurred. The group of strangers at the bus stop turned and looked away as if nothing had happened. And, a moment later, the man and woman sauntered arm in arm back into the alley.

It is not easy to discern when to hold back and when to get involved in a potentially sticky situation. When should we say "Enough is enough," and stick our noses into something that is not ours? I can understand a person being afraid to get involved in someone else's problem because they fear first, physical danger, secondly⁴, financial damage, and thirdly, general inconvenience.

I still feel I did the right thing that day. Would I do it again today? I hope so.

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 alley   

n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路

参考例句：

• We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
• The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。

3 unison   

n.步调一致，行动一致

参考例句：

• The governments acted in unison to combat terrorism.这些国家的政府一致行动对付恐怖主义。
• My feelings are in unison with yours.我的感情与你的感情是一致的。

4 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。