Do you think that people are reluctant to help because in todays society seeing kids act out like that is the norm? Lets face it, do to the "no spank" policy that most have enforced in their homes and the spoiling rotten of children, all too often kids act like that in public.
I can count on one hand how many times I have spanked and I have NEVER had my children throw tantrums in stores once they were over 2 ofcourse, that horrible hell that is a 2 year old sometimes does not always cooperate.
I will not ignore someone yelling help whether it be man, child or beast! More than likely if you stop to investigate, if the person is not a parent, he will probably flee in fear the cops will arive. Only the true parent will stand around and wait for the cops to show.