From the FAA AIM
"b. A pilot's acceptance of instructions to follow another aircraft or provide visual separation from it is an acknowledgment that the pilot will maneuver the aircraft as necessary to avoid the other aircraft or to maintain in-trail separation. In operations conducted behind heavy jet aircraft, it is also an acknowledgment that the pilot accepts the responsibility for wake turbulence separation.
NOTE-
When a pilot has been told to follow another aircraft or to provide visual separation from it, the pilot should promptly notify the controller if visual contact with the other aircraft is lost or cannot be maintained or if the pilot cannot accept the responsibility for the separation for any reason.
c. Scanning the sky for other aircraft is a key factor in collision avoidance. Pilots and copilots (or the right seat passenger) should continuously scan to cover all areas of the sky visible from the cockpit. Pilots must develop an effective scanning technique which maximizes one's visual capabilities. Spotting a potential collision threat increases directly as more time is spent looking outside the aircraft. One must use timesharing techniques to effectively scan the surrounding airspace while monitoring instruments as well.
d. Since the eye can focus only on a narrow viewing area, effective scanning is accomplished with a series of short, regularly spaced eye movements that bring successive areas of the sky into the central visual field. Each movement should not exceed ten degrees, and each area should be observed for at least one second to enable collision detection. Although many pilots seem to prefer the method of horizontal back-and-forth scanning every pilot should develop a scanning pattern that is not only comfortable but assures optimum effectiveness. Pilots should remember, however, that they have a regulatory responsibility (14 CFR Section 91.113(a)) to see and avoid other aircraft when weather conditions permit."
Case closed.
I get RA's on a regular basis going into smaller airports with a lot of priate aircraft activity. (Teterboro, NJ and Centennial, CO top the list).
On a nice Saturday afternoon there are a lot of VFR airplanes out flying. Since it is VMC I am responsible for separation even if I am on an IFR flight plan. US ATC only provides separation if it is IMC. And that is predicated on VFR visibility and cloud clearance minimums. Generally speaking Joe Piper should be at least 500' below the clouds when I pop out on my way down.
Way to many of us spend too much time inside the cockpit not looking outside. If you can't fly the plane and look outside at the same time maybe its time to play more Microsoft Flight Simulator to get the basic skills up to snuff.
I fly a Gulfstream 550, we have more gadgets to play with than any airliner. We have HUD, EVS, Synthetic Vision, and every other bell and whistle that you can possibly stuff in an airplane. It is very tempting to stay inside and watch the automation do its thing, but when the RA goes off you are required to and should turn the autopilot off and hand fly the plane.
Finally, in the USA there is an NTSB requirement to file a report when you have an RA.