What do you call a person that won’t act?
What would you call a person that just stands by and won't act? Is kind of acting like a spectator when in reality that person should do something?
I know there is a word for this because I knew what it was a few hours ago but now I can’t remember it.
Perhaps you’re thinking of the bystander effect. You could describe someone who doesn’t meet their responsibilities as negligent (failing to act), impotent (unable to act effectively), or oblivious (not even noticing the responsibility to act).