I've been the person who happened to be there and who rose to the occasion to save the life of a person I didn't know well, or was sort of distant from in our work-situation. Actually it's happened more than once, including in one case what felt temporarily like some very intimate moments, riding with the person in the ambulance and helping her breath through terrified abuse flash-backs when they put the immobilization collar on her.
It's a highly strange experience to be that person for a near-stranger. But I don't think I quite understand your description of the phenomenon though. In the cases I've had, the experience couldn't really create more distance between us... we were already distant in a general way, or as you describe, barely knew each other. It didn't make us closer at all, but it couldn't really drive a wedge where there was no connection to begin with. But the intense hours together didn't make us closer, either.
Maybe I've had a different experience than the one you're describing I guess?
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2010-11-29 06:38 am (UTC)It's a highly strange experience to be that person for a near-stranger. But I don't think I quite understand your description of the phenomenon though. In the cases I've had, the experience couldn't really create more distance between us... we were already distant in a general way, or as you describe, barely knew each other. It didn't make us closer at all, but it couldn't really drive a wedge where there was no connection to begin with. But the intense hours together didn't make us closer, either.
Maybe I've had a different experience than the one you're describing I guess?